<VV> Is the Volt the new Corvair?

[Steven J. Serenska]

> Please remember that every time someone reads this guys article..... 
> he gets PAID!!
>
> Most likely why it is written the way it is.... imo
>
> Still, I posted a comment!!! gg
>
> Matt Nall
> Charleston, Oregon
Matt raises an interesting point.  To paraphrase Matt's words, if we all 
encourage each other to read this article and comment, this sneering 
knucklehead author benefits from our outrage because he's getting paid 
by the click.

This concept intrigued me, so I did a little research.  I signed up to 
be a Yahoo! contributor.  I read the contracts, payment terms, etc. and 
think I understand how it works.  Yahoo! makes it difficult but, as near 
as I can figure, the author of a piece like this earns $0.0015 per view 
(see the table at http://contributor.yahoo.com/help/popup/?help_id=818).

I know the comments at the bottom of this guy's article don't equate to 
views, but at the time I visited the article, there were 172 comments.  
Just from those people alone, this moron has earned twenty six cents.  
There's an old retailers' adage that "for every customer who makes a 
comment, there are 10 who don't."  If this is true, that means the guy 
has earned about $2.58 so far for page views of the article.  Meh; He's 
not getting rich.

I was actually pleased by the broad range of voices in the comments 
area.  We VVers do our best to correct the public's misconceptions, but 
somehow it seems more authentic when people like "Turf Fergy" chime in 
and say "I had a Corvair, it was great! Reliable too."

I think we should all read the article, make judicious and sober 
comments (because people do read those), and not let it bother us.  This 
sniveling, superior, misinformed dope of an author (and that's being 
kind) isn't making a ton of money.  I say it's more important to correct 
him than to risk paying him.

****

FWIW, this stupid idiot is lucky I didn't run across him spouting off 
like that at some cocktail party.  I'm only on my first cup of coffee, 
but here's how I think the conversation might go:

Dipwad Author: "A head-on collision usually ended up with the other car 
in your lap and your torso impaled on your own steering wheel."

Me: "'USUALLY?'  What do you mean 'USUALLY?'  Greater than 50% of the 
time?  Do you know how many Corvairs were made?  1.7 Million!  If over 
50% of the collisions of those 1.7 million vehicles resulted in the 
driver being impaled by his own steering wheel, don't you think GM would 
have long ago gone the way of the Asbestos manufacturers due to all the 
negligence lawsuits?  Please say specifically what you mean by 
'Usually'!  And If you don't mean anything by it, please don't use the 
word.  Ever.  Again."

Me: (staring and breathing heavily, sorta like a bull before he charges)

My Girlfriend: ("I think it's time for us to leave now.  Please get my 
coat.")


Steven "somewhat more calm in his old age" Serenska