It Won't Happen To Us...

44 replies
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  • |
1: Newspapers

2: Telephone Utilities

3: Stockbrokers

4: Record Companies

5: Bookstores

6: Travel Agencies

7: Big Box Retailers



Who's next?
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Good list though I think some big-box retailers will be OK for a while.

    I'm curious to see how and when the construction trades will be affected. 3D and pre-fab advances could revolutionize home building and put a lot of trades-people out of work.

    What's funny to me is I can look back and see WHY a huge industry folded - but it's hard to look ahead and see who is next.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
    Video Stores

    Cable/Satellite TV
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    Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    The internet is like Pandora's box. The money flows wherever the customer decides to go. Fortunes trade hands over-night. It's an exciting time!
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

    1: Newspapers

    2: Telephone Utilities

    3: Stockbrokers

    4: Record Companies

    5: Bookstores

    6: Travel Agencies

    7: Big Box Retailers



    Who's next?
    The horse and buggy
    The telegraph
    The pony express
    Buggy whips
    Dirigibles
    Whale oil lamps
    Bleeding people as a way to treat disease
    Shipping slaves

    What will we do when those industries go away? How will we survive?
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      The horse and buggy
      The telegraph
      The pony express
      Buggy whips
      Dirigibles
      Whale oil lamps
      Bleeding people as a way to treat disease
      Shipping slaves

      What will we do when those industries go away? How will we survive?
      NOT the same thing AT ALL! Let's look at that list again:

      1: Newspapers <-Newspapers is only ONE part of the industry really, There is also books, magazines, and various other media, INCLUDING the internet!
      2: Telephone Utilities <-MISNOMER! The ONE asset has ALWAYS been a fractionalized TRUNK! In the past, it was used for Telegraph. That is why the first such monopoly, in the US, was American Telephone and Telegraph, aka AT&T! TODAY, it includes INTERNET!
      3: Stockbrokers <- Technically kind of created in 1933. They are still around.
      4: Record Companies <- The whole industry is still there.
      5: Bookstores <- Today, they are almost like amazon. They spread from books to most printed media, music, film, and even a restaurant.
      6: Travel Agencies <- They kind of wrote their own death warrant. There is no real replacement for a good travel agent. But GOOD LUCK FINDING ONE! They thought agent meant salesperson, and the whole concept eroded.
      7: Big Box Retailers <- Yeah, you still need them. Look at amazon. They have one day shipping, and are trying to build more warehouses just to APPROXIMATE what the BBR HAD!

      As for the others?

      The telegraph ->Telephone, Internet
      The pony express ->Mail, various curriers
      Buggy whips -> Did anyone EVER just make buggy whips?
      Dirigibles -> Airplanes/Jets
      Whale oil lamps -> Did ANYONE ever just make these? Electricity/Gas!
      Bleeding people as a way to treat disease -> They are STILL around, they just don't do this anymore! Barber's pole - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
      Shipping slaves -> outsourcing, Computers/robots

      But it HAS happened to computers a lot. SAME idea but different platforms, priorities, and methods.

      Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Cali16
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      The horse and buggy
      The telegraph
      The pony express
      Buggy whips
      Dirigibles
      Whale oil lamps
      Bleeding people as a way to treat disease
      Shipping slaves

      What will we do when those industries go away? How will we survive?
      Well, I always knew something was off. But this explains it - you've been stuck in a time warp, Claude!!
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      Bleeding people as a way to treat disease
      Don't look now, but they still do that, for some patients (hemochromatosis, I believe). And talking of Dyson (and who isn't, these days?) there was a big article about his properties and landowning, in the Sunday Times the other day: it seems he now owns more of the UK countryside and farmland than the Queen (and she's not exactly short of acreage).

      .
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Search Engines.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    I hate to say it, but I think movie theatres are coming up on that list.

    I spent 16 years of my life in the marketing side of that industry, defending it from everyone else's predictions of doom (from video, and then dvd competition primarily)

    The main defense was that movies at the theatre were not competing with other movies, but with other forms of entertainment (concerts, night clubs, plays, etc). And by that measure, it was always a good value.

    But now, when a family of four can easily drop $75 on the "going to the movies" experience vs. any of the free (or nearly free) movie options on the 70" surround sound wide screen in their living room...

    I hear the clock ticking.
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post


      I hear the clock ticking.
      But not for long. Digital clocks.
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        I own a small retail store selling higher priced vacuum cleaners.

        The store's days are numbered. Our business is strong, but....

        We almost never have a customer under the age of 40. Most are either retired or nearly....or Amish.

        More people are shopping online. Getting reviews online.

        In 10 years, most everyone in this business will be retired.

        But so? If it were suddenly against the law to sell vacuum cleaners at retail, I'd sell shoes. If that went away, I'd open a small school. If not that....something else.

        I could always just find something made in China, that can be sold for a decent profit, and wholesale it here...and sell it at retail online.
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        • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          I own a small retail store selling higher priced vacuum cleaners.

          The store's days are numbered. Our business is strong, but....

          We almost never have a customer under the age of 40. Most are either retired or nearly....or Amish.

          More people are shopping online. Getting reviews online.

          In 10 years, most everyone in this business will be retired.

          But so? If it were suddenly against the law to sell vacuum cleaners at retail, I'd sell shoes. If that went away, I'd open a small school. If not that....something else.

          I could always just find something made in China, that can be sold for a decent profit, and wholesale it here...and sell it at retail online.
          It should be against the law to sell vacuum cleaners at your prices.

          Oh, and just because Riffle bought one from you, you think it's ok to include the Amish in you clientele.
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by lanfear63 View Post

            It should be against the law to sell vacuum cleaners at your prices.

            Oh, and just because Riffle bought one from you, you think it's ok to include the Amish in you clientele.
            Riffle actually looks Amish. A short stocky guy with a goatee....who spends a lot of time with farm animals. So, the most impressive thing I've seen him do...is drive a car.
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            • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
              Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

              Riffle actually looks Amish. A short stocky guy with a goatee....who spends a lot of time with farm animals. So, the most impressive thing I've seen him do...is drive a car.
              And the most disturbing thing is the spending a lot of time with farm animals.
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        • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          I could always just find something made in China, that can be sold for a decent profit, and wholesale it here...and sell it at retail online.
          If Dyson can sell his crap at Rolls-Royce prices, you should be OK selling a 'quality' product at a higher than junk price for a good while longer. It's all in the marketing. You just need to make vacuuming sexy!

          I have the utmost confidence that you'll survive. :-)

          Cheers. - Frank
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        • Profile picture of the author David Beroff
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          Most are either retired or nearly....or Amish.
          Honest question, Claude: Doesn't that go against their beliefs?

          (I know that they're ok with using "necessary" technology for purposes of earning a living, but not for their own home life.)
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          • Profile picture of the author BigFrank
            Banned
            "Cops anonymously told the New York Post that they aren't making arrests for minor crimes because they fear for their safety following the murders of two NYPD officers."

            Time to turn in their badge and service revolver and to learn the phrase, "Would you like fries with that."

            Cheers. - Frank
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by David Beroff View Post

            Honest question, Claude: Doesn't that go against their beliefs?

            (I know that they're ok with using "necessary" technology for purposes of earning a living, but not for their own home life.)
            They have generators. No idea why that's OK, and having electricity is not OK. All I know is, they buy vacuum cleaners.
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      • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        But not for long. Digital clocks.
        ha ha - I walked right into that one.
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    • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
      Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post

      I hate to say it, but I think movie theatres are coming up on that list.
      I had the same thought today while reading the following article.

      2014 Box Office: Admissions Lowest Since 1995

      The last time I went to a movie theater was to see Spider-Man in 2002. It irritates me to pay such high ticket prices and having to deal with crowds, people yakking and cellphones going off nonstop. I can enjoy a movie much more on the couch at home and save some money.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Restraint
    Common Sense
    Compassion
    Decency
    Intelligence
    Insight
    Virtue
    Gratitude
    Humility
    Integrity
    etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author Midnight Oil
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Restraint
      Common Sense
      Compassion
      Decency
      Intelligence
      Insight
      Virtue
      Gratitude
      Humility
      Integrity
      etc.
      So, pretty much society?

      I can see that.
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      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by Midnight Oil View Post

        So, pretty much society?

        I can see that.
        Well, they're not quite dead but a few of them are on life support.
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    • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Restraint
      Common Sense
      Compassion
      Decency
      Intelligence
      Insight
      Virtue
      Gratitude
      Humility
      Integrity
      etc.
      Don't worry, I think some of the younger generations will make it a point to bring some of those things back... by any means necessary.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Smart phones.

    Just wondering what the next "device" is going to be that will replace these.

    RoD
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    - Jim Rohn
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  • Profile picture of the author LarryC
    The future of vacuums and other types of cleaning may be robots. Haven't tried this, but it looks pretty cool:

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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Self driving cars will transform many elements of the economy.

    The need for cab, bus and limo drivers will be greatly reduced or eliminated.

    DUIs will be virtually non-existent, which will impact our health and legal systems, as well as end the need for DUI lawyers.

    Since we won't need to own a car 24 hours a day and can "share" a car with many others, demand for car production will dramatically decrease.

    Since people can "share" cars, there will be far less need for garages, drive ways and parking lots. Many streets and highways will be able to use fewer lanes. This land will be transformed into other uses.

    The auto insurance industry will be totally transformed, with little need for consumer auto insurance.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post


      Since we won't need to own a car 24 hours a day and can "share" a car with many others, demand for car production will dramatically decrease.

      I'm not wrapping my brain around this statement. Would you mind expanding on that, Kurt?
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

        I'm not wrapping my brain around this statement. Would you mind expanding on that, Kurt?
        You don't need to have a car parked at your home or at work 100% of the time. You will be able to click an app and a car will be dispatched to you when you need one, or you can make an appointment, etc.

        When someone's at work, their car is sitting in a parking lot for 8 hours. With self driving cars, they would be dropped off at work and that same car could then take a little old lady to a doctor's appointment a few minutes later, etc., instead of simply being parked and only used by a single person.

        Think of a self driving taxi without a cab driver.

        Society will need to adjust to spread out periods of peak demand, but we should be doing that anyway as a way to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. As a long time cab driver I can tell you that the same streets that are totally grid-locked at 5 pm are barren at 10 pm. We have enough roads, we just can't use them at the same time.
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

          You don't need to have a car parked at your home or at work 100% of the time. You will be able to click an app and a car will be dispatched to you when you need one, or you can make an appointment, etc.
          One of the most forward thinking posts I've read in a long time. Kiss me.
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          • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
            Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

            One of the most forward thinking posts I've read in a long time. Kiss me.
            Kurt, You Should take some Sani Wipes with you
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          • Profile picture of the author Kurt
            Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

            One of the most forward thinking posts I've read in a long time. Kiss me.
            For the very first time in my life I wish I had herpes...
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            • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
              Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

              For the very first time in my life I wish I had herpes...
              Ok, just leave the Sani Wipes behind.
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              • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
                It Won't Happen To Us...

                Law and Order

                Cops anonymously told the New York Post that they aren't making arrests for minor crimes because they fear for their safety following the murders of two NYPD officers.

                "I'm not writing any summonses. Do you think I'm going to stand there so someone can shoot me or hit me in the head with an ax?" a cop, who was granted anonymity by the Post, said. "I'm concerned about my safety. I want to go to home to my wife and kids."

                To back up these assertions, the Post reports in a separate story that arrests have nose-dived by 66 percent over the last week, fueled by huge drops in arrests for minor offenses. That percentage is based on a comparison between last week starting Dec. 22 and the same week in 2013.
                Police Reportedly Say They Aren't Making Arrests After Cop Killings

                Joe Mobley
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            • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
              I kissed my girlfriend on the lips,

              I wish that I might linger...

              I ran hand through her hair

              And a cootie bit me on the finger.


              Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

              For the very first time in my life I wish I had herpes...
              Joe Mobley
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            • Profile picture of the author Joe Mobley
              ...

              ...

              ...

              I'm still laughing, this is hilarious.

              Joe Mobley

              Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

              For the very first time in my life I wish I had herpes...
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            • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
              Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

              For the very first time in my life I wish I had herpes...
              I'll see what I can do.
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      • Profile picture of the author lanfear63
        Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

        I'm not wrapping my brain around this statement. Would you mind expanding on that, Kurt?
        You could always take some Sani Wipes with you.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    Guess we just have to get some integrity going again and stop mass agriculture and put all those small farmers we used to have back to work. The need for decent, unpoisoned food never goes away.

    As far as industry - we were never set up for an economy of 100% employment - and now that we're 2/3 over carrying capacity, the only way to solve the problem is to decrease the population back to a carrying capacity level. Yet people scream like banshies whenever anyone suggests to limit family size.....especially if it deals with not allowing people on welfare to drop 6 or more babies on an already stressed population level so they don't need to work to survive.

    Until people figure out they can not support industries that contribute to problems (factory farms, etc) or have as many kids as they want just because they are "free" to do so because it makes more problems than solves them --- we can just sit here and watch everything go under. Then all the hardship population will just die off anyway. Nature doesn't kid around. We either get serious and solve the population crisis or nature will solve it for us - then we can go back to normal industry instead of the conglomerate ownership of human life and the evolution toward extinction.
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    • Profile picture of the author Cam Connor
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

      Until people figure out they can not support industries that contribute to problems (factory farms, etc) or have as many kids as they want just because they are "free" to do so because it makes more problems than solves them --- we can just sit here and watch everything go under. Then all the hardship population will just die off anyway. Nature doesn't kid around. We either get serious and solve the population crisis or nature will solve it for us - then we can go back to normal industry instead of the conglomerate ownership of human life and the evolution toward extinction.
      Wow. What an excellent post HeySal, well done.
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  • Profile picture of the author thunderbird
    Website creation and design
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    (I'm just messing with you...sort of)
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