Going once, going twice...
I was at an auction today, for fun and hopefully to bag a deal as well! i've never been to an auction selling electronics before. To give you an example of what they're selling... XBOX 360 (!!), plasma screens, LCDs, laptops, ipods (older ones), PS2, PSP, mobile phones... someone actually got a laptop, ipod, PSP, mobile phone... for £50!
The auctioneer is really amazing. Playing with the psychology of the audience. He can sense the mood of the crowd, and he tries to entice everyone with each auction. He also forms opinion on everyone with each auction. He's got the momentum going so well, everyone was listening, waiting to raise their hand up for the next auction, including myself!
Then came the unexpected... an old man collapsed on the floor. I think the room was probably too warm. No one really knew what was happening as the man fell right in front of the auctioneer, literally under the nose of the auctioneer. Even the auctioneer thought the old man slipped and fell. The fall was slightly more serious. The old man couldn't get up.
Someone called out to ask for a mobile phone to call the ambulance. Others (me included) tried to contact the hotel staff (the event was held in a hotel). By the time i got back from reception, there were several people crowding round the poor man already. One of the hotel staff was holding what i think is a procedures folder! I'm not sure if that's a promising sign or not. Following good procedures is great, but if you have to pull out a folder in an emergency, i don't think that's promising at all? Are we so reliant on written procedures that we can't exercise common sense?
Anyway, the auctioneer's assistant tried to move the poor man away, against the advice of the hotel first aiders there. He got shouted at by another woman. She shouted something which had a sub-tone of "it's someone's life at stake here, it's not always about business".
Needless to say, the auctioneer ended the auction. He lost the mood of the crowd, he lost motivation to go on. I guess he hope to cut his losses by ending early.
The auctioneer is really amazing. Playing with the psychology of the audience. He can sense the mood of the crowd, and he tries to entice everyone with each auction. He also forms opinion on everyone with each auction. He's got the momentum going so well, everyone was listening, waiting to raise their hand up for the next auction, including myself!
Then came the unexpected... an old man collapsed on the floor. I think the room was probably too warm. No one really knew what was happening as the man fell right in front of the auctioneer, literally under the nose of the auctioneer. Even the auctioneer thought the old man slipped and fell. The fall was slightly more serious. The old man couldn't get up.
Someone called out to ask for a mobile phone to call the ambulance. Others (me included) tried to contact the hotel staff (the event was held in a hotel). By the time i got back from reception, there were several people crowding round the poor man already. One of the hotel staff was holding what i think is a procedures folder! I'm not sure if that's a promising sign or not. Following good procedures is great, but if you have to pull out a folder in an emergency, i don't think that's promising at all? Are we so reliant on written procedures that we can't exercise common sense?
Anyway, the auctioneer's assistant tried to move the poor man away, against the advice of the hotel first aiders there. He got shouted at by another woman. She shouted something which had a sub-tone of "it's someone's life at stake here, it's not always about business".
Needless to say, the auctioneer ended the auction. He lost the mood of the crowd, he lost motivation to go on. I guess he hope to cut his losses by ending early.
posted by Shang Lee at 6:20 pm | Article's link
3 Comments:
Maybe he's doing it out of respect for the old man.
that's what i hope, but the cynical part of me actually think he's secretly cursing the old man!
Well, that would be possible too. Innocent until proven guilty :)
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