(May 8, 2021 at 11:53 am)Anomalocaris Wrote:(May 3, 2021 at 5:10 am)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote: In 1774, Frederick the Great ordered Prussians to grow potatoes as a hedge against famine. Peasants thought of potatoes as disgusting and refused. In response, Frederick had the Royal Potato Fields planted and patrolled by guards. However, the guards were under orders to be less than vigilant in their duties, to the point of letting people go who were caught stealing potatoes and even accepting bribes from those who wanted to steal the tubers. The result was the creation of the impression that potatoes were valuable, but remarkably easy to steal. His plan turned spuds into a major food crop.
Marketing genius, that man.
Boru
Not sure if I am impressed more by the cleverness of the Prussian king or the dumbness of the Prussians.
I wouldn’t necessarily call the Prussian peasants ‘dumb’ (not for this, at least). It’s a pretty common trait to want what we’ve been told we cannot have.
I suspect that if the masses were told that the various COVID vaccines were only being made available to people in the highest income brackets, the lower income people would be in the streets with torches and pitchforks demanding to be vaccinated right fucking now.
Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
