Wednesday, September 02, 2015

Rebranding Sin

"Ashley Madison is the number one service for people seeking discreet relationships."

translation: "Ashley Madison is the number one service for people seeking to cheat on their spouse/partner and get away with it". Adultery rebranded as discretion. 

"Some journalists have turned the focus of the criminal act against Ashley Madison inside out, attacking us instead of the hackers," the company said on Monday. (source)

that's right, because what you do stinks. It isn't illegal but it's destructive and evil. Every secret will eventually be revealed, so the hackers have just given 33m people a sneak preview of one small aspect of the day of judgement. People will sin if they can persuade themselves that a) they aren't really doing something that bad and b) they can get away with it. Ashley Madison is complicit in both. 

In other news, Mammon continues its baleful patronage of global football. Spending £1bn on footballers in a calendar year isn't obscene conspicuous consumption on bread and circuses, it's 'investing in playing talent'. Of course.How many desperate refugees in mainland Europe you could effectively transfer to a fruitful new life with £36m, instead of moving 1 football player?

2 comments:

  1. I think much modern morality seems based on putting a high value on individual freedom to do what one wants as long as it doesn't harm anyone else, forgetting that all our actions have consequences for the common good or harm.You have cited 2 good examples.

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  2. Totally agree. And with Nancy, actions do have consequences, if not in this life, in the next. I don't follow soccer, because today it's just a money spinning forum for those who play. Those who watch are ripped off at the gate and in every way inside the stadium.

    I don't remember hundreds changing hands over moves of hockey players from team to team, let alone millions. It might be an amateur sport, but has more kudos in my eyes than any professional sports. And I played and umpired well into my fifties.

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