the stages of decision and life

overall i tend to be optimistic toward most everything, including my fellow man.  i cut people slack.  i assume everyone holds a deeper benevolent intent.  i think of the average person as being smart.  sometimes this philosophy comes back and bites me on the ass, but there's no question that i've reaped far more benefit from my sociological stance than i have dealt myself problems or pain.

and yet this AYCJ pass pushes some of the limits of my tolerance.

jetblue takes the bold step to do something different and try to fill some seats during the dead season in a down economy.  immediately people are looking for the defects. 

"well, you can't fly from the same city on the same day."  meaning you can't fly NYC -> BOS -> NYC -> DEN on the same day.  please.

"everyone who has this pass will be on stand-by."  i just booked a 15 leg trip, getting every flight i asked for.

"the reason jetblue cancelled the offer is because they were losing money."  here's a shocker: jetblue actually has people who are paid to think about this stuff beforehand.  JB themselves said the reason they wanted to limit the program was to make sure that people could get flights.

"it's not worth the money for most people."  nearly always people doing these "calculations" are looking at far-ahead booked plan reservations and igorning the 3-day notice that's available on these passes.  i'm certain that most people are more-than-able to figure out if it's a good deal for them or not.

"i can't believe you stopped the pass before you said.  what?  is my money no good?"  JB did exactly what they said they would do and even gave one day of warning.


i think i know part of the underlying problem here. 

one of the biggest lessons you learn as a kid is the famous, "if something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is."  belief in this philosophy is the way that you learn how not to get scammed.

but people begin to ignore one of the key words in the sentence: "probably."  some offers that on the surface seem "too good to be true," are also legitimate.  if you can delve these, big things are in store.  being able to discern the difference between the two is how i: had a trip with all expenses paid in vegas for 24 hours; have been handed countless event tickets (rolling stones, madonna, no doubt, world series, etc. etc. etc.); and rode an elephant across kaziranga to see the indian rhinoceros ... and all for free.  all it took was a leap of faith crossed with an understanding that it was nearly too good, but was also true.

as soon as you limit your thinking, you limit your life.  when you try to limit other people's thinking, you become a bitch.  i don't understand what people think they gain by "warning" other people of what they attempt -- but i'm fairly certain i don't want to be able to understand it. 

cynicism is a weapon of the weak.