Caveat emptor

'The retention of capital punishment in many of the states in the USA is partly a result of local democracy.  Local people exercise democratic choices and vote to retain execution as the ultimate punishment.'  An interesting thesis and another fascinating 'Thinking Allowed' programme presented by Laurie Taylor on BBC Radio 4.  Would people in the UK vote in a referendum for the return of capital punishment?  Perhaps. Or perhaps attitudes have moved on apace.  I certainly hope so.  But I have a new idea for a programme for Laurie, if he's interested.  'The difficulty of recommending books, films or music to friends.'  It is a stratagem fraught with difficulties and should really only be attempted if you are more than halfway sure that the tastes of your friend and your own coincide closely.  Otherwise there is the possibility of recrimination, bitterness, perhaps even anger.  Even more so when it comes to recommending a holiday destination. Just  imagine spending all that money on a vacation somewhere only to find when you arrive that you hate it.  Who do you blame?  Your friend of course.  Not so bad if it's a paperback book or a cd, especially if you lend it to them first.  Restaurants are ok because you can always blame the chef or the service on the night they go.  Films too. 'You didn't enjoy it?  But the reviews were so great.  Are you sure you understood the narrative twists? / the underlying leitmotiv? / the director's extended metaphor? / and etc.'  Your friends have a responsibility too of course and are free to act or not on the advice you proffer.  Back to the idea of democratic choice.  If you chose to purchase anything on a recommendation please be aware that the recommendation is inherently flawed in that it  comes from another.  Caveat emptor, says I. The doggy cartoon is only tangentially relevant to all of this but it made me laugh.  A bit like the spoof tv ad that purports to advertise doggy dentures.  It's silly but I always smile when I see it.