Bad Ideas

Terrible Boss Learns That Holding a 'Firing Contest' Is Maybe Not a Good Idea

By Jen Doll Tue., Oct. 4 2011 at 4:03 PM
Categories: Bad Ideas, Employment, Jen Doll, Why Would You Do This?

Thumbnail image for 340.jpg
There's nothing like a truly terrible idea to make a subpar idea seem marginally decent, no? In this case, we have William Ernst, the owner of QC Mart, a chain of convenience stores in Bettendorf, Iowa. Ernst decided a fun work thing to do to promote store bonding or whatnot would be to make his employees participate in a contest in which they'd predict who would next be fired. Whee! He even gave prizes to those who "won." Alas, the fun and games ended when he was taken to court, and a judge determined that his game was a "deplorable" act.

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Lists

10 Things New Yorkers Need to Stop Doing Immediately

By Jen Doll Tue., Oct. 4 2011 at 12:03 PM
Categories: Etiquette , Jen Doll, Lists, Public Service Announcement, Why Would You Do This?

Suspicious-Package.jpg
In light of the latest suspicious package left on public transit, which led to a shutdown of Times Square at peak commuting time (and, surely, got everybody's nerves up in a bunch, yet again, not to mention, is there enough coffee in the world for all of this?), it's time for a little PSA. Here are 10 things that we really need to stop doing. Call it etiquette, call it a movement for the betterment of society. Call it what you will. We're guilty of some, ourselves.

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Sad Things

Astor Place Cube Falls Victim to Sweater Thief

By Jen Doll Tue., Oct. 4 2011 at 9:21 AM
Categories: Art Stunts, City Life, Jen Doll, Sad Things, Why Would You Do This?

Even though the weather is clearly the sweater-kind now, some meanie has quickly cut Olek's crochetwork from the Astor Place cube. Yesterday morning it looked like this, cozy and covered...but shortly thereafter, it was this "deconstructed" look, via @artobserved:

414381334.jpg
@ArtObserved/TwitPic

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Freakin' Recession

Hallmark Is Making 'Sorry You Got Fired' Cards Now

By Jen Doll Wed., Sep. 28 2011 at 5:34 PM
Categories: Employment, Freakin' Recession, Jen Doll, Shopping, Things You Can Buy, Why Would You Do This?

hallmark-unemployment-card.jpg
Making lemonade of the world's lemons, Hallmark, card purveyor, bringer of joy to the people who are having birthdays, graduating, getting married, having anniversaries, or thanking each other, now makes unemployment cards, apparently. Said one Hallmark store owner, "The cards are flying off the shelves." They say things like, "Don't think of it as losing your job, think of it as time between stupid bosses," "When life gives you a lemon, go ahead and make a martini with it," and "Losing your job does not define you. What you do about it does."

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Violence

Cage-Fighting Event for 8-Year-Olds Is O.K. With the Law, Say Police

By Jen Doll Thu., Sep. 22 2011 at 10:43 AM
Categories: Jen Doll, Kids, Kids Accomplishing Things, Parenting, Violence, Why Would You Do This?


It's hard to imagine that this would happen in the U.S., land of helicopter parenting, staunch litigiousness, and swiftly delivered Internet justice, but Europe is different. After 8-year-old kids were involved in a cage-fighting match (a sold-out event watched by 250 people, some of whom videotaped it), British police launched an investigation into the September 10 child-on-child fight at the Greenlands Labour Club in Preston, northwest England. While people are outraged, police have determined that organizers will not face any legal action because, in part, the club has a license to hold events.


More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Oops!

Qwikster, Netflix's New DVD by Mail Service, Has Some Problems (See: Pot-Smoking Muppet)

By Jen Doll Mon., Sep. 19 2011 at 10:05 AM
Categories: Business, Jen Doll, Oops!, This Modern World, Why Would You Do This?

Screen shot 2011-09-19 at 9.26.19 AM.png
Qwikster! Have you heard of it? If you haven't, it's Netflix's new attempt to break its mail-in DVD service away from its online streaming Netflix Instant service, and, along with having a verifiably ridiculous name, it has other problems as well. For one, the @Qwikster Twitter account is currently held by a guy named Jason Castillo who has very little to do with DVDs and absolutely nothing to do with the Netflix business model. However, he's sort of hilarious.

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Bad Publicity

Topman Joins the Offensive T-Shirt Club With Woman-Hating Line

By Jen Doll Thu., Sep. 15 2011 at 9:17 AM
Categories: Bad Publicity, Jen Doll, Shopping, Why Would You Do This?, Women

horriblet-shirts.jpg
How offensive can a piece of cotton with some writing across it be? Let us count the ways. It can carry the message that girls are stupid. That looks are more important than anything. Or that math is hard. Or, it can carry the message that men think women are basically dogs and...have numerous, justifiable reasons for beating them. At least, it could be read that way. The latest in the most offensive T-shirt contest that seems to be going on these days among J.C. Penney, Forever 21, and, now, Topman, are two that say, respectively, "Nice new girlfriend. What breed is she?" and "I'm so sorry, but" -- "You provoked me," "I was drunk," "I was having a bad day," "I hate you," "I didn't mean it," "I couldn't help it." Isn't it fun to pick which one applies for that particular moment?

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Beefs

Westboro Baptist Says They'll Protest Fashion Week

By Jen Doll Fri., Sep. 9 2011 at 10:17 AM
Categories: Beefs, Fashion Week, Jen Doll, Protest, Westboro Baptist Church, Who?, Why Would You Do This?

westboro-baptist-church.jpg
Tired, perhaps, of protesting gay marriage, as well as the funerals of soldiers, people who have died from AIDs, and little girls, Westboro Baptist Church, the hate-based Kansas "religious" sect focused on protesting tragedies or equal rights in order to make people really mad -- so that they can then sue if and when those people get angry and attempt to retaliate physically (note: don't do this, they want you to) -- is now protesting...Fashion Week. Which is just so weird, and, in some ways, once you get beyond the hate-mongering, kind of hilarious. The stuff of good cinema, at the very least.

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Etiquette

How to Behave on the Subway: A Comprehensive Guide

By Jen Doll Fri., Sep. 2 2011 at 11:20 AM
Categories: Etiquette , Health, Jen Doll, Real Talk, The Subway, Why Would You Do This?


In lieu of this latest video of people doing things they could really do elsewhere and not bother anybody instead of doing these things on the subway and bothering hundreds, possibly thousands, we feel it's important to issue a friendly reminder of how to behave on the subway. After all, it's back to school time, and the summer has been long, and bewildering. Perhaps we've forgotten all the things we learned at the end of last year! Herewith, how to behave on the subway, in three mostly simple steps:

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
Things You Didn't Know Existed

J.C. Penney's 'Too Pretty To Do Homework' T-Shirt Is Too Stupid for Words

By Jen Doll Wed., Aug. 31 2011 at 11:05 AM
Categories: Bad Publicity, Jen Doll, Things You Can Buy, Things You Didn't Know Existed, Why Would You Do This?

Screen shot 2011-08-31 at 11.03.48 AM.png
J.C. Penney is now selling a T-shirt for girls aged 7 to 16 that says, unabashedly, across its front: "I'm too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me." Its sale price ($9.99 down from the original $16.99) seems to indicate that people may be too smart to buy into such girl-undermining messaging. The sales pitch with the tee reads, "Who has time for homework when there's a new Justin Bieber album out? She'll love this tee that's just as cute and sassy as she is."

More »
Email to Friend
Print Article
VOICE Daily Deals

From the Vault

 

Slideshows»

Links

©2013 Village Voice, LLC, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places New York

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city