People sell some strange stuff on the internet. In the past, people have sold their cats on eBay, empty buckets, drinks bottles used by celebrities and plenty of other oddities. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell whether they’re actually serious or whether it’s all an elaborate lampoon. However, it is probably safe to say that whoever buys any of these bizarre products deserves whatever they get.
Gerrit Six, a teacher, decided to sell the Principality of Belgium on eBay. Though, in all fairness to Mr. Six, he did happen to point out that the country was not in mint condition and had quite a bit of incumbent debt. Even though this sale offered the chance of peaceful occupation that any self-respecting state or petty autocrat should have jumped at, no one seriously bid.
Some people put up these things just for comical effect and hope that their fellow internet shoppers will appreciate their sarcastic way. Others, however, seem to have an underdeveloped irony gland, and therefore can’t recognise even the most overly sarcastic listings imaginable. For example, someone is selling a vintage, mint condition air guitar, previously owned by such greats as Jimmy Page. That’s right. A guitar. Made of air.
This is one of those moments in life when perhaps we need to ask whether our entire society has lost the plot. The most disheartening thing is that some people do not always get the joke. One customer on eBay reported the air guitar after they were asked about the costs of shipping to different parts of the world. Although not confirmed, it is reported that the seller replied by saying that the normal FedEx shipping was not available so it must be done using Themiscryan Invisible Airlines. Perhaps now they realise that it was a joke all along!