Yikes. This is a rather unempathic and cruel event to have organised and so is Andrew's unapologetic response. It's also interesting to me symbolically that the fake notes have a profile picture on them and I'm guessing it's Andrew Thorn. This is where a famous person or monarch would normally be pictured which is arguably rather grandiose. Pivoting your company towards selling PPE and masks during a pandemic is also somewhat cynical and opportunistic too. Like David's 'friend' James, on the surface there appears to be a similar personality structure at play here.
Speaking more broadly (I'm not assessing or diagnosing anyone here), there is a concept in psychology called the Dark Tetrad which enumerates four core antisocial personality features. These four traits are independent but they partially overlap and are often 'co-morbid' which is a fancy word meaning 'multiple are present at the same time in an individual'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_triad#Dark_tetrad
In summary, the four traits are narcissism (grandiose and entitled), machiavellianism (cynical and deceptive), psychopathy (shameless and ruthless), and sadism (enjoys cruelty). People who score high on multiple of these Dark Tetrad factors are interpersonally predatory and are generally best avoided, either as relationship partners or in commercial business dealings.
For a company that supposedly puts safety first, the event was a complete fail. According to the company's website "We believe the safe execution of work is a guiding behaviour of any ethical organization and are passionate about helping you achieve superior safety in your workplace, industry and community." Yeah right.
I would have thought that dropping a significant amount of money in public would be illegal. Even without the fake money, you know that people are going to get hurt
I love your work and he's certainly a dick... but compared to the other dicks you've dealt with, his uncooperative responses aren't that surprising considering he's not great at PR, you opened with "fuck you" and then called him "unhinged." There is a non-zero chance he was still in bed too... I'm looking forward to the follow-up!
I hate when people don't take responsibility for their shitty behaviour. Own your crap and apologise for the hurt and damage caused. Its an extreme version of a lolly scramble, with cash (supposedly). Of course people were going to get hurt :(
And that comment from NZ masks?! Fuck what is going on
My initial reaction to this was "WTF were they thinking?!!?!!" Then the reaction came out and I thought - "oh right, no brain to think with". Then on reading your article this a.m. and seeing the history of amoral behaviour from this twat, it would appear that thinking is definitely a rare thing. I am hoping faintly that he will get arrested for something, like public endangerment - anything really. Coz he should be locked up. Key thrown. Nasty piece of works.
Folks if you haven't already discovered the YouTube channel "All gas, no brakes" please do yourself a favour and go check it out. Truly amazingly stuff.
Given your introductory remarks, David, ('fuck you, sincerely'), there was never any chance that Andrew or Safety Warehouse would respond in a useful way. Maybe if you'd been addressing someone sensible.... But just like me yesterday, telling someone he was a fuckwit, the thing about fuckwits is that they're not usually capable of taking that information on board.
I sympathise completely with your feelings, but you do seem to have blown a chance to get some useful information out of these clowns.
I worry a little David, you seem to have let your anger take precedence over your journalism a few times lately. Completely understandable and natural, but ultimately not good for either your work or your personal life. Just my outside opinion, of course.
Sometimes it's necessary to take a break from confronting the darkness of humanity.
I read this article and I see yet another narcissist at play. See how a narcissist immediately applies the victim to themselves rather than the villain. Seems to be a lot around at the moment.
No offense to all of the wonderful kiwis and of course, David, but damn NZ is SMALL! It almost seems like everyone knows everyone else. Seems it would make it much harder to be a dick, since everybody is your neighbor. But then again, evidently not. Great letter once again. Cheers!!
Definitely a weird promotion. Definitely some suspect descriptions in the promotional material. But also definitely something where you *should* apply some skepticism and think about whether it's likely $100k would just be given away like that, read some the fine print, see the word 'value' and go "ah, I see".
But also definitely something anyone planning such an event should be aware of is that there are many people who get taken in by scams and are vulnerable to such manipulation.
The responses of the company, public and private, definitely slate them firmly in the genre of grade A asshole.
Bugger this guy's a dick is it an actual company or just him as the ideas person. I can't share this as I think he's had enough limelight and because he's so fucking depressing.
People like this are too stupid to actually think about what they’re dangerous actions may do to others. The stunt was grotesque and put people’s lives in danger. A huge FUCK YOU to the “Safety” Warehouse is warranted.
Yikes. This is a rather unempathic and cruel event to have organised and so is Andrew's unapologetic response. It's also interesting to me symbolically that the fake notes have a profile picture on them and I'm guessing it's Andrew Thorn. This is where a famous person or monarch would normally be pictured which is arguably rather grandiose. Pivoting your company towards selling PPE and masks during a pandemic is also somewhat cynical and opportunistic too. Like David's 'friend' James, on the surface there appears to be a similar personality structure at play here.
Speaking more broadly (I'm not assessing or diagnosing anyone here), there is a concept in psychology called the Dark Tetrad which enumerates four core antisocial personality features. These four traits are independent but they partially overlap and are often 'co-morbid' which is a fancy word meaning 'multiple are present at the same time in an individual'. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_triad#Dark_tetrad
In summary, the four traits are narcissism (grandiose and entitled), machiavellianism (cynical and deceptive), psychopathy (shameless and ruthless), and sadism (enjoys cruelty). People who score high on multiple of these Dark Tetrad factors are interpersonally predatory and are generally best avoided, either as relationship partners or in commercial business dealings.
For a company that supposedly puts safety first, the event was a complete fail. According to the company's website "We believe the safe execution of work is a guiding behaviour of any ethical organization and are passionate about helping you achieve superior safety in your workplace, industry and community." Yeah right.
I would have thought that dropping a significant amount of money in public would be illegal. Even without the fake money, you know that people are going to get hurt
I love your work and he's certainly a dick... but compared to the other dicks you've dealt with, his uncooperative responses aren't that surprising considering he's not great at PR, you opened with "fuck you" and then called him "unhinged." There is a non-zero chance he was still in bed too... I'm looking forward to the follow-up!
Whenever I see a guy like this running a business I think, "it must be really easy to run a business."
I predict that this does not end for you here. He'll be back.
I hate when people don't take responsibility for their shitty behaviour. Own your crap and apologise for the hurt and damage caused. Its an extreme version of a lolly scramble, with cash (supposedly). Of course people were going to get hurt :(
And that comment from NZ masks?! Fuck what is going on
My initial reaction to this was "WTF were they thinking?!!?!!" Then the reaction came out and I thought - "oh right, no brain to think with". Then on reading your article this a.m. and seeing the history of amoral behaviour from this twat, it would appear that thinking is definitely a rare thing. I am hoping faintly that he will get arrested for something, like public endangerment - anything really. Coz he should be locked up. Key thrown. Nasty piece of works.
Folks if you haven't already discovered the YouTube channel "All gas, no brakes" please do yourself a favour and go check it out. Truly amazingly stuff.
Given your introductory remarks, David, ('fuck you, sincerely'), there was never any chance that Andrew or Safety Warehouse would respond in a useful way. Maybe if you'd been addressing someone sensible.... But just like me yesterday, telling someone he was a fuckwit, the thing about fuckwits is that they're not usually capable of taking that information on board.
I sympathise completely with your feelings, but you do seem to have blown a chance to get some useful information out of these clowns.
I worry a little David, you seem to have let your anger take precedence over your journalism a few times lately. Completely understandable and natural, but ultimately not good for either your work or your personal life. Just my outside opinion, of course.
Sometimes it's necessary to take a break from confronting the darkness of humanity.
I read this article and I see yet another narcissist at play. See how a narcissist immediately applies the victim to themselves rather than the villain. Seems to be a lot around at the moment.
No offense to all of the wonderful kiwis and of course, David, but damn NZ is SMALL! It almost seems like everyone knows everyone else. Seems it would make it much harder to be a dick, since everybody is your neighbor. But then again, evidently not. Great letter once again. Cheers!!
I am conflicted.
Definitely a weird promotion. Definitely some suspect descriptions in the promotional material. But also definitely something where you *should* apply some skepticism and think about whether it's likely $100k would just be given away like that, read some the fine print, see the word 'value' and go "ah, I see".
But also definitely something anyone planning such an event should be aware of is that there are many people who get taken in by scams and are vulnerable to such manipulation.
The responses of the company, public and private, definitely slate them firmly in the genre of grade A asshole.
Bugger this guy's a dick is it an actual company or just him as the ideas person. I can't share this as I think he's had enough limelight and because he's so fucking depressing.
People like this are too stupid to actually think about what they’re dangerous actions may do to others. The stunt was grotesque and put people’s lives in danger. A huge FUCK YOU to the “Safety” Warehouse is warranted.
Dick move by them.
I wonder if his company received the covid subsidy. Would hate to think that my tax money is spent on people like this.