Why does it seem that only old people win stuff?
When it was announced yesterday that the winner of the iTunes 10 billionth song giveaway was 71 year-old Louie Sulcer, I was torn. On the one hand, I was happy for Louie – he seems like a nice fellow, easy going, and into Johnny Cash apparently. But on the other hand, I HATE Louie with a passion. Why? Because he’s OLD, that’s why.
Now granted, Louie appears to be more with it than your average 71 year-old in that he not only owns an iPod but actually knows how to purchase songs for it via the iTunes store. But let’s face it, odds are even if Louie bought two songs a day for the rest of his life (we’ll estimate he’s got about 13 years left, given his age and weight) he STILL won’t be able to go through that $10,000 in iTunes points.
The same thing goes for the big multi-state lotteries. I can’t remember the last PowerBall or Mega Millions that wasn’t won by someone over 65.
I’m not bitter about Louie’s win (although I AM bitter about losing all the Mega Millions drawings). I didn’t try buying an iTunes song Wednesday even though all the Mac sites predicted the winning song was going to be bought that day. “You have to be in it to win it” as they say, and I have long since switched to buying songs on the cheaper Amazon store. But something about seeing a 71 year-old win anything technological just pisses me off. I feel like he won a Slingbox, 50 feet of Cat5 cable, a Roomba, and an Xbox 360 Modern Warfare 2 Limited Edition Console.
I know I’m insensitive, but it just feels wrong. Am I crazy?
I don’t think you’re crazy. It’s only natural to feel varying levels of annoyance when you see a situation that you feel is wasteful (regardless of whether or not it actually is), and even more so if you happen to have a passion about the item (technology and music) in question.
So, while I can’t say it’s cool to feel that way, I think it is only human to do so.
i agree that it’s not crazy. I mean, being a technophile and loving every thing tech, then watching someone of the generation that didn’t really grow up on this stuff win is downright messed up. Happy for the guy, but I don’t know if he fully realizes how big a prize he’s won.
It’s also the feeling I get when I see retirees winning Mega Millions… it’s like how much do they have left on this earth to make something of it? Life is pissin’ over us each time this happens.
At least I got one thing on the old man…. the 360 Modern Warfare 2 edition console is cool….
you’re not crazy. the baby boomers have been screwing us over for years.
could be worse…. another 13 year old could have won the contest like the race to 1,000,000 app downloads…. I seem to recall the doc being peeved by that.:P
On the other hand, Louie is probably thinking, “I’m 71 years old and I FINALLY won something!” And maybe he’ll give a thousand songs to each of his grandkids or bequeath it to future generations in his will. He’s at least as deserving as any of us (who would probably blow it all on fart apps).
What does it matter a person’s age? That means they aren’t able to win, but only 20’s, 30’s, etc.? How are the baby boomers screwing you over personally? Sounds like it’s an easy thing to blame someone else for your own insecurities. You got to love America – we all can have our own opinion and you will not be put in jail for telling someone how you feel on a website! 😉
This begs the question, can you bequeath iTMS credit wins? If I had won this, I be set for Christmas gifts to give for life! I could tell all the relatives, “Just check your iTMS account when you get a chance. Merry Christmas.” No wrapping, no sales tax, to having to drive to a gas station on Christmas morning to buy the damn cards…
Hopefully you can share your iTMS credits, and this guy is also smart enough to pursue the idea.
Another question:
Why does it seem that only US citizens win stuff at Apple?
Good for Louie. I, as you did, neglected to buy a song despite having ample warning that the winning purchase would occur on that day.
I’m more interested why you’ve been shopping at Amazon. I occasionally pick up singles there on the rare chance that I find one for .99 that is $1.29 on iTunes. However, that is becoming the exception. Granted, Amazon has some great $5 album deals from time to time, but they also still use mp3 and the album artwork is often very poor quality.
Works for songs I buy for my 5 and 8 year olds, but at the same time, I try to support Apple because the labels are intentionally giving competitors better terms in order to give iTunes a run for the money. Apple had to increase prices in order to drop DRM despite being the only company calling for an end to DRM.
Can’t wait for the day that Apple can make the labels obsolete all-together. Artists will release music directly through iTunes and market/promote as they see fit. The artificial album will be no longer — sings will be released when the artists has new material. No more filler. No more albums UNLESS the artists actually wants to make a great concept album.
Until then, drop the prices on albums closer to $7.99 because as long as singles are available why would I purchase a whole album to get 2-3 songs?
to be honest, the ratio of old/young is probably the reason your seeing him win this giveaway, as well as your lottery scenario.
Older people are winning because they play the lottery, and know just enough about PC’s to use it to purchase music.
Younger people don’t play the lottery, as they can make a more reliable income doing other things (legal or not) and know where to go to get music for free.
So I for one, am not surprised in the least.
I highly doubt that Louie even knows what an iTunes thingy is….let alone how to use it or turn the freaking computer on…