Just when I thought I was safe from the beanie baby craze, today's local paper lists more than a dozen ads for furbies, some demanding $300 each for a toy that sold a week ago for $30. Such childish, er,...hmmm...wait a minute...this is the same thing that's been happening on Wall Street the past few years...

I think Paul Milne may be right...it's time to shake society's etch-a-sketch.

-- a (a@a.a), December 19, 1998

Answers

The amazing thing is that people are so keen on buying something as UGLY as those things are.

By the way, the high prices are called capitalism. It rewards the people who see in advance, 'hey- this thing could be worth big money' and stock up. They take the risk (of Furbies turning out worthless, or their value going down) and deserve the reward.

--Leo

-- Leo (leo_champion@hotmail.com), December 19, 1998.

Well said Leo,

And speaking of ugly, how about thos Cabbage Patch dolls a few years back? I saw one laying in the gutter near the park not too long ago. Just goes to show you!!

-- Dave (dave22@concentric.net), December 19, 1998.

I read on another site about a woman arriving early at Sam's to do some y2k shopping. When she got there people were lined up for a block. She was sure they were stocking up too. Turns out they were after furbies, (sp) and the police had to be called for crowd control. Gonna' be hard to make those furbies tastyI think.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), December 19, 1998.

Yes Leo, in economics they refer to it as the "Greater Fool" theory.

-- a (a@a.a), December 19, 1998.

Any body still want to question the use of the word "sheeple"? ;>

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), December 19, 1998.

"Paul Milne may be right..."

Society deserves to collapse because you're appalled by the prices of some collectibles?

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), December 20, 1998.

Look for an old science fiction story called 'The Great Pat Boom'. Sort of like the Holland tulip bulb balloon, except it's aliens discovering how wonderful cow pats are and the fortunes made and lost as a result.

-- Earl Carver (earl@kankakee.com), December 20, 1998.