OK, let me get this off my chest!
(I'm more than a little worried about where our civilization has been headed):
photo credit: wikipedia.org
"Pet Rock is a collectible conceived in 1975 by advertising executive Gary Dahl. Pet Rocks are smooth stones from Mexico's Rosarito Beach.[1] They were marketed like live pets, in custom cardboard boxes,[1] complete with straw and breathing holes.[2] The fad lasted about six months, ending after a short increase in sales during the Christmas season of December 1975. Although by February 1976 they were discounted due to lower sales, Dahl sold 1.5 million Pet Rocks for $4 each,[1] and became a millionaire.[3][4][5]"
"With his money, Dahl opened a bar named "Carry Nations" in downtown Los Gatos, California, a reference to Carrie Nation.[3] Dahl continued to work in advertising; however, he avoided interviews for years, because "a bunch of wackos" harassed him with lawsuits and threats. Dahl said in 1988: "Sometimes I look back and wonder if my life wouldn't have been simpler if I hadn't done it."[4]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_Rock
What, fellow "citizens", have we come to?
The Pet Rock "Pet Carrier", which doubled as its packaging
photo credit: wikipedia.org
What have advertising/marketing/public relations
done to our world? Is there any culture left to save? Is it already too late?
Pet rocks have existed before - yes,
but before mass consumerism brought out the inanity in everything!
The emperors of China
had whole zoos of them!
and displayed them with pride:
Here's one of my favorite "pet rocks"
How about showing us one of yours in a comment below?
And please remember these words of wisdom
from the inventor of the "pet rocks" of modern formation:
"Sometimes I look back and wonder if my life wouldn't have been simpler if I hadn't done it." Gary Dahl
