"I couldn't possibly fail to disagree with you less."
18 March 2007Besides, plastic is coldIf you're a merchant in Florida's Osceola or Pasco counties, the person who just handed you a stack of two-dollar bills for his purchase will be dressed — temporarily:
The nudist resorts bring in more than 100,000 tourists a year. Now they want to flex their economic muscles.
"I think they wanna show the economic impact they have on the local community, that they are here spending a lot of money and, you know, they buy their gas, they eat in restaurants, they buy their food and they want people to know that," said Kathy Dunkley, Pasco County Chamber of Commerce. The nudists will use only two-dollar bills for everything they buy. "Oh, we got tremendous feedback, absolutely incredible feedback. They said, `Wow, you people spent a lot of money.' Yes, we did," Foster said. They hope the two-dollar gimmick will expose just how much money they bring into the Florida economy. Of course, once a boatload of $2 bills gets into general circulation in Florida, some unsuspecting snowbird from Schenectady is going to get a couple of them in change, she'll fly back home, and months later, this same story will be back up at Fark and her friends will just naturally Assume The Worst. Which isn't The Worst at all, really, but some people are not prepared to deal with this sort of thing. Addendum, 19 March: A clothed resident has a plan:
As it happens my temporary residence is no more than ten minutes from Paradise Lakes, the crown jewel of area clothing-optional resorts. That certainly means I'll be steering away from my usual check card use and making lots of small purchases with bigger bills, if only as an opportunity to ask people behind the register how much of the Jeffersons they've seen.
That also certainly means the potential for awkward exchanges between uninformed customers armed with the rare bills and informed merchants. After the customer manages to convince the merchant that they see clothing as very much required, they'll likely rush to the bank to trade in the insinuating cash. And thus, the economic impact is covered up. I wouldn't think it too likely that a merchant in mid-sale would give the customer a wink and say, "Oh, you're one of them, are you?" Keep in mind, though, that I have never had any retail transactions in Florida, unless you count a stop at a Burger King in Bradenton. Posted at 1:06 PM to Birthday SuitableTrackBack: 10:45 PM, 19 March 2007 » FURTHER JEFFERSONIAN NUDITY from Population Statistic What is it about the two-dollar bill that makes it so appealing to the skin trade? First, the strip clubs adopted it as a more efficient tip-dispensing denomination. And now, central Florida nudist resorts are making it their currency of choice, as a ......[read more] Any idea where the nudists will be keeping their change after making their purchases? As Mom always said, "Don't put that money in your mouth. You never know where it's been!" Posted by: Venomous Kate at 3:53 PM on 18 March 2007Works until they get the first moron who doesn't know that there are $2-bills, like the one at http://www.ahajokes.com/bus163.html Posted by: Dan B at 4:15 PM on 18 March 2007I'm thinking that they don't actually do their shopping in the nude; however much the local merchants appreciate the business, they're not likely to be delighted with actual naked customers. Though I could be wrong. Posted by: CGHill at 4:34 PM on 18 March 2007I've never had anyone balk at a $2 bill. I've never had trouble spending Anthony and Sacagawea dollars either despite their not being widely circulated. And when I clicked on Dan B's link I expected it to be the time Best Buy called the cops on a guy wanting to use a $2 bill to pay for a purchase. Snopes has no opinion on the Taco Bell story, apparently -- but I remember reading about the Best Buy incident when it first hit the blogosphere. Posted by: McGehee at 5:05 PM on 18 March 2007Having been in restaurant management, I seen more than my share of idiots with me behind the counter. If it isn't based on a true story, it is at least a believable tale. Posted by: Dan B at 8:49 AM on 19 March 2007I've found it's best not to underestimate the Southern shopkeeper's interest in any or all of your business. I guess in some cases it's genuine friendliness, but most of the time I know better. There's also a very bemused attitude towards the many clothing-optional resorts here, at least from places who don't see enough of these tourists to see them as just another person. I have a feeling that the enhanced visibility - because shopping is not really clothing-optional - will provoke some giggling curiosity from many. Posted by: Joel at 1:56 PM on 19 March 2007It's surely in the realm of possibilities that some dumb criminals will pull off a heist and end up with a bag full of $2 bills which they stupidly try to cash in, automatically fingering themselves, and getting arrested. Posted by: mike at 10:01 PM on 19 March 2007 |