If you saw it in context, your targets would be only-the-finest-for-me-and-my-family Tribecans. Chanel purses, not canvas totes. Hippies would make for a pleasant change of pace.
Slight backstory: I was totally preoccupied by that first sign, but took forever to remember to photograph and then post it. The tone, to me, reads like, the store managers have had to deal with complaint after complaint after complaint from the sort of people who don't just choose organic (iffy already - and isn't "fair trade" supposed to be the concern with coffee, not organic-ness? and isn't the only concern with grinding coffee that flavored and regular beans are kept separate, which actually matters for the taste?) but who think "organic" is a religious dietary concern, and won't eat food that's touched food that's been exposed to pesticides, or that hasn't been certified "pure." The store clearly thinks the customers are ridiculous, but is putting on a facade of faux-sanctimonious agreement. Yes, yes, we're very concerned that a trace of coffee produced in a way you don't support may have found its way into your no doubt complicated at-home coffee making system. (<a href="http://whatwouldphoebedo.blogspot.com/2007/12/definitive-first-world-problem.html>Ahem.</a>) A matter of social justice! And I bet the customers who'd complained are not self-aware enough to correctly interpret the sign, and instead are like, good thing they're letting me know, or else who <i>knows</i> what would have happened?
I interpret "hippie" generously to include rich yuppie hippies. And, yeah, I share your guess that the sign is mocking rather than endorsing this fetishism. But the mere knowledge that there *are* people with this fetish makes me want to go find some and smack them.
Then your interpretation of "hippie" includes the men and women of Goldman Sachs, which is across the street and a big favorite of the bankers. Although I do picture the coffee crazies as being the Chanel-bag-toting trophy wives of film producers, or the film producers themselves. God I don't miss shopping at that store.
The first sign makes me want to smack a hippie.
ReplyDeleteIf you saw it in context, your targets would be only-the-finest-for-me-and-my-family Tribecans. Chanel purses, not canvas totes. Hippies would make for a pleasant change of pace.
ReplyDeleteSlight backstory: I was totally preoccupied by that first sign, but took forever to remember to photograph and then post it. The tone, to me, reads like, the store managers have had to deal with complaint after complaint after complaint from the sort of people who don't just choose organic (iffy already - and isn't "fair trade" supposed to be the concern with coffee, not organic-ness? and isn't the only concern with grinding coffee that flavored and regular beans are kept separate, which actually matters for the taste?) but who think "organic" is a religious dietary concern, and won't eat food that's touched food that's been exposed to pesticides, or that hasn't been certified "pure." The store clearly thinks the customers are ridiculous, but is putting on a facade of faux-sanctimonious agreement. Yes, yes, we're very concerned that a trace of coffee produced in a way you don't support may have found its way into your no doubt complicated at-home coffee making system. (<a href="http://whatwouldphoebedo.blogspot.com/2007/12/definitive-first-world-problem.html>Ahem.</a>) A matter of social justice! And I bet the customers who'd complained are not self-aware enough to correctly interpret the sign, and instead are like, good thing they're letting me know, or else who <i>knows</i> what would have happened?
ReplyDeleteI interpret "hippie" generously to include rich yuppie hippies. And, yeah, I share your guess that the sign is mocking rather than endorsing this fetishism. But the mere knowledge that there *are* people with this fetish makes me want to go find some and smack them.
ReplyDeleteThen your interpretation of "hippie" includes the men and women of Goldman Sachs, which is across the street and a big favorite of the bankers. Although I do picture the coffee crazies as being the Chanel-bag-toting trophy wives of film producers, or the film producers themselves. God I don't miss shopping at that store.
ReplyDelete