# Let's predict the BS 'Hard Times' news stories we'll hear **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 8, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825 "2008-11-08T17:35:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/1 "2008-11-08T17:35:34Z")
Every time there is an economic downturn, the media reports the same stories right next to the tear jerk stories about a grandma eating dog food or the mother with ten kids who lost her waitress job. Here are the usual ones they trot out. 1. The return of comfort food. In hard times, we come back to the old favorites. We’re not as concerned about our looks and can’t afford the gym membership anyway. 2. The return of country music. Hard times call for simple music. Country relates to us. 3. Bars and churches are the places people turn to. 4. Layed off professionals are reevaluating their career choice. We will the stories about Wall Street executives who become kindergarten teachers. Any other of the usual suspects I"m missing? If a mod drops by, can you please edit my title? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/2 "2008-11-08T17:44:14Z")
I was reviewing our life with the question ‘Did the economy affect my family’. The easy answer is HELL YEAH. Wife was unemployed for 6 weeks, is doing a Professional Part Time job (SQL, c#, $30/hr, 20 hours a week) We’re down 25% of our gross take home pay. But ya know what? We’ve never been happier. The wife is home for the kid’s bus at 3pm, rather than 7pm and stressed from the commute. The kids are happier. We’re eating healthier. There’s more family time spent. So, sign me up for silver lining…we don’t eat out as much, but we really shouldn’t have been eating out as much as we were. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/3 "2008-11-08T19:04:53Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > 1. The return of country music. Hard times call for simple music. Country relates to us. Return? It’s enormously popular. Anyway I’m happy to edit the thread title but I’m not sure what it was supposed to be. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/4 "2008-11-08T19:05:20Z")
This thread reminds me of the crap in the best-seller “the Monk Who Sold his Ferrari”. (By a super-high-strungWall Street lawyer and millionaire, who almost dies of a heart attack in the courtroom while arguing a huge case. So he runs off to India to study Bhuddism and find the meaning of life after shaving his head and wearing saffron robes.) I would have had a lot more respect for the guy if he hadn’t run away. Why not just quit his hi-pressure Wall Street job, move to Kansas and offer cheap legal services for simple jobs like registering land deeds, and make time to volunteer , say by helping the kids in the local Little League? But that wouldn’t make as good a story for the news… ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/5 "2008-11-08T19:54:51Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Return? It’s enormously popular. > > Anyway I’m happy to edit the thread title but I’m not sure what it was supposed to be. It doesn’t matter if country music is already extremely popular, it is just that the media will report it as if no one listened to country music during record setting Dow Jones years, but run to it as soon as the economy turns south. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/6 "2008-11-08T20:09:45Z")
Personally, I’d rather listen to punk rock songs about eviscerating irresponsible financial executives. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/7 "2008-11-08T20:30:46Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > It doesn’t matter if country music is already extremely popular, it is just that the media will report it as if no one listened to country music during record setting Dow Jones years, but run to it as soon as the economy turns south. Sort of portray the economic victims as people who cling to guns and religion you mean? ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/8 "2008-11-08T21:21:34Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > Sort of portray the economic victims as people who cling to guns and religion you mean? Surely only an elitist pig, with no idea what it’s like on the mean streets of Wassila, would say such a thing. Someone who is really\* really\* out of touch and has no way of connecting to an average American.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/9 "2008-11-08T22:34:53Z")
In a desperate bid to avoid the cliches decried by the OP, my paper today ran a story about the financial crunch now being faced by prostitutes in Nevada’s brothels. I’m sure it was a wire story, maybe your paper ran it, too. Who would have thought that hot tub and champagne parties were not a recession-proof industry? There will probably also be a cliche story about the cutbacks being made by the very rich (domestic wines, domestic vacations, foreign plastic surgery). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/10 "2008-11-08T22:49:36Z")
> [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](#): > > There will probably also be a cliche story about the cutbacks being made by the very rich (domestic wines, domestic vacations, foreign plastic surgery). Even before things got really bad this fall, it was widely reported that demand for laser vision surgeries and those kinds of elective procedures had gone to hell. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/11 "2008-11-08T23:10:07Z")
I predict a tenfold increase in “A burglar stole all of the children’s Christmas presents” stories. Not that those are BS, but I’ve seen a few that looked like scams. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/12 "2008-11-09T02:14:46Z")
**"Citizens flock to libraries seeking low cost entertainment"** followed immediately by **"State reduces funding for libraries"** Our government at work. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/13 "2008-11-09T02:19:52Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > **“Citizens flock to libraries seeking low cost entertainment”** followed immediately by **“State reduces funding for libraries”** > > Our government at work. :rolleyes: But we can’t possibly cut Renaissance Square funding! And every other city, town and village has their own pork project they **must** have, too. With a projected $27 Billion deficit coming over the next several years - we have to cut somewhere. And libraries just don’t hand out the same kickbacks that a boondoggle construction project no one needs does. ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/14 "2008-11-09T03:46:47Z")
> [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](#): > > There will probably also be a cliche story about the cutbacks being made by the very rich (domestic wines, domestic vacations, foreign plastic surgery). I make a point of avoiding the _New York Times_’s Style section. They’ve started running articles like this and, though I know it’s not their intention, all it does is make me think of Marie Antoinette. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/15 "2008-11-09T08:24:48Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > 1. The return of comfort food. In hard times, we come back to the old favorites. We’re not as concerned about our looks and can’t afford the gym membership anyway. As someone who is earning 1/3 of what they did a year ago, let me tell you that I find good food to be comforting. Since I’m not working as much as I’d like to, I’m home to make that “comfort food”. We’re poor, but we eat damn well. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/16 "2008-11-09T15:22:35Z")
> [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](#): > > In a desperate bid to avoid the cliches decried by the OP, my paper today ran a story about the financial crunch now being faced by prostitutes in Nevada’s brothels. I’m sure it was a wire story, maybe your paper ran it, too. Who would have thought that hot tub and champagne parties were not a recession-proof industry? Heh. This week’s _Metropolis_ included the quote “for every point the market goes down, I don’t.” Of course, that was on their news satire page. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/17 "2008-11-09T18:29:35Z")
There was a fluff piece on the news here about how school dances are being impacted, because kids/parents can afford to spend hundreds and hundreds on dresses, tickets, limos, etc. :rolleyes: Guess what, guys, neither could my parents and I, and…I survived! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/18 "2008-11-09T18:41:27Z")
In recessions, car companies come out with cheaper cars. I have noticed that these cars always have garish, weird, colors. (Make your own guesses as to why.) I predict a lot of small, cheap, beetle-green and orange cars. ---
**Author:** ![hawksgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed655f/32.png) [@hawksgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawksgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/19 "2008-11-09T22:59:29Z")
I’ve already seen the story about the stockbroker who lost his job and became a high school econ teacher. Of course, it’s the most fulfilling work he’s ever done and the kids love him, blah blah blah… ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2008, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825/20 "2008-11-09T23:10:32Z")
You’ll probably hear good news about Wal-Mart. During any economic downturn, no matter how slight, the media will gleefully report that business is booming at Wal-Mart. Also, expect the top-ten style linkbait articles: top ten cities to ride out a recession, top ten recession-proof careers, top ten recession-proof investments, and so on. There will probably be an increase in stories about particularly cruel methods used to fire people en masse; pink slips via Blackberry, armed guards supervising employees pack up as they’re laid off on Christmas eve, door keys and keycards suddenly not working, and the like. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-predict-the-bs-hard-times-news-stories-well-hear/471825.md?page=2)