| "Honey, the delivery kid made a mistake again; I got three
pizzas for the price of one. Wheeeeee!"
The above line is paraphrased from a television commercial, which I've seen
several times a day for the last several weeks. Since the pizza being advertised
is not kosher, I haven't tried it, but that's not why it interested me.
A good ad writer will incorporate societal trends which he/she believes will
make the product attractive to the largest number of consumers. One example of
this is that as our culture has become more youth-oriented, several products are
advertised as being "Not your mother's....", rather than "Mother recommended" as
was formerly the custom.
The commercial from which I took the opening line of this piece shows a man
being happy at the thought of benefiting from the mistake of another. This theme
has, unfortunately, become widespread in such things as ads for personal injury
lawyers, and shows about finding precious objects at yard sales. What I find
disturbing is the attitude that this pleasure is legitimate.
There is an old rabbinic story about a man who bought a horse and saddle from
someone. Upon arriving home, he searched the saddlebags, and found a jewel which
had obviously been left there by mistake. Being a good person, he returned the
jewel to the man who had sold him the horse, and was rewarded.
His example is a good one for us all. Rather than seeking profit to which he was
not entitled, he chose a path that was just, rather than exploitative. He was a
righteous man, and the world was a better place because he was in it.
Remember him the next time a cashier charges you an incorrectly low price, or
gives you too much change. Everyone makes an occasional mistake. Show others the
fairness with which you would want to be treated yourself.
Now that's a New Year's resolution you can fulfill.
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