Normalizing Negligence
You know how social media algorithms have a way of slotting us into specific niches? My niches have evolved over time, but at the moment, my four favorite niches are as follows:
Flat Earthers - You GOTTA check it out!
Tinned Fish - Who doesn't love a good tinned fish?!?!
All things Twenty One Pilots
Car Dealership Monthly Payment Interviews
Today, we're paying tribute to category #4, car dealership monthly payment interviews. I first discovered this trend a few years ago, and I'm overjoyed to see it pick up momentum over the last few years. In short, this is a trend where someone working at a car dealership will walk around the premises with a microphone, asking employees what they drive and what their monthly payment is.
Here's one example! If you want the Cliff Notes version, here are the results (each employee’s monthly vehicle payment):
$744
$726
$600
$1,000
$935
$0
$700
$0
$700
$400
$415
$469
$1,080
$593
$0
Or, this one:
$700
$1,400
$750
$634
$520
$706
$340
$360
$0
$2,650
$1,500
$700
$675
$0
$1,600
$0
$900
$485
Finally, we'll end with this gem:
$950
$730
$0
$404
$0
$700
$450
$600
Those are just four random videos. There are hundreds of them out there, and I just blindly clicked on four for this little exercise. Here's the lay of the land:
Out of the 41 people surveyed, 80% of them (all but 8) have monthly payments. Translation: Only 20% are debt-free on their vehicles.
Six people (15%) have monthly payments of $1,000+.
Only six people (15%) have monthly payments below $500.
Of the 33 people with monthly payments, the average payment is $791/month.
First, let me say that I'm not condemning any of these people. I don't think they are dumb, nor do I have any negative opinions about them personally. I could easily have clicked on four other random videos and achieved the same results. These people are normal. While these numbers might shock some of you or create skepticism, I can assure you they closely mimic my experience working with hundreds of families.
It's "normal," and that's the problem. In recent months, as the algorithms have pushed me more of these amazing videos, I've started asking myself the question, "Why?" Why are car dealerships doing this at scale? What's the objective of this social media strategy?
Then, it dawned on me, the proverbial light bulb over my head. They are systematically normalizing negligence. If their employees have big, fat monthly payments, and are presumably industry experts, then it normalizes the idea of having big, fat monthly payments. Again, they aren't bad people. They are just normal people, living normal lives, boosting the momentum for other people to live normal lives as well. And in America, "normal" means having big, fat car payments.
Today, I propose we normalize prudence, humility, contentment, and personal responsibility. There's no reason a single person should have a car payment. None. Will you join me in the fight? I can't do it alone, and luckily, I don't have to. Let's shift the momentum to a better way of living!
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