Capitalism Corner: CNN loses its mind with t-shirt sales
Yesterday I noticed tiny t-shirt icons next to some of the headlines on CNN.com. I didn’t think too much about it until a co-worked pointed them out this morning. Apparently, CNN is selling t-shirts with actual headlines printed on them and a tagline that says, “I just saw it on CNN”.
There are a few problems here.
1. Anyone who knows me is aware that I have some disdain for things that claim to be funny and/or ironic but are not. Perhaps I’ve been brainwashed by the ironic t-shirt racket, but these shirts are nowhere near funny or ironic. Let’s review some of the headline shirts currently for sale:
- 40-lb. hunk of metal hits driver in face
- Courtroom razor attack caught on tape
- Former child star turns to rapping
Definitely not funny. Definitely not ironic. In fact, the only even remotely humorous shirt I’ve seen isn’t for sale, but can be found here.
2. CNN *should* have some degree of journalistic integrity. Let’s review this headline shirt:
- Army barracks aswim in feces, ickiness
Ickiness? Really, CNN? By the way, Firefox is claiming that ickiness is spelled wrong. Must not be much of a word. And what about aswim??
3. Unless a t-shirt materializes on my back the instant I order one, “I just saw it on CNN” is a complete load of rubbish. More like, “I saw this lame headline on CNN a week and half ago. Oh, and by the way, I spent $15 plus shipping and handling on this…”
4. I think this sums up #4 pretty well
Overall grade: A solid F-
