Wall Street Douche Bags; Now In A Theater Near You

Why is it that every portrayal of a Wall Streeter in mainstream media – from the infamous Gordon Gekko to the impotent David Kaplan (HBO’s ‘How To Make It In America’) – is more douche-tastic than the one that preceded it? Circle the correct answer:

  1. Hollywood hates Wall Street. The movie industry’s blind opposition to the idea of box-office futures exchanges ala Cantor Futures Exchange and Trend Exchange is further evidence of this. Right brains and left brains just don’t mesh.

  2. America hates Wall Street. Popular portrayals of finance types simply reflect that animosity. If you want to make a lot of money you have to expect that kind of backlash from the less fortunate/less ambitious/less capable when things get a bit rocky.

  3. Wall Streeters are douche bags. This industry attracts the most superficial, materialistic and emotionally empty people on the planet, and fills them with an inflated sense of self worth. All Wall Streeters are douche bags of colossal proportions simply by the nature of that process.

  4. None of the above. I have a better answer than all others – such is my douchebaggery.

 

Seems like this hatred for Bankers is everywhere. I just got back from watching the new animated movie "Despicable Me" with my girlfriend. The main character in the movie goes to the "Evil Bank" to get a loan for his project to steal the moon. The sign at the bank reads "Evil Bank: Formerly Lehman Brothers". How does this shit make it into animated movies for kids???

 
  1. False - Hollywood LOVES wall street. Every good blockbuster needs a villain, and what's better than a smooth talking criminal in a Brioni suit trying to take over the world?

  2. Half-true - Americans might hate wall street, but that's only because they aren't in on the scam. More fear than hate.

  3. False - Wall Streeters ARE douche bags by and large, but the media portrays them in a friendlier light than they deserve. Calling themselves "Type A - Hyper competitive, Uber conservative" is a nice way of saying totally insecure with no balls, and definitely not gold ones as your avatar would suggest.

So my answer is none of the above. The question is inherently flawed. Yeah, epic douchebaggery on my part.

 
Best Response
evilbyaccident:
1. False - Hollywood LOVES wall street. Every good blockbuster needs a villain, and what's better than a smooth talking criminal in a Brioni suit trying to take over the world?
  1. Half-true - Americans might hate wall street, but that's only because they aren't in on the scam. More fear than hate.

  2. False - Wall Streeters ARE douche bags by and large, but the media portrays them in a friendlier light than they deserve. Calling themselves "Type A - Hyper competitive, Uber conservative" is a nice way of saying totally insecure with no balls, and definitely not gold ones as your avatar would suggest.

So my answer is none of the above. The question is inherently flawed. Yeah, epic douchebaggery on my part.

nicely done sir, and an extra douche nozzle bonus point for use of the word "epic". you're going places kid.

 

Brioni suit trying to take over the world - almost spit my Starbucks roast all over my computer.

evilbyaccident:
1. False - Hollywood LOVES wall street. Every good blockbuster needs a villain, and what's better than a smooth talking criminal in a Brioni suit trying to take over the world?
  1. Half-true - Americans might hate wall street, but that's only because they aren't in on the scam. More fear than hate.

  2. False - Wall Streeters ARE douche bags by and large, but the media portrays them in a friendlier light than they deserve. Calling themselves "Type A - Hyper competitive, Uber conservative" is a nice way of saying totally insecure with no balls, and definitely not gold ones as your avatar would suggest.

So my answer is none of the above. The question is inherently flawed. Yeah, epic douchebaggery on my part.

 

Hope yeh didn't get yeh roast extra hot, Bar dear.

Saw Despicable Me over the weekend too. What a treat. There were definitely two movies playing--one for the kiddies and one for the pseudo-kiddies who collectively snickered when Gru schlepped his shishkabob bootay into the Bank of Evil.

Back to the topic at hand.....this mainstream Mainstreet loathing of Wallstreet types....Butler puts it best: Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark.
 

fine line between douchebaggery/arrogance and justifiable confidence. i jumped through the proper hoops (valedictorian in hs, perfect SATs, graduated magna from ivy league undergrad, etc.) and all those bums didn't.

 
  1. Wall Streeters are douche bags. This industry attracts the most superficial, materialistic and emotionally empty people on the planet, and fills them with an inflated sense of self worth. All Wall Streeters are bags of colossal proportions simply by the nature of that process.

Jackpot, great description of what I am and always wanted to be.

 

I think you have a combination of all the things listed.

Like someone mentioned, Hollywood is looking for a villain. Wall Streeters fit the bill because they are stereotypically wealthy and are often disliked amongst those in the general public.

That dislike often stems from a couple of things...(1) Societial standards often flesh out to the lowest common denomanator...so you have people like dave742 who is always seen as an "overachiever." The general public doesn't understand what drives someone to achieve all the things he has because "you can live just fine without them." Of course you can live with out them, but the question most people on this board asks themselves is whether you want to live without them and what are the opportunity costs of not having them.

(2) Flat out douchebaggery, as described above. You have people that are average, or above average, that make a large amount of money and often work with folks like dave742 and that gives them a sense of achievement and confidence. "Yeah, I didn't do all those things, but the guy I work with and party with did and we get paid the same." I'm not bashing anyone, let me make that clear, and I did not graduate first in my class...at least not anytime after elementary school, lol.

(3) This also ties back into point # 1 but most people are short sighted and don't really look past their next paycheck, where as people on Wall Street typically have some idea of what happiness is and what it is going to take to get their...what sacrifices they will have to make. I have friends that pretend they don't want to be rich (as if it was something they really could control) because "money doesn't buy happiness" etc (this is why I didn't hesitate to move away for a job). I call bullshit. These are the same people that spend every last cent on new clothes, watches, sunglasses, shoes, etc...every time they get paid...if you gave them $100 more dollars every paycheck, they would spend $100 more dollars every paycheck. As an crude example, every guy I have ever met loves exotic sports cars so I don't believe it when someone says they wouldn't want to ever own a Porsche, Lambo, etc so they don't need to be rich. That just an excuse. Yeah, maybe you wouldn't drop the money on it if you could afford it, but not wanting one isn't a reason for not wanting to wealthy. It's an excuse because people know that they don't have what it takes to become "that successful" so they don't try and they kick around some excuses. Who doesn't want to take nice vacations and stay in nice hotels, campers, tents...whatever floats your boat? Who doesn't want to sit first class in an extra wide leather seat that actually reclines far enough back that you can take a nap?

Look at how many wealthy people, like "F.U. money" wealthy, who could literally retire and spend all of their time burning $100 bills until the day that they died. Do they retire? No. They may step down as the CEO but it is usually to move onto to something else. It's more a personality trait than a conscious decision of "yeah, I want to be rich" and most people don't have it in them.

Regards

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

good points...couple counterpoints and additions

1) those people who say "you can live just fine without them" are the problem with today's society. apathy is rampant and mediocrity is rewarded. that's why i love fi-nance bc if you are average, you will be shat on.

2) the average/above average crowd has dwindled thanks to this recent economic downturn. the talent pool had been very diluted...with chumps with state schools and general non-targets getting quite a few IBD analyst positions. we still have more dead-weight to get rid of so beware. hopefully, cphbravo96, you've learned to do one thing really well so you are needed.

3) screw the people who make excuses. they should be shot. also, the only subjective measure of success in life is money. i have more money than you, i'm better than you (watch the worthington's law skit from mr. show). i'll end on an appropriate quote "They say money can't buy happiness? Look at the fucking smile on my face. Ear to ear, baby."

 

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