For whom doth the bell toll?
As I understand it, and I admit that I may not understand it at all, every day when the stock market closes, somebody rings a bell and then this group of people comes out of a door and stands above the clock.
It's a different group of people every day, and the numbers can vary.
What's odd about this is that these people stand there with giant smiles. Some take bows. Some shake hands all around. A guy or two probably get in a little feel or pinch.
But they all act as if they have been selected Queen for a Day and get to take home the washing machine.
About this tradition, I have some thoughts:
1. Who are these people?
2. Who selects them?
3. Why do they act like they had to do with the performance of that day's market?
4. Even when the market tanks, why do they smile, shake hands, clap and hug?
5. I assume Ken Lay and his group of liars and cheaters stood up on the throne at some point and congratulated each other on the fact that they could stand there and take a symbolic leak on all the little people on the floor.
6. What happened to the people who were standing there on that black day in 1929 when the market crashed?
Did they jump? Shouldn't they have?
Comments
Mr. Wilson,
While you apparently have done a great deal of research on the hygenic aspects of urination, you apparently have not done the slightest amount of research on the traditions of the New York Stock exchange. Normally, the people you see "ringing the bell" are not employees of the exchange. They are often civic or service groups promoting an event or celebrating a milestone. I know you would be dismayed to discover that members of our armed services have often been involved in this daily ceremony. Often companies marking their anniversary will participate in the "ringing of the bell". While I realize that any overt demonstration of the success of a capitalistic system deeply offends you, I would expect that the editor of a newspaper would at least attempt to educate himself on the traditions of one of the financial cornerstones of our society before he chooses to clumsily mock it.
Posted by: Shocked | July 13, 2006 07:34 AM