Joan Rivers is an idiot. First Amendment does not mean Costco has to sell your book

[sleestak]

Le Sigh.

Short story. Joan Rivers went to a Costco, handcuffed herself to a cart and basically acted like an ass (big surprise) because Costco isn't carrying her book.

According to the reports she said:

“This is the beginning of Nazi Germany! Next thing they’ll be burning the Bible!"

and

“It’s about First Amendment rights … I feel like this is a country where people should have the right to have the literature they want,” Rivers said.

To begin, I highly doubt that your latest snark filled book rises to the level of literature.

Second, the first amendment *DOES NOT MEAN THAT A STORE HAS TO SELL YOUR BOOK!*.

Read the damned amendment.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Not once in there is Costco mentioned.

Gah, I hate idiots.

And yes, this is rather trivial.

Slee

[CalMeacham]

See, this is why I'll never sell in her league.* t NEVER would have occurred to me to handcuff myself in Costco because it wouldn't carry my book.










*Well, that and the fact that she's a nationally famous celebrity.

[jayjay]

Did you know she even had a book out before you heard about this stunt?

Case closed.

[Telemark]

It's all about publicity for her book. She doesn't believe any of the stuff she said.

[Docta G]

Water is wet.

[Vita Beata]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Did you know she even had a book out before you heard about this stunt?

Case closed.

Yup, +1

[kaylasdad99]

Too bad she didn't go to the wall for something worthwhile, like having Costco carry the four-pound tins of Walker's shortbread cookies in every month in which they're delicious instead of just the Christmas season (evidently defined by Costco as August through October).

[leahcim]

Wait. Joan Rivers is still alive?

[Lynn Bodoni]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Did you know she even had a book out before you heard about this stunt?

Case closed.

I didn't know that. However, knowing that she has a book out does not inspire in me a desire to buy that book. I have plenty of toilet paper and facial tissues, and I suspect that her book would not suit my needs.

And the thread title is perfectly correct, in both parts.

[TriPolar]

I'm surprised because she's known for her calm and well reasoned arguments.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by leahcim

Wait. Joan Rivers is still alive?

It is confusing, because she's been wearing that hideous death mask for a while now.

[Greg Charles]

I agree it's a publicity stunt, and probably was meant to be funny. However, Ms. Rivers needs to read up on Poe's Law.

[lieu]

Wait, she resorted to drastic measures when something needed a lift?

[jayjay]

Originally Posted by Lynn Bodoni

I didn't know that. However, knowing that she has a book out does not inspire in me a desire to buy that book. I have plenty of toilet paper and facial tissues, and I suspect that her book would not suit my needs.

And the thread title is perfectly correct, in both parts.

You're not the target of the publicity stunt. You just got hit by the scattershot. I disagree with the first part of the thread title. I agree with the second. I'm betting that Joan Rivers does, also, because I highly doubt that any of what she did was meant sincerely.

You have every right not to LIKE her stunt. I'm not so sure that it means she's an idiot, though. I'm betting it boosts her book sales more than not doing it would have.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by jayjay

You're not the target of the publicity stunt. You just got hit by the scattershot. I disagree with the first part of the thread title. I agree with the second. I'm betting that Joan Rivers does, also, because I highly doubt that any of what she did was meant sincerely.

You have every right not to LIKE her stunt. I'm not so sure that it means she's an idiot, though. I'm betting it boosts her book sales more than not doing it would have.

And who would the target be? People who already love her will already know she has a book, since she would have announced it elsewhere. The only way this makes sense is if she's hoping some people will want to know what's so great about this book that she handcuffed herself over it.

It's also illegal, so, honestly, I don't give a shit why she did it--she shouldn't be able to profit from it. I don't want famous people doing illegal things to publicize their moneymaking adventures. That's a horrible road to go down.

[Inner Stickler]

The Stupid Republican Idea of the Day thread points out in ample measure how uninformed our elected officials can be about basic concepts re: the american form of government. Given their failure to pass what I consider an obscenely low bar, I am unsurprised an aging comedian can miss it as well.

[Gangster Octopus]

Can we all agree that you forgo your voting privileges the moment you invoke the first amendment right to free speech for things that clearly do not fall under such protections, i.e. stores not selling a particular book, criticizing someone for something they said publicly, etc.

[Chimera]

Should have shoved her in the cart, wheeled it around back of the store and left it there.

[Kimballkid]

Joan Rivers is an idiot.

AFAIK, this is news to no one.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by Chimera

Should have shoved her in the cart, wheeled it around back of the store and left it there.

Or refused to let her leave because she didn't "keep her receipt out for viewing."

[Chefguy]

The bible? Isn't she Jewish? I knew about the book because she managed to get herself on Stewart or Colbert last week.

[Ludovic]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Did you know she even had a book out before you heard about this stunt?

Case closed.

I assumed that she did since she's been making the talk show rounds lately. So this stunt doesn't bring much to the table for me.

[John Mace]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

The bible? Isn't she Jewish? I knew about the book because she managed to get herself on Stewart or Colbert last week.

"Bible" has more cachet than "Torah" or "Tanakh", although the latter is commonly referred to in English as "The Hebrew Bible".

[Dewey Finn]

Wait, she handcuffed herself to a cart? That seems like a particularly stupid thing to do, given that they have wheels, and can easily be removed from the store (and into the back of a paddy wagon).

[Saint Cad]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Did you know she even had a book out before you heard about this stunt?

Case closed.

Could have locked the thread after this post

[runner pat]

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

Wait, she handcuffed herself to a cart? That seems like a particularly stupid thing to do, given that they have wheels, and can easily be removed from the store (and into the back of a paddy wagon).

The wheels lock at the parking lot perimeter.

[cjepson]

I don't know who's whooshing whom here. Does anyone actually believe that JR did this as a serious thing? Or is the OP a dry parody of people who fall victim to Poe's Law?

[Bryan Ekers]

Originally Posted by leahcim

Wait. Joan Rivers is still alive?

I'm not sure how many of her original parts are still intact, but yes.

[Algher]

Originally Posted by lieu

Wait, she resorted to drastic measures when something needed a lift?

[golf clap]

[Der Trihs]

Originally Posted by Chimera

Should have shoved her in the cart, wheeled it around back of the store and left it there.

Originally Posted by Vinyl Turnip

Or refused to let her leave because she didn't "keep her receipt out for viewing."

Or just put her on sale.

[LeeshaJoy]

Originally Posted by Der Trihs

Or just put her on sale.

How low would the discount have to go before someone would buy her?

[Really Not All That Bright]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Did you know she even had a book out before you heard about this stunt?

Case closed.

I did. She was on Colbert the other night. In fairness, I assumed she was dead until I saw that.

[Zakalwe]

Originally Posted by Gangster Octopus

Can we all agree that you forgo your voting privileges the moment you invoke the first amendment right to free speech for things that clearly do not fall under such protections, i.e. stores not selling a particular book, criticizing someone for something they said publicly, etc.

Hey, absolutely! With the additional caveat that it also makes one ineligible to hold office.

[Bob Ducca]

There is a recent documentary about JR that really increased my respect for her and her career. She never slows down and is always hustling for her next gig.

[Condescending Robot]

The First Amendment means you can say whatever you want, and everyone has to agree with you, and also they have to give you money.

Did you not even READ the arguments from Christians about Chick-Fil-A?

[BrainGlutton]

Originally Posted by jayjay

Did you know she even had a book out before you heard about this stunt?

Case closed.

I did, but only because I watch The Colbert Report.

[BrainGlutton]

Originally Posted by Bob Ducca

There is a recent documentary about JR that really increased my respect for her and her career. She never slows down and is always hustling for her next gig.

So's yo' mamma when the fleet's in, but where's her documentary?! [rimshot]

[Little Nemo]

Originally Posted by Lynn Bodoni

knowing that she has a book out does not inspire in me a desire to buy that book.

Then clearly you are also denying Ms Rivers her First Amendment rights. You're now on the list of people she will be handcuffing herself to as part of her promotional tour.

[Lynn Bodoni]

Sure, she can handcuff herself to me. She will get the full benefit of Lynn's Tuneup and Realignment Services. I do my best work at close quarters.

[Balance]

Originally Posted by Lynn Bodoni

Sure, she can handcuff herself to me. She will get the full benefit of Lynn's Tuneup and Realignment Services. I do my best work at close quarters.

Good luck. I gather that most of the parts are aftermarket.

[outlierrn]

Originally Posted by sleestak

Not once in there is Costco mentioned.

You had me right up till here, you rant about a fallacious argument, then use one yourself.

[Tom Tildrum]

Originally Posted by leahcim

Wait. Joan Rivers is still alive?

She has a successful weekly cable show.

Originally Posted by Dewey Finn

Wait, she handcuffed herself to a cart? That seems like a particularly stupid thing to do, given that they have wheels, and can easily be removed from the store (and into the back of a paddy wagon).

I think that highlights her non-serious intent here.