Morons and their pennies are easily parted...

[valancystirling]

We were just at the grocery store and on our way out we noticed a little stone-esque fountain set up in their big spring gardeny stuff display. The fountain was, of course, filled with pennies people have thrown in.

What is it about water that makes people want to throw money in it? I see this everywhere--any container full of water, fountain or not, is subject to being filled with pennies. When I was in Ireland I went to Blarney Castle and wandered the grounds for a while. There's a little stream running through the estate with a little footbridge over it, and the most striking thing about this is the shiny gold water. The shiny gold is, of course, hundreds of euros people have thrown in. I remember looking longingly off that bridge and wishing I had the nerve to jump i n and collect enough money to eat every day for the rest of my trip. It would have been so easy--shallow water, easy access--except for all the people constantly stopping to throw in more money. Those two euro pieces were extremely tempting...but I never had the opportunity.

I often wonder if people would throw pennies into a puddle. Or if I set up a cup full of water and put in a couple of pennies myself to encourage others to do the same, would i come out the next day and find ten dollars worth?

There must be some explanation. I'm perfectly willing to accept the explanation that people are idiots and want so badly to believe that throwing a penny into a plastic fountain will grant them their heart's desire. Are people so desperate? So stupid?

Yes, these are the kinds of things i ponder...

Comments

[room342.livejournal.com]

Not so as it may seem. This practice is actually a commentary on the flimsiness of human wishes. You just have to watch yourself throwing money into a fountain before you realize that you're as ridiculous as your dreams are. And so are everyone else's. There's also a little quip in there that your subconscious might grasp: this is what your profound longings are worth- not a cent- and it's time to throw them into the water- which is where they'll end up anyway.