Seven New World Wonders - a Scam?

[aruna]

It came on the news last night; the seven new world wonders (http://www.new7wonders.com/index.php?id=633) have been chosen..

They are:


* Great Wall of China, China
* Petra, Jordan
* Christ the Redeemer (statue), Brazil
* Machu Picchu, Peru
* Chichen Itza, Mexico
* Colosseum, Italy
* Taj Mahal, India

* Great Pyramid, Egypt [Honorary Candidate]



The thing is, this voting for this has been going on for donkeys years. I first voted at least five years ago; back then it was free. The results were supposed to have been announced sometime a year or so from then. I checked in a couple years later, and I found out the voting was still going on, the date of the results announcement had been pushed forward a couple of years, and now you had to pay 50 cents in order to vote. I decided it was a scam and lost interest.

Now, it came on the news last night in Germany. The results were announced on 7.7.07. Apparently, 100 million people from all over the worlds voted, and the whole thing was organized by a Swiss millionaire who is also a businessman and entrepreneur. He certainly made of this a success, as it was very unknown when it started so long ago! And now it seems to have acquired a sort of officialdom. All over the world, the winning countries were celebrating as if they'd won the World cup. I think it's just a clever marketing campaign.

I think it's a good idea to have seven official new world wonders, don't know if public voting is the right way to go about it. People are obviously going to vote for sites in their own countries.

You were allowed to vote for seven sites. The ones I always voted for were the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu and the Pyramids. The Pyramids didn't quite make it... and I'm surprised that Machu Picchu did, because it was never in the top seven.

Whatever - somebody got very, very rich through this!

[aruna]

Here's some Wikipedia stuff about it (my bold):

New Seven Wonders

Main article: New Seven Wonders of the World

Two "New Seven Wonders" lists have been promoted since 2000.

In 2001 an initiative was started by Swiss corporation New Open World Corporation (NOWC) to choose the New Seven Wonders of the World from a selection of 200 existing monuments for profit.[15] Twenty-one finalists were announced January 1, 2006.[16] The results were announced on July 7, 2007[17]



Well, it's not a scam but it was definitely a business venture that worked!

[poetinahat]

Gee. We could have accomplished the same thing in an Office Party poll.

Except that it might not be such a great idea to have "Ray's hot tub" listed in Wikipedia....

[kristie911]

Ray's hot tub might not be in the top 7 wonders but I know it would make the top 10! :)

[aruna]

Here's some more about the controversy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Seven_Wonders_of_the_World

Ray's Hot Tub would certainly have made it into the final voting.

[DamaNegra]

I'm shocked that the Easter Island and the Pyramids did not make it. Easter Island shoudl've replaced the Redeemer and the Pyramids the Jordan thingie. I would agree more with that one.

[aruna]

i agree with you about the Jesus statue and Easter island.Egypt apparently asked for the Pyramids to be removed; supposedly because they are already in the ancients world wonders.

[oswann]

I'm surprised the ball of twine in Cawker City didn't make it in.

Os.

[Inkdaub]

I thought the Pyramids weren't really elligible as they are the only remaining Great Wonder of the ancient world.

I voted also for these things years ago. I hoped that Easter Island would make it but I'm glad that Machu Picchu is in. I like the Redeemer in Rio and I have always loved Petra.

[oswann]

I thought the Pyramids weren't really elligible as they are the only remaining Great Wonder of the ancient world.

I voted also for these things years ago. I hoped that Easter Island would make it but I'm glad that Machu Picchu is in. I like the Redeemer in Rio and I have always loved Petra.

Why? Who the hell cares? I mean they're cool and everything but how in the world can one have a preference for one big man made thing over another? And who thought there should be only seven? Why seven? Why not the Twenty Three Great Wonders?

You know what I see? Some sophisticated marketing ploy based on our retention level of "empathy to greatness". We can only feel really in awe in front of a limited number of things so if there were a whole bunch of wonders we would start to get blasé at the end. At the beginning we would be all "Wow it's really incredible what they were able to do. And you know they didn't have any tools like today" and by the time we got to the end everyone would be like "Yeah, whatever, a big stone head. Seen one you've seen them all."

Os.

[alleycat]

I voted for Graceland.

[William Haskins]

stonehenge gets shafted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/6281922.stm

spinal tap said it best:

In ancient times, hundreds of years before the
dawn of history.
There lived a strange race of people...the Druids.
No one knows who they were, or what they were doing...
but their legacy remains...
hewn into the living rock of Stonehenge...

Stonehenge, where the demons dwell
Where the banshees live and they do live well
Stonehenge
Where a man is a man and the children dance to
the pipes of pan
Stonehenge
Tis a magic place where the moon doth rise
With a dragon's face
Stonehenge
Where the virgins lie
And the prayer of devils fill the midnight sky
And you my love, won't you take my hand
We'll go back in time to that mystic land
Where the dew drops cry and the cats meow
I will take you there
I will show you how

[alleycat]

What about Atlantis?

[robeiae]

Why? Who the hell cares?
People...people who need people...

Oops. Sorry, Streisand moment.

People love lists. Why? Don't know. This one is as meaningful as the Ten Most Beautiful People In The World.

And frankly, aside from the Wall and the Pyramids, none of the things on the list seem to be "Wonders" at all. Easter Island is certainly more of a wonder than the rest, as well. Sure, they're impressive. But so is Mt. Rushmore. So are the Petronas Twin Towers. So are lots of things.

[alleycat]

People love lists. Why? Don't know. This one is as meaningful as the Ten Most Beautiful People In The World.

Yep. I remember when the year 2000 rolled around. There were lists for the best of everything for the 20th century . . . best books, greatest people, best movies, most memorable events, worse moments, best sushi restaurants . . .

[LloydBrown]

Stonehenge antedates the druids, btw.

[William Haskins]

spinal tap was a parody band, btw.

this was illustrated in their vacuous lyrics, btw.

a sense of humor is your friend, btw.

next you'll be telling us there weren't banshees there.

[Williebee]

I figured Paris Hilton would be on it. Come on, doesn't most of the world wonder what the hell is up with her?

[cray]

petra jordan? she's nothing compared to petra nemcova

[C.bronco]

I heartily disagree with the results. I've posted my own here http://cynthia-bronco.blogspot.com/search?q=seven+wonders
and
http://cynthia-bronco.blogspot.com/search?q=defies

[robeiae]

"Heartily disagree"?

Is that like "strenuously object"?

:D

[C.bronco]

"Heartily disagree"?

Is that like "strenuously object"?

:D
Indeed! I adverbily interject.

[Bartholomew]

spinal tap was a parody band, btw.

this was illustrated in their vacuous lyrics, btw.

a sense of humor is your friend, btw.

next you'll be telling us there weren't banshees there.

btw, chill.

[William Haskins]

you must have me mistaken for someone else.

[dclary]

btw, chill.
lol, shit, yo

[ChunkyC]

Seven man made wonders? Why didn't this make it?

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/oct02/mubig102002.jpg

I think it should count because it's man made and I wonder how anyone can figure out where they are going. :D

[dclary]

Seven man made wonders? Why didn't this make it?

http://graphics.jsonline.com/graphics/news/img/oct02/mubig102002.jpg

I think it should count because it's man made and I wonder how anyone can figure out where they are going. :D

We once got lost in St. Louis trying to get to the gateway arch. I swear to God we passed it like 4 times, all from 4 different levels of the same ramp/overpass interchange.

[alleycat]

This monstrosity, because I drew the structural plans for it.

http://www.consultwebs.com/ncphotos/images/nashville/bellsouth_26_550_dropwm.jpg

[TheGaffer]

i agree with you about the Jesus statue and Easter island.Egypt apparently asked for the Pyramids to be removed; supposedly because they are already in the ancients world wonders.


I can see how they'd get indignant.

"Um, we're one of the original Seven Wonders? Y'know, the list the Greeks made up some 2000 friggin' years ago? When the Pyramids were already 2000 years old? And the original list of 77 finalists includs the Burj al-Arab Hotel in Dubai, constructed in the ancient year of 1994???"

[TheGaffer]

spinal tap was a parody band, btw.

this was illustrated in their vacuous lyrics, btw.

a sense of humor is your friend, btw.

next you'll be telling us there weren't banshees there.


I don't think the problem was that the band was down. I think the problem may have been that we had a Stonehedge that was in danger of being trampled upon by a dwarf.

[cooltouch]

This gets my vote:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Mid_range_shot_of_the_Cadillac_Ranch.jpg

[ChunkyC]

We once got lost in St. Louis trying to get to the gateway arch. I swear to God we passed it like 4 times, all from 4 different levels of the same ramp/overpass interchange.
Oh great, Mac and I are going to be heading right by there on our way from the airport to Collinsville next month. :tongue

[alleycat]

We once got lost in St. Louis trying to get to the gateway arch. I swear to God we passed it like 4 times, all from 4 different levels of the same ramp/overpass interchange.
My best friend is from St. Louis. She swears there's some kind of loop around St. Louis where it's nearly impossible to find your way off of. Sounds like you were lucky.

[Stew21]

This monstrosity, because I drew the structural plans for it.

http://www.consultwebs.com/ncphotos/images/nashville/bellsouth_26_550_dropwm.jpg


The Nashville Batman Museum!
COOL!

[Stew21]

My best friend is from St. Louis. She swears there's some kind of loop around St. Louis where it's nearly impossible to find your way off of. Sounds like you were lucky.


That's crazy talk. I've lived in St. Louis for 8 years and have never gotten stuck on continuous loop.


Next time you visit the Arch, Deek, take 40 to Memorial.

Chunk - 70 east from the airport all the way to I55/I64 that'll take you to IL. cross the Poplar street Bridge. stay on 64 East - will take you right to collinsville.

[dclary]

Next time I visit the arch, I'm taking you. And a Garmin.

[alleycat]

That's crazy talk. I've lived in St. Louis for 8 years and have never gotten stuck on continuous loop.


Next time you visit the Arch, Deek, take 40 to Memorial.
They may have fixed it. My friend grew up there but hasn't lived there for twenty years.

[Stew21]

I've still never figured out how to get on 44 from Soulard. I know there's a way, I just can't ever see it.

[aruna]

People...people who need people...



And frankly, aside from the Wall and the Pyramids, none of the things on the list seem to be "Wonders" at all. Easter Island is certainly more of a wonder than the rest, as well. Sure, they're impressive. But so is Mt. Rushmore. So are the Petronas Twin Towers. So are lots of things.


Nobody who has seen Machu Picchu can doubt that it's a wonder. The city is made out of enormous blocks of stone weighing tons which somehow must have been carried up a steep, jungle covered mountain face to the very tip, and then carved in a such a way that not even a knife blade can pass between the stones - and yet they are carved in irregular shapes and all as neatly put together as jigsaw puzzle; and this by an ancient people using primitive tools. A whole city!

I've seen the pyramids, too, and this is every bit as amazing.

The Redeemer, in my eyes, is just a big statue. Nothing amazing at all about it; neither does it have any particular artistic merit.

[robeiae]

I've seen it. It's very impressive.

:D

[tourdeforce]

Are these great accomplishments just a little less wonderful when we realize that many of them were built by slaves or obscenely cheap labor who gave their lives and entire existence enslaved to that cause?

[robeiae]

I don't see why that must be the case. I don't think the Pyramids speak to the character of the builders at all. They are simply remarkable feats of construction.

[Lyra Jean]

I was watching the History Channel or it might have been National Geographic and building the pyramids was just a way to pay your yearly taxes.

Macchu Picchu I don't know. Help us build or be sacrificed to the gods. I would help build in that case.

[oswann]

I don't see why that must be the case. I don't think the Pyramids speak to the character of the builders at all. They are simply remarkable feats of construction.

They do speak of the possiblities of non-union labor.

Os.