Original by The Four Lads

They Might Be Giants

Instant gratification isn’t all it is cracked up to be, sometimes a little show doesn’t hurt.

I’d recommend Istanbul to any traveler too. It is a wonderful city. The people there are great (though the shop keepers are on the pushy side). I’m going back this fall.

And while I’m complaining about those poor good-hearted souls who just want to serve me a little joy alongside my dinner, I quit going to Miceli’s (“Hollywood’s first pizza house”) back in my twenties. All the servers there sing. As their website says, “We will serenade you with Italian arias, musical show tunes, classical standards…. all while you dine.”

I’m not saying they don’t employ some of the more talented waitrons in Hollywood. But dammit, when I go out to dinner, I usually just like to carry on a conversation with my tablemates. Next to impossible in that place.

But lots of people dig it. Go ahead and enjoy it, sez I. But it’s not for me. I appreciate a relatively personality-free serverbot, myself.

I would love to see someone with similar skills have a kind of “battle” with the ice cream guy. I picture it like the scene in an old jackie chan movie where he fights his master trying to eat rice from a bowl.

B. To those making the “ugly american” comments–I mean, WTF, there’s no (obvious) Americans in the fucking video!!! Can you at least save that shit for when we deserve it–this post is just about a vendor putting on a show. As with most comment sections–some people like it, some don’t, but what the hell with trying to turn it into an American’s suck thread???

I was probably in his best interest, anyway.

I’m not crazy!

You’re the one that’s crazy!

I think its a good piece of showmanship- the icecream guy pulls a crowd and the Japanese guy gets a story to tell, especially now it’s on youtube.

I appreciate a good sense of play and showmanship. I appreciate a good salesman who knows how to make his product shine.

If you just want to hand over money and receive ice cream, go to a grocery store.

If you don’t want showmanship, pick a vendor that’s not showy.

Saying “Can’t you just see the tension” misses the point. The point is to create tension and have some fun.

I don’t think instant gratification is the be-all end-all of our evolving relationship with each other. Putting a cheeseburger, fries, and coke through my window by the time I can drive to your window from your intercom is not the greatest goal we can achieve.

Screw that! Speak for yourself pilgrim. That was absolutely hilarious, in the same vein that a good Improv Everywhere prank is hilarious, and personally I’d rather vow to tip over the carts of curmudgeons who don’t like this video than to harass that hilarious ice cream vendor.

some people don’t like to be surprised or prefer not to be the centre of attention.

That’s exactly right.

I don’t wanna kick the guy’s stand over. I said, “Go ahead and enjoy it, sez I. But it’s not for me.” I don’t want to be the center of attention. I’m not about to volunteer to be the hypnotist’s stooge or the magician’s assistant. Heck, I’ll happily stand and watch and giggle at the ice-cream dude’s shtick. It’s a hoot, and takes talent and effort, and I do appreciate that.

But I’ll buy my ice cream elsewhere, and I don’t believe that makes me a spoilsport “ugly American” sourpuss. I have plenty of other causes to be called that, but an unwillingness to look dorkier than I need to, well, that’s not one of them. It’s the same reason I won’t chase a bouncing football down the street.

Americans might be unable to appreciate this and that’s ok. Americans think Ben&Jerry’s is “awesome” and live in “malls” from what I have heard. Cut them some slack if they have “personal” issues with playful ice cream vendors.

in this case i would said i just want my ice cream at 0:05, and said fuck it and walked away at 0:10. dude could keep it at that point. and as stated earlier usually the show/tourist places dont have the best products, just the best shows.

another thought… some people like being drawn into shows, some people hate being drawn into shows. some people like ice cream, some people hate ice cream. if you are an ice cream vendor and want to make your customers happy which group do you think are most likely to approach your stand and which would you cater to?

someone above said they live in turkey, like the ice cream, but dont buy it unless showing it off to a tourist because they dont want to go through the whole routine. doesnt that just say it all?