Melbourne’s Herald Sun reports that Ian Botham and Ian Chappell had a fist fight in Adelaide recently.
The Herald Sun reports:
Botham, who hasn’t spoken to former Australia captain Chappell since 1980 …
and
Since then [March 1977] the pair … have only traded insults.
Which ‘fact’ is correct?
Or is there some way of trading insults without speaking?
Opinions have a value.
I seek out, and value, opinions when I ask the shoe repairer whether my favourite high heels can be repaired; when I ask the waiter about an item on the menu; when I ask a travel agent about the best airfare; when I consult a doctor or lawyer.
Most of us provide advice of one kind or another as part of our jobs. That’s to say, we’re paid for our opinions.
Why, then, do we give up valuable opinions for free whenever someone rings saying
Hi, this is Carla / David / Susie / Hieronymus.
I’m from [Insert name of consumer research company here].
We’re conducting a survey about supermarkets / politics / health services / whatever.
I have a new system for dealing with these nuisance calls: I ask what fee is being offered.
When Carla / David / whoever sounds rather surprised and tells me there is no fee, I explain that I think my opinions are valuable, and I don’t give them away for nothing.
If we all did that then
