This is a great name for a blog post because it could cover almost anything. As the old joke goes, there are libraries filled with the things I do not understand.
Today, though, I wonder about autographs. On Facebook, I recently saw one of their ads for a program by which I can obtain "Roger Federer signature merchandise." Wow, what a great plan!
No, seriously, what does this mean? Since "merchandise" can mean almost anything at all (from a key chain to a Mercedes automobile), what does the ad communicate? Solely that I can get a "something" that has Federer's signature. Notice that it doesn't say he signed it, it just has his signature. Whatever.
Why should I care about this? Why do they think I would care about this? Do they believe that his signature has value? Apparently, they do believe this. The reason they believe it is that it is true.
And that is what I do not understand. Why is this true? Why does anyone care about having Roger Federer's signature on a piece of merchandise?
You can see lines of people at events getting signatures. If someone famous announces that he will be "offering signatures," then people line up. People buy books they will never read just to get someone to sign it. That is why authors do "signing tours."
Athletes will spend hours signing things, then be condemned if they leave before signing everything. Why do we care? Why does a father stand in line with his son for three hours to get an autograph? Or even stand in a line at all? What difference does it make?
Christians do this as well. We have "signed copies" of books and sell them for more than "unsigned copies." We like athlete signatures as well and we will "auction them off" to raise money. I attended a charity golf event for a Christian ministry in which the big items were things signed by a college football coach. People paid good money for these things. Why?
Christian professional musicians offer "signed CDs" and will sit for hours signing things for people. Why do we care about their signatures? How does it increase the value of their music at all?
I would love to offer an answer, but I have no answer. I do not know why having someone's name signed on something matters to us. I do not know why people spend hours in lines to get signatures. I do not understand why looking at someone's signature is supposed to impress me. I just do not know.
But I know I will not be getting any "Roger Federal signature merchandise" from Facebook. I am not their target demographic at all.
Today, though, I wonder about autographs. On Facebook, I recently saw one of their ads for a program by which I can obtain "Roger Federer signature merchandise." Wow, what a great plan!
No, seriously, what does this mean? Since "merchandise" can mean almost anything at all (from a key chain to a Mercedes automobile), what does the ad communicate? Solely that I can get a "something" that has Federer's signature. Notice that it doesn't say he signed it, it just has his signature. Whatever.
Why should I care about this? Why do they think I would care about this? Do they believe that his signature has value? Apparently, they do believe this. The reason they believe it is that it is true.
And that is what I do not understand. Why is this true? Why does anyone care about having Roger Federer's signature on a piece of merchandise?
You can see lines of people at events getting signatures. If someone famous announces that he will be "offering signatures," then people line up. People buy books they will never read just to get someone to sign it. That is why authors do "signing tours."
Athletes will spend hours signing things, then be condemned if they leave before signing everything. Why do we care? Why does a father stand in line with his son for three hours to get an autograph? Or even stand in a line at all? What difference does it make?
Christians do this as well. We have "signed copies" of books and sell them for more than "unsigned copies." We like athlete signatures as well and we will "auction them off" to raise money. I attended a charity golf event for a Christian ministry in which the big items were things signed by a college football coach. People paid good money for these things. Why?
Christian professional musicians offer "signed CDs" and will sit for hours signing things for people. Why do we care about their signatures? How does it increase the value of their music at all?
I would love to offer an answer, but I have no answer. I do not know why having someone's name signed on something matters to us. I do not know why people spend hours in lines to get signatures. I do not understand why looking at someone's signature is supposed to impress me. I just do not know.
But I know I will not be getting any "Roger Federal signature merchandise" from Facebook. I am not their target demographic at all.