舊文重貼《從上空女郎談競爭準則，兼談TICKETMASTER案》2009/10/25

這不算是「新」聞了。

日前全運會找來了一個年輕可愛，身材勻稱的運動員（鄭淑支）在活動現場上空，展現人體彩繪與身體線條美。

這樣的活動馬上引來了台中市議員陳淑華與賴佳微以及現代婦女基金會姚叔文的指責。

陳：「這個做法非常誇張，而且女性半裸，尤其現場又是運動場合。」
賴：「她這樣上空貼胸貼，全運會上空貼胸貼彩繪的行為，不應該放在這樣子活動宣傳上。」
姚：「這種宣傳手法與運動會關連性不大，不僅失焦也引人非議，身為行政機關，應更注意兩性平權。」

關於兩性平權，我倒挺想問問，這位鄭姓運動員是被人拿槍抵著頭逼迫上台？還是自願的？若是出於自願，又與兩性平權何干？

過去我曾經寫過「從「殺很大」談言論自由」，裡頭我談到

…在婚姻市場、性相關市場（如酒店、阻街女郎、成人影片或遊戲）裡，訴求服務出售者（男女均可能）的青春肉體、性感體態、G奶、肌肉、英俊瀟灑亦或沉魚落雁，甚至更進一步訴求男性的才華、鈔票、資產，女人的貞操、純潔、幫夫運，都是真實世界常見的擇偶標準。

也就是說，在男女雙方各自採取了一些擇偶標準之後，這些標準也自然成為競爭的標準；為了取得美嬌娘、為了覓得好夫婿、為了生意興隆，無論男女都會在這樣的競爭標準之下想盡辦法讓自己能夠脫穎而出。

出神入化的化妝術、脫胎換骨的整型手術、不實用的跑車、擺明敲男人竹槓的情人節大餐….這些手段就會被採用。…

…不過在經濟學「自私的假設」之下，一個標準被選定了，不見得人人都會去遵守。通常會有兩種表現：一者嘗試鑽制度漏洞，另一者則是跳出來反對或試圖推翻該制度。…

…從經濟誘因角度來看，這些婚姻市場、性交易市場上後段班的人，是不是最有誘因去抨擊、反對這樣的競爭準則？

換言之，越是在某種競爭準則下難以勝出的人，就越有誘因去反對那個準則！（反之，越能佔到便宜的，就越會支持該準則）

下面是簡單的練習：

1.為什麼瑤瑤在香港嗆聲香港妹奶奶不夠看？誰是「奶奶競爭準則」的可能優勝者？

2.馬英九為什麼要強調他也不是那麼無能？而演藝圈內賣臉的偶像卻不必在乎無能與否？兩邊環境競爭準則有何差異？

3.以下是一些有關全運會上空事件，相關人物的照片。請讀者回頭想想，誰會是美貌性感競爭的優勝者？誰又有誘因去反對該準則？

鄭淑支

現代婦女基金會執行長–姚叔文

台中市議員賴佳微（右者）
賴佳微
台中市議員陳淑華（右者）

談完一個競爭準則後，我們來談談2007年，美國聯邦法院處理的一個案子：

Ticketmaster L.L.C. v. RMG Technologies, Inc.

Ticketmaster是一家網路售票系統公司。有點像是台灣的「年代售票系統」。
在網路上銷售百老匯、各種演唱會的門票。

不脫多數網路銷售的商業模式，Ticketmaster也是將門票賣得比實體銷售管道低廉，訴諸便宜大碗策略。

RMG Technologies則是一家軟體公司，他們寫了一套軟體，可以讓使用者在Ticketmaster開賣某場票的一瞬間，每秒下單數千張以上（還能筆筆偽裝成不同IP，來騙過Ticketmaster的系統）。換言之，軟體使用者可以在一兩秒內切完整場演唱會的票，然後轉賣黃牛票賺取差價。

Ticketmaster將RMG告上法院，指稱他們違反了著作權法（直接或協助侵害Ticketmaster著作權）、違反了千禧年數位著作權法、更違反了電腦詐欺與濫用法。

我認為法官在本案根本未審先判，結果就是過度擴張解釋著作權權利範圍，判決RMG得做出鉅額賠償。

法律方面的探討我們先不管，因為本文重點在於經濟學上「競爭準則」的概念。

整個案子關鍵因子只有一個，那就是Ticketmaster票賣得太便宜了！

那些廣受歡迎的表演門票，顯然市場均衡的價格遠大於Ticketmaster的票價。也因為如此，才能創造出「套利」的空間。

想想，要是Ticketmaster賣的比坊間還要貴，誰還會去開發「切票軟體」啊？

而經濟學的價格理論告訴我們，當價格被管制在均衡價格以下時，別的競爭準則會被引進。許多傳統經濟學家或是法學家以為競爭可以消弭，其實根本是腦袋空空的想法。


因為市場上，價格只是競爭準則的一種。當價格機制無法完全體現競爭時，新準則就會被引進。

本案Ticketmaster票賣得太便宜，我們很容易可以觀察出來，被引進的新準則就是：時間！

先到先贏，慢來的少吃一半！

既然新的準則被引進，而在時間上有優勢，例如那些可以整天守在電腦前面，或是願意寫或買套切票軟體的人，就有利可圖。他們的利潤，來自於他們在時間上的租值。

換言之，若是Ticketmaster不採取「票票均價，先下單先買」的準則，而是改採「競標」–價高者得模式，則這些切票者根本無時間上優勢可言！因為競標幾乎能將多數競爭侷限在價格一種準則上的機制。

所以，問題的根本點在於Ticketmaster本身，而非寫出切票軟體的RMG。

一個有趣的點，我們延伸一下：

對Ticketmaster來說，其實票是賣給一般使用者或黃牛，根本沒有差異。反正買方都得結清帳款才能領票。
那為什麼Ticketmaster要告RMG？

訴狀內Ticketmaster明白談到商譽（goodwill）受侵害的問題。顯然是太多買不到票的一般使用者開始抗議甚至打算杯葛Ticketmaster。
這些人沒有黃牛的時間優勢，也沒有切票軟體，所以他們當然有誘因去反對這個新引進的競爭準則。

這跟台中市議員反對身材曼妙的上空女郎，背後道理是差不多的。

Google IPO為什麼得罪了不少股票承銷商？也是因為他們採取競標機制，讓承銷商習以為常的「套利空間」蕩然無存。（承銷商是最有誘因去維持該制度的）

從這案子回頭看台灣的台鐵、高鐵網路語音售票，每當逢年過節就有類似的切票問題，說穿了也是因為票價無法反應逢年過節激增的需求而致。

議者有人會說讓票價自由浮動對窮人不公平。這在經濟學上也是沒大腦的一種言論。

一來，你壓低票價，結果新的競爭機制引進，照樣對多數要上班工作的中低收入戶不公平（新的競爭準則他們不見得有優勢）。
二來，價高者得，背後的一個涵意即：「主觀認為這東西很重要，願意付出更多來換取的人勝出。」這樣的涵意，何來不公平之有？
三者，大家看到大陸每年春節返鄉潮，也是因為票價過低的因素，造成一堆人春節前不工作跑去車站餐風露宿排隊的盛況。
這樣的盛況往往出了亂子，一年推擠踩死幾個人時有所聞。而人們不工作把時間浪費在排隊這種沒有生產力的項目上，對社會也是一種成本。消費者排隊付出的成本，也不會轉化成買方可以收取的財富。對大家都是浪費！

捨棄買賣雙贏的競標制度，改採買賣雙方皆輸的排隊制度，吾未見其明，只見其蠢也！

回到上空女。要不是有這個上空彩繪妹的爭議，我根本不知道台灣在辦全運會這檔事。
這種宣傳手法與運動會關連性不大？ 現代婦女基金會的姚女士顯然不懂行銷！

http://www.yuanyu.idv.tw/?p=525

【 Humans of New York 致杜林普：你才是充滿仇恨的人 ！】

「杜林普先生，我是一名新聞工作者……而我可以確信的告訴你，你才是充滿仇恨的人。」

近日，知名臉書專頁Humans of New York的攝影師 Brandon Stanton，對美國共和黨總統候選人Donald Trump發出公開信，對其種族主義傾向予以嚴厲抨擊，在信中，他強調面對杜林普不斷挑起民眾對於穆斯林的恐懼與偏見，他再也不能沉默忍受。

公開信中，Brandon言辭激烈：

「我見證著你發佈種族主義的謊言。見證著你對於白人優越主義長達48小時的沉默。見證著你愉悅地鼓吹暴力，甚至支持人們使用暴力並為之提供法律保護。你興奮的分享著用豬血子彈處決穆斯林的故事，你提議折磨並殺害恐怖分子而讓他們感到害怕。

杜林普先生，我是一名新聞工作者。我在過去兩年間曾在伊朗、伊拉克和巴基斯坦的街頭隨機訪問過數以百計的穆斯林，也在七個國家採訪過數以百計的來自敘利亞和伊拉克的難民。而我可以確信的告訴你，你才是充滿仇恨的人。」

公開信發佈至今，已經獲得近90000個分享。作為臉書上著名的專頁，Humans of New York創立至今已經六年，攝影師 Brandon Stanton用他自己的鏡頭，記錄紐約形形色色的人的故事，他沒有專業的攝影器材，也不是專業的攝影師，只是願意聆聽普通人的故事，記錄下他們的樣子搭配短短對話，勾勒出這座大城市的眾生群像。

（圖片來自Humans of New York，是Brandonc曾經拍攝過的一個女孩。這個來自伊拉克難民營的女孩Aya數次被美國拒絕入境，但她一直在努力用法律來維護自己的權益，作者希望大家一起來關心這個流離失所的難民女孩和她的故事。）

原文：
An Open Letter to Donald Trump:
Mr. Trump,
I try my hardest not to be political. I’ve refused to interview several of your fellow candidates. I didn’t want to risk any personal goodwill by appearing to take sides in a contentious election. I thought: ‘Maybe the timing is not right.’ But I realize now that there is no correct time to oppose violence and prejudice. The time is always now. Because along with millions of Americans, I’ve come to realize that opposing you is no longer a political decision. It is a moral one.
I’ve watched you retweet racist images. I’ve watched you retweet racist lies. I’ve watched you take 48 hours to disavow white supremacy. I’ve watched you joyfully encourage violence, and promise to ‘pay the legal fees’ of those who commit violence on your behalf. I’ve watched you advocate the use of torture and the murder of terrorists’ families. I’ve watched you gleefully tell stories of executing Muslims with bullets dipped in pig blood. I’ve watched you compare refugees to ‘snakes,’ and claim that ‘Islam hates us.’
I am a journalist, Mr. Trump. And over the last two years I have conducted extensive interviews with hundreds of Muslims, chosen at random, on the streets of Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan. I’ve also interviewed hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi refugees across seven different countries. And I can confirm— the hateful one is you.
Those of us who have been paying attention will not allow you to rebrand yourself. You are not a ‘unifier.’ You are not ‘presidential.’ You are not a ‘victim’ of the very anger that you’ve joyfully enflamed for months. You are a man who has encouraged prejudice and violence in the pursuit of personal power. And though your words will no doubt change over the next few months, you will always remain who you are.
Sincerely,
Brandon Stanton

【2016美國大選專題】https://goo.gl/hNz5Tn
【多方聲討杜林普「禁止穆斯林入境美國」言論】
https://goo.gl/DhlcPw

#端傳媒 #美國總統大選

來源：https://goo.gl/0LVRtC

馬英九以習近平為「他的（中國）國家主席」？疏忽還是惡搞？
　
　
剛剛在批踢踢英文板看到有人問([1])：原來英文中，一國的總統可以稱另一國總統為「his/her 國名形容詞 president」？真有這個用法？並指出有兩個媒體這麼寫：
　
1. （某新聞網站的圖片說明 [2]） Cuba's President Raul Castro, left, stands with his U.S. President Barack Obama.
古巴總統卡斯楚與「他的」美國總統歐巴馬並肩而站（？）
　
2. （美國之聲VOA學英文網站的文字稿 [3]） Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou told his Chinese president Xi Jinping that he was worried about China’s missiles deployed across the Taiwan Strait.
台灣總統馬英九告訴「他的」中國國家主席習近平……（？）
　
以上兩個英文說法若成立，則意味著歐巴馬對卡斯楚，或習近平對馬英九，是上對下、尊對卑、君對臣、中央對地方的關係。（但地方政府怎會有「總統」？）

但我認爲這英文的說法是不恰當的、是錯誤的，適當的說法應該是： his U.S. counterpart、his Chinese counterpart 才對，差了一字，含義大變。改成 counterpart 就讓雙方變成對等關係，這也才是外界對國家領袖的認知：關係對等。

卡斯楚的例子，我不好說什麼，只能說該圖片說明或許是一時筆誤，或者，該記者英文有問題。

馬英九的例子，則找到答案：各位聽一聽同一網頁中語音檔的唸稿，記者「巧妙地」把 his Chinese president Xi 唸成 Chinese president Xi，沒有不該有的 his，這表示該記者發覺文字稿有誤；或者也可能，記者本來製播時就是唸 Chinese president Xi，卻被哪個聽寫人誤寫還是惡搞，加上足以引起爭端的 his？這區區一個小字，錯得可真要命唷！

以下是VOA全文：
　
　　
Leaders from Taiwan and China met Saturday for the first time since the end of the civil war in China, more than 65 years ago.
　
　
The meeting was an effort to create goodwill between the two sides. In the past seven years, ties between the sides have increased. However, some Taiwanese say those ties have not resulted in economic gains or greater security.

China claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan when it formed the People’s Republic of China in 1949. Relations were icy until 2008. The two sides agreed to link the two economies.

Today in Taiwan, people are unclear about the benefits of the relationship. The island’s economy shrank in the third quarter of this year.

Many Taiwanese wanted progress from the meeting. Liu Yi-jiun is a public affairs professor at Fo Guang University in Taiwan. He said there were high expectations because these two leaders had never met. He said, after two years of planning, political and economic concessions were promised but none were seen.

Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou told his Chinese president Xi Jinping that he was worried about China’s missiles deployed across the Taiwan Strait. <== 這句話無故多了個「his」

He also said people in Taiwan were frustrated that China was blocking Taiwan’s foreign relations. China has 170 allies compared with 22 for Taiwan. This difference lets China keep Taiwan from developing its diplomacy further.

In response to Taiwan’s concerns about missiles, Xi Jinping said Saturday China’s missiles were not aimed at Taiwan.

However, economic concerns remain. Taiwan has signed free-trade agreements with Singapore and New Zealand. Both countries have relations with the two sides. But China has blocked Taiwan from joining the United Nations or other international organizations.

Taiwanese officials say deals with China have created 9,600 jobs among a population of 23 million. Agreements that opened tourism brought a total 2.8 million mainland Chinese to the island last year. That is up from almost no tourism in 2007.

Trade deals also have helped increase total imports and exports to $130 billion last year.

China remains Taiwan’s largest trading partner. And it is the top receiver of Taiwanese foreign investment.

Some people complain the benefits of 23 deals with mainland China covering trade and other areas are reaching mainly the owners of big companies.

In Taiwan’s capital markets, investment from China amounts to only a fraction of the island government’s quota, or the amount permitted.

Tseng Ming-chung is Chairman of the Financial Supervisory Commission in Taiwan. He said Friday that the Taiwanese government has approved almost every application for investment from China.

He says the amount of money is extremely small. He adds that the Taiwanese government is not refusing applications. Tseng says mainland Chinese institutions cannot freely set up qualified domestic institutional investors.

China insists on eventual unification with Taiwan. However, public opinion polls show most Taiwanese oppose that goal.

Nathan Liu says the future of relations between the sides is unclear.

“…They think that at least by the end of Ma’s term the two sides should at least reach some kind of agreement,” he said. He noted that, an understanding that the sides are going toward common goals is needed, although it may not be a signed agreement. “This is not complete yet,” he said.

President Ma Ying-jeou has supported closer ties with mainland China. But he and his KMT party have lost support. He must step down next year because of term limits.

A backlash against economic deals with China started mass street protests in March 2014. That anger has given the island’s top opposition party candidate a lead in opinion polls ahead of the January presidential election. Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party has been highly critical of President Ma’s dealings with China.

Experts say the Saturday leadership summit appears not to have done enough to change voter opinion.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Ralph Jennings reported this story from Taipei. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.