Why is it so expensive to go out?

[spman 0]

So for the first time in line a long, long, time, I had a night off from work at school, so I went to hang out with some friends. First we went like 30 miles down the highway to play lasertag. So we get there, and it's 8.50 a game. It was fun, but not worth the money. Then one of my friends decided we should drive all the way back towards home and go rollerskating. Now I haven't been rollerskating since 1992, so I had no idea what to expect. First the interior of this place looks like it's fucking 1987, neon lights, neon paint, the whole bit, except now it's full of hoodrats, all they play is hip hop, and half the rink is taken up so the hoodrats can try and dance. Now how much do you think rollerskating in the ghetto costs? 15 dollars, which included a rental fee for rollerskate, blades were 5 dollars extra. I remember it being 2 dollars as a kid, which wasn't THAT long ago. I figure the extra expensives is probobly caused by lawsuits, becasue we all had to sign a 2 page liability waiver. The interior of the place was at least nostolgic, but this was the worst waste of 15 dollars ever. It was obvious that they didn't upkeep the skates at all, I got some retro-70's pair that stank, and were broken, the wheels were totally misaligned, and I fell twice and sprained my wrist. It didn't help that I haven't skated since I was 7, and wasn't particularly good back then either. At least they had a 4 player X-Men and Spider-Man arcade though.

 

So anyways, when did things get so expensive? I shouldn't be surprised, having worked at a movie theater, one of the most expensive forms of entertainment going today, but 15 dollars to get injured at the rollerskating rink is nuts. I hear bowling now is like 8.50 a game. If you still happen to be lucky enough to have an arcade in your area now, the lightgun shooters and sit-down racers from 10 years ago are a dollar a game, while more recent stuff like DDR is 1.50+ for like 3 songs. How can anyone afford anything these days? Should I just move out of the Northeast?

[Guest Princess Leena]

It's probably more expensive out west...

 

I suggest hobbies that are free. Like tennis.

[Guest]

If you want cheap, move to Arkansas, Alabama or Mississippi. That's where you will find economic bliss.

[Art Sandusky 0]

No you won't. Shit pretty much costs the same down here and wages are lower. How much people are making isn't keeping up with prices.

 

Yeah, $5.15/hour is a real swell minimum wage.

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

It's still $5.15 in SC? That's awful.

[Art Sandusky 0]

That's what it is in most states still.

 

For more information: http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm

[Giuseppe Zangara 0]

That's depressing.

[MrRant 0]

$7.63 in WA bitches.

 

Thank god I make more than that though...

[Special K 0]

Are you from WA Rant?

[Darth Vader 0]

Kansas $2.65??!?! That can't be right.

[Special K 0]

It's only 2.899 here. Like I'm going to be tricked to go to a place where it's 2.90! That extra hundredth of a cent is going into my kid's college fund!* Screw you, man!

 

*Crack for me.

[Red Baron 0]

Ya, that Kansas thing isn't right somehow.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Read the part below, guys.

The State law excludes from coverage any employment that is subject to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act.

 

Kansas sucks.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

And you all make fun of me for being a grumpy old bastard.

 

Yeah, $5.15/hour is a real swell minimum wage.

 

And someone who can't find work that pays more than that must be overflowing with job skills.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

What people don't understand, is that the minimum wage wasn't designed to provide jobs where someone could be self-sustaining and provide for their family. It's designed to guarantee a basic level of pay for all jobs, primarily part time jobs and jobs for people still in school, etc. Basically the whole argument that the minimum wage needs to go up so people can support themselves with it is bogus.

 

Oh, and btw, paying $15 to go skating is nuts. Here in Wisconsin, two people can go to a movie for about that (and that includes popcorn and soda at smaller theaters).

[Guest treecelightning]

What people don't understand, is that the minimum wage wasn't designed to provide jobs where someone could be self-sustaining and provide for their family. It's designed to guarantee a basic level of pay for all jobs, primarily part time jobs and jobs for people still in school, etc. Basically the whole argument that the minimum wage needs to go up so people can support themselves with it is bogus.

 

Oh, and btw, paying $15 to go skating is nuts. Here in Wisconsin, two people can go to a movie for about that (and that includes popcorn and soda at smaller theaters).

 

Where the hell in Wisconsin do you live?? I'm in MN, but I always thought things were fairly comparable between the two states. There are som dollar theaters around here you could pull that off at, but you could pretty much rent any movies they get by the time they get them. If you want to see anything current, it's gonna cost you at least 6 bucks a ticket for a matinee. There's a reason I only saw like 3 movies in the theaters last year.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

What people don't understand, is that the minimum wage wasn't designed to provide jobs where someone could be self-sustaining...

 

Shhh. What are you going to tell me next -- that Social Security wasn't intended to be someone's sole source of retirement income?

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

"Why is it so expensive to go out?"

 

 

'Cause shit be costin' money, yo.

[Boon 0]

At least they had a 4 player X-Men and Spider-Man arcade though.

I mark whenever I find the 6-player X-Men game.

 

That is all.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Don't forget the "three screen" layout, too.

[FroGG_NeaL 0]

THe Original Uncanny X-Men The Arcade Game is at my local Marque Cinema.

 

 

I fucking love this game. One year at the gameroom on the pier of holden beach, I spent at least 100 bucks playing this game. People would watch me and shit.

 

I was like Tommy, only I'm only blind in one eye...

 

But, yeah, The Marque has tons of classic games and pin-ball machines. Simpsons, Southpark, Futurama, The Flintestones and mofuckin' Family Guy Pin-ball machines IN A ROW.

 

Me and my boys have Cartoon Pinball Tournies.

 

They also have The original Donkey Kong, Stret Fighter 2, Mortal Kombat III, Area 51, Pac-Man and

Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, Spider Man: Maximum Carnage, man.. that's all I can think of, I'm fuckin' high.

 

I'll take goddamn pictures of the place and post them here.

 

I can call "FroGG_NeaL's Pointless Outings", and make a whole series of them.

 

 

"It's up to YOU True Believer!"

 

 

 

Peace

[Guest Monty Burns]

Yeah, doing stuff sucks.

[MrRant 0]

Are you from WA Rant?

 

 

Group: Members

Posts: 11982

Joined: 13-April 02

From: Everett, WA

Member No.: 1923

 

 

Yeah, I am.

[Guest Felonies!]

What people don't understand, is that the minimum wage wasn't designed to provide jobs where someone could be self-sustaining and provide for their family. It's designed to guarantee a basic level of pay for all jobs, primarily part time jobs and jobs for people still in school, etc. Basically the whole argument that the minimum wage needs to go up so people can support themselves with it is bogus.

 

Yeah. I'm working on No Logo, almost done now, and she's talking about how Borders employees were fighting for a living wage. Okay. I go to Borders often. I bought the aforementioned book there, as a matter of fact. I'm sure the employees are fine people, but unless there's some sort of sweatshop going on behind Children's Fiction, they have the fucking easiest jobs I've ever seen in my life. So easy, I might do it over the summer. You don't have to wear a dorky uniform, you only have to look moderately respectable as you stand at a desk and tell people where books are. Yeah, stocking books might be a bit of a bother, but no worse than putting shit on shelves at a grocery store. Easier, even, since books don't break when you drop them, and jars of salsa do. I know DoCock works at Borders, maybe he can chime in, but I haven't seen them really do anything that commands a "living wage." Maybe I have a skewed perception of the customer-service aspect. I try hard to be a good customer (good service is a team effort!), so I don't really have a chance to observe any real "good God I hate my fucking job" sentiments.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

They deserve a living wage because Borders makes too much money, or something.

[Guest Felonies!]

Borders not only has lower prices than Barnes & Noble, they also give you a 25% discount for being a member whereas Barnes & Noble only takes 10% off and charges you for it annually. B&N only has them beat in the music section, and not even by that much.

[Art Sandusky 0]

Borders, like everyone else, deserves a living wage because prices of goods and services are outpacing wages faster and faster. Anyone who denies this is simply too comfortable themselves to care about others.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Borders, like everyone else, deserves a living wage...

 

Uh, no, they don't.

 

And what amount do you determine is a "living wage?" Also, when making this determination, are you targeting this "living wage" for a single guy in his 20s with no kids, or do you assume everyone has to bring home the bacon for a family of 6?

 

I guess I could also ask about what cost of living standards you would base this "living wage" off of and stuff, but it's a Friday and I'm already thinking about kicking back in comfy beanbag and starting up Madden '05 once I get home from work.

[Black Lushus 0]

are we also factoring in the schmucks that live beyond their means? In other words, just because you make 4000 a month, after taxes, doesn't mean you should have $3500 in bills.

[Scroby 0]

Are you from WA Rant?

 

 

Group: Members

Posts: 11982

Joined: 13-April 02

From: Everett, WA

Member No.: 1923

 

 

Yeah, I am.

 

My dad lives in Bremerton.

 

 

Yes doing stuff is to damn expensive and I blame gas as well. I do a lot of traveling on my weekends (wrestling shows and Rocky Horror) and doing the week, I really try not to go out an do anything because I spend at least 40 to 60 bucks on the weekends, and while having the low paying job at Gamecrazy I had to becarful of spending to much money to fast. So glad I'm leaving that place.