To continue my story about being a testing representative for Proctor & Gamble, I was also a testing representative for Betty Crocker.
You have to go back to St. Ann's Catholic Church basement in Louisville, Kentucky in the late 60's. Betty Crocker was testing out new brownie mix. Brownies with nuts. Brownies with chocolate chips, and chewy brownies.
Anyway, these housewives, who had no "outside the house" job, came and picked up their brownie mixes.
A week later, they reported to representatives who asked various questions about the brownies. Did you like the flavor? Rate the taste 0-10. Should the mix be darker? Lighter? etc.
So a woman came in and stated she was ready to fill out the questionnaire.
"Fine," I thought and I led her to a private table. Then the interview began:
Me: Did you like the brownies?
Her: Yes.
Me: Was it light and fluffy enough?
Her: Well, I actually didn't eat them. I'm on a diet.
People..I went balistic.
What? You never tested the brownies, yet you promised to cook them exactly as printed on the box and taste them.
The conversation went further:
Her: My brother ate them.
By now I knew something was fishy in Denmark. So I proceeded to tattle on this lady for falsifying information.
Needless to say, a couple of days later, Betty Crocker didn't need me anymore.
Does it always pay to have a moral and ethical conviction?
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