Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Oops! It Looks Like I Broke the Gas Stations

Author: Nick
Category: Money
Topics:

comic 32 - house on a hill

Remember that article you read here a few weeks ago about the shortage of #4 letters for gas station price signs? The vast majority of people picked up on its satirical nature right away. And if you’re not one of the ones who did, I’ll spell it out for you in plain English: it’s 100% made up, as I’ve done in the past numerous times.

At least three people, unfortunately, took the news that there could possibly be a critical shortage of plastic lettering as the truth. After all, it’s on the internet, so it must be true. Two people sent me e-mails like this one:

haha, they can’t raise there prices above 4 bucks? that’ll teach them for trying to overcharge us for gas!!!!1111oneoneonetwotwo

The third e-mail was the best one. It was from one of the top national nightly news agencies asking if I’d pass along contact information for my person at Industrial Signs, Inc., the fictional company that just can’t keep up with the demands for #4 gas station sign letters. At this point, I had a few options:

  1. Confess. I could just tell this poor news program producer that I made the whole thing up, perhaps crushing his dreams and making his last 20 hours of research a waste.
  2. Confess and laugh. Same as above, but I add on six extra paragraphs mocking anyone who could possibly fall for such a tale.
  3. Start Industrial Signs, Inc., string this guy along on an elaborate ruse, see my fictional story on nationally televised evening news, and possibly go to jail or whatever they do to people who do something like this.

In the end, I went with option #1 since, looking back, I did write the article with a rather serious tone, and perhaps I could understand why someone might mistake it for reality. I mean, stranger things than a shortage of plastic lettering have happened.

I considered the matter closed until a reader sent me a link to the following article from the New York Times, which does not often make up its news anymore: Old Meters Mean Double the Price at the Pump. To summarize: apparently some gas stations really can’t charge $4 for a gallon of gas, though the reason is not due as much to a lettering shortage as it is to old technology in the gas pumps themselves.

After reading the article, I realized the terrifying truth: I can cause humorous financial news just by writing it! Sure, a few of the details get mistranslated, but there can be little doubt that I broke the gas stations with my original article.

I’m not yet sure how I’ll used my newfound powers—perhaps for the good of mankind, or maybe just to amuse myself. It might just be best if I stop trying to make up the news, lest I accidentally author something like “Personal Finance Writer Nick Given All the Money in the World.”

Oh look what you made me write.

56 Responses »

1.

Kyle
June 4th, 2008 at 9:58 am

I would have opted for #3.

2.

Mrs. Micah
June 4th, 2008 at 11:43 am

I’m rather disappointed you didn’t go with #3. After all, it’s not me who would have been going to jail and all that. Won’t you push the envelope for the sake of our amusement?

Congrats on breaking the gas stations. haha, they can’t raise there prices above 4 bucks? that’ll teach them for trying to overcharge us for gas!!

;)

3.

Moose
June 4th, 2008 at 2:05 pm

I completely and totally fell for that story!!!! I can no longer call myself a journalist. =( I feel like a jacka$$.

4.

Bill
June 5th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

I, too, think you should have gone with #3!

By the way, there is a really good opportunity for sign makers who make the number “9,” don’t you think?

Damn, everything ends in 9, even the 1/10ths of pennies!

5.

Cindy @ Her Family Blog
June 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

You know, I always love coming to read your blogs and looking at your little cartoons. Thanks for the much needed smile today!

6.

A1 Medical Supplies
June 5th, 2008 at 3:55 pm

That is too funny. I went back and read the number shortage post and was cracking up by the time I made it too the guy that sold his gas for $3.44.

It boggles the mind that any person that calls themselves a journalist could miss the obvious satire. I wonder if they even checked out the urls you provided.

Well Played Sir!!

7.

Funny about Money
June 6th, 2008 at 9:07 am

Hilarious! You hafta admit, though, your piece was pretty straight. The journalist, though, has no excuse. How hard IS it to Google Industrial Signs, Inc.?

8.

Toni
June 6th, 2008 at 11:08 am

You crack me up…with every entry…thanks!!

9.

World Ecologyst
June 8th, 2008 at 6:33 pm

I really like the comic… there are so many ways to save the energy, but lot of them are just a trap, just for other companies( who probably have the same owners) make more money! I don’t know…but I am starting to think that we have no choice but to follow their rules!

10.

James
June 16th, 2008 at 4:56 pm

thanks for the laugh! that’s a good idea, try writing something that could very well save mankind from poverty or something… then give it a bit, say a couple of weeks.. let see what happens by that time, who knows what superhuman powers you have… i guess we’ll find out in 2 weeks??

11.

Scott
July 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

I really like the cartoon that was added by you, it makes the article worth reading. I’m going to have to check around the rest of the blog now and see what other cartoons I can read. :P

-Scott

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July 26th, 2010 at 3:20 am

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July 26th, 2010 at 3:49 am

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14.

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September 14th, 2010 at 8:34 pm

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September 15th, 2010 at 7:32 am

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November 30th, 2010 at 11:17 am

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December 3rd, 2010 at 3:08 am

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December 19th, 2010 at 12:45 pm

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February 14th, 2011 at 7:33 am

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March 19th, 2011 at 7:14 am

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June 7th, 2011 at 12:48 pm

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June 10th, 2011 at 6:44 am

Cartoon pics speaks much enough than your in detailed and experienced article. Anyway thanks for your nice informational post.

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June 14th, 2011 at 2:18 am

Its a great issue for correct charging on fuel at gas filling stations. Thanks Punny for writing this very informative post.

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June 20th, 2011 at 6:15 am

Hi Punny! Your ability to write about these kinds of information is precisely what all of us desire. Through discussing your knowledge you guide other people through revealing your own private observations. Thanks.

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June 24th, 2011 at 1:40 am

Hey….! Nice adding of punchline to the bottom line in a funny way!

31.

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June 25th, 2011 at 6:19 am

Oops…………! your style of writing a post is very interesting and forced a person to read all the article.

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June 26th, 2011 at 1:31 am

Wonderful style of writing the posts, which appeals to heart in a simple way. Thanks Punny!!!!!!

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July 3rd, 2011 at 8:13 pm

You are right Punny! the importance of gas filling station is sure very much due to a large use of this type of fuel!

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July 5th, 2011 at 1:15 pm

HI Punny! What a great article about the correct use of gasoline! I’d love more information.Thanks!

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July 6th, 2011 at 5:54 am

Wondeful! that could be good, but think about additional choices we have here? Would you mind crafting a further article about them also? Thanks a lot dude!

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July 13th, 2011 at 1:41 am

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July 16th, 2011 at 2:55 am

Hey! Thank you for sharing with us, I too always learn something new from your post! Great article. I wish I could write so well. Have a nice day!

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July 20th, 2011 at 2:31 am

Hey! You seem to be very professional in the way you write. The topic gas station is a different but you wrote in a charming way, not bored us. Thanks.

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November 22nd, 2011 at 4:24 am

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