i thought the text said it all.

...but it wasn't clear enough

Okay, I just got an email from someone on eBay, regarding one of my listings.

After having played Chrono Cross through 2.5 times, I decided to play something else, and figured I might as well sell the game. That way I can stockpile Paypal funding to buy more games. I like to think of it as a self-generating entertainment fund.

In the colorful description, I included the following, word for word:

"This is the original release, and is in very good condition. It comes complete with the 2 original game discs, insert manual, and accompanying jewel case."

Crazy me, I thought it was pretty damned clear that this was the original version, and not the greatest hits release.

So this is the emailed question I got, which tells me that it wasn't clear enough for the average bear:

"is this the original or greatest hits version?"

I did behave, and replied with the following:

"I do believe I said it was the original in the actual text of the listing, but yes, it is original and not the greatest hit version."

What I really wanted to say was:

"If you aren't intelligent enough to read the listing for content, where it CLEARLY states several times that it is the original version, and not the greatest hits release, perhaps you shouldn't bid on this game.

"I say this because I'm pretty sure that if you're that dense, you probably 1) will not enjoy the subtleties of the game, because it's clever and requires strategic planning, patience, and out of the box thinking, and 2) will be terribly confused by the complexities of the plot -- it's like a "Choose you own adventure" book, except with moving pictures and an interactive controller device! There's body swapping for criminy's sake, and an important message about how mankind is a mistake and a blight upon everything with which it comes into contact. You probably won't even care (if you even realize) that you're a patsy and have been duped into doing stupid things throughout much of the game by manipulative forces of evil.

But if you really want to ask me stupid questions and give me money as well, I guess I'm game for that, but on a limited basis. If you really want to drown me with idiocy, buy the game, but don't even dare to be suprised that the handling fee is going to at least triple."

But I didn't, because I'm a grown-up. And I want to sell things to people with money so that I can make money in return. It doesn't pay to alienate potential customers. Literally and figuratively. But mostly literally.

And now, to bed. But first, to set back all the clocks!