var json_comments = new Array("
\"user-pic\"
Russ Savage
May 4, 2009 6:21 PM
Moderate | Flag for review

i hate them both so much.. i'd hate to even pick.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
OmniZero
May 4, 2009 6:25 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ticketmaster ruins your personal finances while AIG ruins global finances.

AIG is definitely worse.

Reply
5 replies
\"user-pic\"
Gtmac
May 4, 2009 7:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@OmniZero: You're comparing apples to apples. While that's normally a good thing, here it's not germane (or even Tito).

AIG, through negligent, greedy and ignorant practices, ruins global finances.

Ticket Master, through usurious and monopolistic practices, affects the ability to attend cultural experiences.

It's a comparison of economic (apples) and cultural (oranges) damages. Who knows which is worse in the long term?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
synergy
May 5, 2009 4:13 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Gtmac...and sometimes y: Economic woes can prevent people from having money to attend a cultural experience at all, much less have the luxury of worrying about why they can't just take their butts to the box office.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Russ Savage
May 4, 2009 6:43 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@OmniZero: i haven't been affected by the global recession, or any home mortgage.. so.. to me it's worse that I can't just pay a normal price to see my favorite bands. eff ticketmaster.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
synergy
May 5, 2009 4:12 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Russ Savage: So... you haven't (e.g.) grocery shopped or purchased gas in the last year or two?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
OmniZero
May 4, 2009 7:08 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Russ Savage: Just because you haven't been affected doesn't mean others have not been. Every time I hear of people getting laid off I just think how lucky I am to have a job.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Russ Savage
May 4, 2009 8:00 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@OmniZero: so those people can vote for AIG.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Dreamworks
May 4, 2009 6:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I'm not sure how this is even a contest. Ticketmaster, for destroying the ability for all people's to experience live entertainment. They are a monopoly that no one seems to regulate.

Yeah, AIG sucks and we're propping them up. But people were loving their incredibly easy to get mortgage for the home outside their price range as well.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
EarlNowak
May 4, 2009 7:26 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Dreamworks: It's like sophie's choice :(

Well, ticketmaster will still be around and screwing us next year, where AIG is only a villain till things calm down. So my vote is AIG this year, and ticketmaster in a year when the bracket isn't so tough.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
snowburnt
May 4, 2009 6:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Death to AIG and their whiny, self-entitled, lack-of-perspective letter writing ex-vp.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
sean98125
May 4, 2009 6:29 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

If Ticketmaster fails, it doesn't really affect the global economy and it doesn't cost the taxpayers a dime to deal with it.

If AIG fails, then the global economy goes into a tailspin.

AIG.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
coopjust
May 4, 2009 6:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Both are pretty bad, but Ticketmaster gave us a choice, while AIG spends taxpayer money like its nothing, and insured CDOs they knew were crap for short term profit.

AIG gets my vote.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
pjstevens77
May 4, 2009 6:32 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ticketmaster sucks, but its purely discretionary spending, AIG on the other hand has infiltrated so many lives, its a no brainer

DOWN W/ AIG!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
AraCBR
May 4, 2009 6:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

With AIG, as a consumer you have a choice. With Ticketmaster, many times you don't!!
ohhhh...smug Ticketmaster...we're coming for you!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Radi0logy
May 4, 2009 6:34 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

All the folks voting for Ticketmaster need to get some freaking perspective. Them getting this far is a travesty, really. Oh boo hoo, they charge you an extra $5 for your Dave Matthews Band tickets! Nooo...

AIG stole your money.

Reply
3 replies
\"user-pic\"
chris_d
May 4, 2009 7:24 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Radi0logy:
$5? If a ticket is $50, Ticketbastard will add about $30 to it.

It's false advertising. If you can't buy a ticket for $50, then it doesn't cost $50. It costs $80. Bait and switch.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
lawnmowerdeth
May 4, 2009 6:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Radi0logy:
Actually, the government stole my money and gave it to AIG.

Ticketmaster gets my vote.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Shane Elliott
May 4, 2009 10:20 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@lawnmowerdeth: however, the government is not an option in this voting bracket, so AIG is a good proxy. AIG gets our money by force of arms, whereas tickemaster only gets your money when you make a choice to deal with them. One company takes your money against your will and gives nothing in return, the other overcharges you when you choose to let them and gives you a service back.
AIG wins (or loses) by far

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
zlionsfan
May 4, 2009 6:46 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Hmm ... well, all aspects of Ticketmaster suck, while some parts of AIG were well-run and profitable ... but I guess that's really AIU now ...

I vote for a tie.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
woolygator
May 4, 2009 6:47 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

We should be angry at the US Gov't for giving the money to AIG. Not AIG itself. My vote is for ticketbastered!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
honestlytoomuch
May 4, 2009 6:48 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I can't believe it's so close! (55% AIG to 44% TicketMaster in case it changes in the next few hours.) I thought this would be a landslide...

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ADismalScience
May 4, 2009 6:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Is AIG isn't even a company? I thought it was just a settlement agent where taxpayer dollars pass through to investment banks via credit default swaps. And I guess they sell some insurance on the side.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
gerrylum
May 4, 2009 6:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@undefined: @Radi0logy:

AIG didn't do anything that the government and consumers didn't WANT them to do. You can't really blame AIG, the blame lies squarely on the Clinton and Bush administrations and the millions of consumers who thought it was a good idea to spend more than they had.

Reply
2 replies
\"user-pic\"
consumerfan
May 5, 2009 2:11 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@gerrylum: Ahem. Bonuses. Retreats. Did government and consumers want that?

Reply
\"user-pic\"
JGKojak
May 4, 2009 7:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@gerrylum:


By that same logic--


Ticketmaster didn't do anything YOU wanted them to do. I mean, you CHOSE to see the shows didn't you? If it really pissed you off, you shouldn't have gone.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
pecan 3.14159265
May 4, 2009 6:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I voted for AIG because even though I personally was not affected by them, others have seen their finances go to ruin and their savings disappear. That's far worse than choosing to pay fees to ticketmaster.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
coan_net
May 4, 2009 7:06 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I don't like AIG - So I don't do anything with them, I avoid them.

I don't like Ticketmaster, but I CAN'T AVOID THEM - Monopolies SUCK - Ticketmaster gets my vote.

Ticketmaster vs. Comcast - 2 monopolies in the final (Comcast is my only reasonable choice at my home, so yes - a monopoly to many)

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
laserjobs
May 4, 2009 7:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG has stollen much more than Ticketmaster but I so hate them both.

Reply
1 replies
\"user-pic\"
LandruBek
May 5, 2009 9:46 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@laserjobs: Lots of people I know have stollen more than I do -- I barely ever touch it. Same goes for kugel and strudel. Delicious, but fattening. Wait, what?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
TheBursar
May 4, 2009 7:13 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

The results just go to show you all how despised Ticketmaster and what they have done to entertainment really are.
Lets look at this another way. Would anyone other than AIG even come close to beating Ticketmaster?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
bluewyvern
May 4, 2009 7:15 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG provides some valuable services, and they have many branches other than the one that we all hate.

Ticketmaster is just a terrible, terrible, greedy, awful business model, and a monopoly. Sure, it's smaller-scale and its effects are less devastating in the grand scheme of things, but I think it should be quality, not quantity, that counts. Evil companies shouldn't get a pass because they're small or deal in luxuries.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Mykie Gunderson
May 4, 2009 7:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I've successfully avoided Ticketbastard by getting tickets at the venue, but I wasn't able to avoid the bailout money coming out of my taxes so that AIG can pay out bonuses.

AIG can suck it.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
JGKojak
May 4, 2009 7:25 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

A quiz to see if you're a little selfish and out of touch:


When voting for worst corporation, I


a. Choose the company that wrecked the world's entire economy


b. Chose the company that wrecked my evening seeing the REO Speedwagon/Styx tour

Reply
4 replies
\"user-pic\"
AtomicPlayboy
May 4, 2009 9:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I suppose this makes me \"clueless and out of touch\" in JGKojak's view, but I'm placing my votes based upon the business practices, intent, and customer service of the companies, not upon their affect upon society or the economy. I believe this thinking to be in line with Consumerist, a blog which focuses on consumer affairs, while the alternate thinking may be more applicable to political blogs or the like.

In this instance, we have a miserable failure of a company in AIG, which had a faulty business model, which contributed greatly to the current economic shambles, and which is now suckling at the government teat. Not good. However flawed, though, AIG provided goods and services under the auspices of an insurer which did actually enable some good outcome for the individual: in the form of [too] easy credit which enabled responsible borrowers to finance their aspirations of home ownership, business startup, etc. So, from a [responsible] consumer's perspective, there was some good.

Ticketmaster, on the other hand, bases its entire business model upon what used to be called \"scalping\", employs a predatory and monopolistic practice which inflates prices and decreases profits for performers, and basically only exists to screw everyone else involved in public music/sporting/etc. events. No good, no value, to anyone but Ticketmaster.

Hence my vote for Ticketmaster. JGKojak, you can take your sanctimonious, save-the-world-from-the-corporations philosophy elsewhere, or at least not be so vocal in your derision for those who quite reasonably are voting based upon a consumerist mindset.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
GuidedByLemons
May 5, 2009 7:49 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@AtomicPlayboy: I'm with you for pretty much those reasons.

@JGKojak: If you think AIG singlehandedly wrecked the world economy then I'm embarrassed for you.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
PhiTauBill
May 5, 2009 5:10 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@GuidedByLemons: It makes sense to vote for Ticketmaster as it will send a message to those in government that, despite the incredible hideousness at AIG (which the government is at least TRYING to rectify), we still cannot comprehend how the government allows a vicious scalping monopoly like TicketBastard to continue to be operated in an fashion unfettered by government law, rule, regulation or inquiry...

Reply
\"user-pic\"
bluewyvern
May 5, 2009 4:28 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

@AtomicPlayboy: You said that much better than I did.

Reply
\"user-pic\"
Shane Elliott
May 4, 2009 10:23 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@AtomicPlayboy: is there anything more anti-consumerist than being robbed by force of arms to give money to a company and not be given any goods or services in exchange? Monopoly

Reply
\"user-pic\"
AtomicPlayboy
May 4, 2009 11:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@Shane Elliott: Your point is taken, but if you want to blame someone for \"being robbed by force of arms to give money to a company\", you should be venting upon the US government, not the beneficiary of its idiocy, which is in this case AIG.

Reply
","","","
\"user-pic\"
Mike Amory
May 4, 2009 7:38 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

@JGKojak

I know I'm the dreaded facebook user, but in reality AIG isn't the only one at fault for the economy going down the crapper.

Some blame needs to be given to the people who took on loans that they couldn't afford. Yes AIG was giving them the hard sell but that doesn't mean you should go into major financial decisions blindly.

Blame also should go to the U.S. Government, specifically the politicians, for basically saying that everyone should own a home . It's ok NOT to own a home, there is nothing wrong with that. To me it's similar to the argument that everyone should attend college, there is no shame in going into a trade skill (Plumber, Electrician) if your not the brightest student.

AIG is still a greedy corporation and a major factor in ruining the economy, just not 100%.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
starrion
May 4, 2009 7:51 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Frankly I am stunned that people are voting for Ticketmaster.


Yes, they're evil. But consider that AIG has taken billions of tax dollars by threatening to go bankrupt and drag all of the major banks with them.


The level of incompetance and outright evil at AIGFP makes Ticketmaster's JV level evil pale by comparison.


AIG could have brought down the whole global banking system. (and still could if we stopped propping them up)

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
lifestar
May 4, 2009 7:57 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG FTW!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
valen
May 4, 2009 8:02 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

On one hand... We have an corrupt out of control multinational corporation that played a major role in creating the current economic recession while simultaneously giving executives bonuses that are funded by taxpayer bailout money.

On the other hand... We have a corrupt monopolistic corporation that single handedly crippled the live entertainment industry with its outrageous surcharges and horrible customer service.

While Ticketmaster is a strong contender in this race, I have been able to successfully avoid using their service or giving them funding. However, my federal income tax is currently being used to fund AIG in the form of federal bailout money. Due to my involuntary funding of AIG service, I am forced to choose AIG as the \"winner\" of this competition.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
wheresmymind
May 4, 2009 8:04 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

It's not as if AIG single-handedly screwed over the world economy. Sure they suck, but so do their competitors that used similar practices, their stockholders and analysts who never questioned where all this sweet, sweet money was coming from, and the governments that decided we didn't really need those old depression-era regulations anymore. Plenty of blame to go around to all parties involved.
Ticketmaster, on the other hand, are a textbook example of why monopolies suck. They jack up the price of their product with \"convenience\" and other charges, with absolutely no fear of competition. EVERYTHING that's wrong with their industry is their fault!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
ramthor
May 4, 2009 8:08 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

It's really a question of impact and degree.

Those who attend live entertainment productions are actually a slim piece of the population, out for kicks.

Those who face loss of savings and insurance plans comprise nearly everyone, and many families are desperate as a consequence.

Get real.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Hadoken3
May 4, 2009 8:14 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG took huge, stupid risks that put their business and our entire financial system in jeopardy. Ticketmaster just milks a system that doesn't regulate them and the only failure they can be responsible for is their own.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
starrion
May 4, 2009 8:18 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

\"It's not as if AIG single-handedly screwed over the world economy. Sure they suck, but so do their competitors that used similar practices, their stockholders and analysts who never questioned where all this sweet, sweet money was coming from, and the governments that decided we didn't really need those old depression-era regulations anymore.\"


You would be surprised. AIG took a leading role in the CDS marketplace. If this had simply been the 4-8% of mortgages that had defaulted we wouldn't be in nearly this bad a shape. The fact that the banks were counting on AIG to make good on the default insurance on their balance sheets meant that they had nowhere near enough captital to cover the losses. AIG was dominant in this marketplace and it will cost us billions more to make good on their promises.


The AIG bailout is one of the reasons the surviving banks had such a good quarter BTW.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
KHook321
May 4, 2009 8:27 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ticketmaster sucks, but I've gotta vote for the company that ruined the world economy. How could you not?

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
smackswell
May 4, 2009 8:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Augghhh!!! Cannot choose!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
yoni242
May 4, 2009 8:45 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ticketmaster has to take the cake. They have to win. They screw with fun. They screw people out of concerts that they want to attend. Even though AIG are scum, people still want to have fun.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Guvmint_Cheese
May 4, 2009 9:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I voted for AIG for their monumental failure that affected the entire financial system. Ticketmaster pales in comparison, they are just evil. But the vote for AIG might as well have been a vote for the real culprit in the WCIA, The United States Government. USG is the one now running banks, insurance companies, automotive manufacturers and pretty soon, health care....they might as well be an entry in this thing, and they should win it going away. USG, FTL.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
The_Legend
May 4, 2009 9:44 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

a. Inflated Hannah Montana tickets (whoopee).


b. Making your grandchildren pay for the mess AIG made.


AIG.

Reply
","","","","
\"user-pic\"
skywatchbob
May 4, 2009 10:40 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG is a no-brainer. They were involved in wrecking the economy and then took taxpayer money and spent it on parties. However, Ticket Master is worthless. Their only function is to add cost to concerts. If they went away it would save us a bunch of money. Death to Ticket Master, but face it, AIG is the worse evil.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
bigmac12
May 4, 2009 11:17 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ticketmaster is the worst.....imagine buying your own tickets so you can scalp them on another website. Not so much the amount of money, only the \"in your face control freak\" aspect of it.
They must be connected in \"Foggy Bottom\" big time.


Mac

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
crutnacker
May 4, 2009 11:58 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

C'mon people, AIG already got the message we hate them. Let's do the same to Ticketmaster. I'll never forget paying $22 in \"Service Fees\" to have Ticketmaster print and mail me two tickets to see the Rolling Stones.

AIG's mess is what it is, but the company at least had SOME value to customers at some point. Ticketmaster is simply a greedy ticket scalper doing an unnecessary task.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Idontwearpants
May 5, 2009 12:05 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

AIG was only a symptom of the much bigger problem. History's shown several times that economies that move away from being manufacturing-based and into being marketing-based always collapse in on themselves. The same thing happened in Europe a couple of times prior to WW2. Yes, what AIG did was bad. But they did provide products and services that a great many people found useful and helpful.

Ticketmaster, through the acquisition of all of their competitors and the use of exclusive contracts, has established a monopoly. They bully shows into their system with threats of locking them out of most venues and promoters in the country. They charge absurd amounts of money for fees that are nothing more than padding the bottom line. When you have the bands themselves going to Congress saying that they want to be able to sell cheap tickets, and Ticketmaster just flips them the bird and gets away with it, that tells you there's a serious problem. Include on top of that the fact that that Ticketmaster arbitrarily decides what laws and rules they wants to follow at any give time.

AIG's actions may have had a broader effect. But this competition is more about consumer treatment and overall quality of service than anything else, and Ticketmaster is by far the worse company in that area.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
PunditGuy
May 5, 2009 1:56 AM
Moderate |Flag for review

My heart says Ticketmaster, but my head says AIG.

AIG it is.

Reply
","","","","","","
\"user-pic\"
bumpducks
May 5, 2009 12:37 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Watch out- the NCAA might come after you for using the term \"final four\"!

I'll stand behind you, Consumerist!

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
Serpephone
May 5, 2009 3:21 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

No!!!!!!!!!! I want Ticketmaster to win because their wrong-doings more closely affect me than AIG! They have ripped me off for tons of money throughout the years!!!!!!

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
watchout5
May 5, 2009 5:01 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Ticketmaster is a monopoly AIG is just a tool.

Reply
","","
\"user-pic\"
David Brzezinski
May 5, 2009 5:42 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

Since I (sadly) don't go to any concerts, I have no direct connection to Ticketmaster. AIG, however, got a whole boatload of my tax dollars which they decided to waste, then ask for more. AIG is the worst.

Reply
","
\"user-pic\"
Thanatos
May 5, 2009 8:49 PM
Moderate |Flag for review

I have a choice when I apply for a loan or insurance.

However, I DON'T have a choice when I want to attend a concert. It's either Ticketmaster or take a hike...

Hands down, Ticketmaster is the worst of them all. There is a special place in the Inferno for Ticketmaster execs.

Reply
");