Forgotten truisms

Just some quick observations from unrelated stories in the morning news read.

When someone "tells it like it is", they're just telling you what you want to hear.
Projecting your inner world onto a politician is never a good idea. Remember "plain talking" Bush Jr? How about "hope and change" Obama? Hire a functionary, not a crowd-pleaser.


The performance is entirely about the performer, not about you.
That's why you're the one paying for the privilege of being there. All that stuff about "the customer is always right" that spoiled children entitled narcissists shout when they don't get their way? Turns out that only applies to the retail and service industries -- and even then, it's because the cost of giving a customer a freebie is immediately recouped when they return with additional business. Not about you; never has been.


Nobody with either class or integrity takes part in a reality TV show.
This one really needs no explanation, as to date there is no known counter-example. General rule: do not give money to anyone involved with a reality show, nor take behavioral or aesthetic guidance from them.