“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what is all this fuss about finance companies?”
“Well,” Bindu’s father Percy said, “everyone is very worried about finance companies these days...”
“And why is that, thaaththa?” Bindu wanted to know.

“Why, one finance company has collapsed and its boss has run away...” Percy explained.
“But why is that such a serious matter?” Bindu was still puzzled.
“Why, he has apparently taken nearly a billion rupees with him...” Percy observed.
“And no one has been able to catch him yet?” Bindu inquired.
“Not only have they been unable to catch him, it seems that many sports stars and even policemen have been among his victims...” Percy declared.

“But thaaththa,” Bindu argued, “isn’t the big bank supposed to keep a tab on these finance companies?”
“Indeed, they are supposed to,” Percy said, “but now it appears to be too late...”
“Why do you say that?” Bindu wanted to know.
“Why, the culprit has run away now, hasn’t he?” Percy pointed out.
“So, what does the big bank have to say about that?” Bindu asked.

“Well, they have a rather curious explanation for all this...” Percy said.
“And what explanation is that, thaaththa?” Bindu demanded.
“Well,” Percy explained, “the big bank says that the media is to blame for this man running away with all this money...”
“But, thaaththa,” Bindu argued, “how could that be?”
“Why,” Percy said, “the big bank says that the media should have checked whether these finance companies were safe to invest in, before they published their advertisements...”
“But thaaththa,” Bindu said, “that’s rather a difficult task for the media, a newspaper for example, to do, isn’t it?”
“That may be so,” Percy conceded, “but the big bank thinks that is what the media should have been doing...”
“But that can lead to a lot of problems, thaaththa...” Bindu protested.

“Why do you say that?” Percy asked.
“Why, thaaththa, just imagine what would happen if newspapers began to inquire into whether all the advertisements they displayed were genuine or not...” Bindu suggested.
“Why, what would happen then?” Percy wanted to know.
“If the newspapers advertise a car, for example,” Bindu said, “they would first have to satisfy themselves that the car was safe to drive...”
“That would of course be difficult...” Percy agreed.

“And if they advertise a book, they would have to first read the book themselves and decide whether it was a good book to read...” Bindu proposed.
“Yes, they would have to do that too...” Percy said.
“And what if they advertise a school?” Bindu wondered, “the newspaper would first have to send someone to that school to find out whether children were being taught properly at the school or not...”
“Now, that would be difficult indeed...” Percy observed.

“And if the newspaper advertised clothing, those in the newspaper would first have to test it by wearing it themselves before carrying the advertisement...” Bindu argued.
“Now, wouldn’t that be fun?” Percy wondered.
“What would be real fun is when the newspapers advertise food; then they would have to taste it first before carrying the advertisement, if they are to follow what the big bank says...” Bindu noted.
“That wouldn’t be a bad idea either...” Percy agreed.

“But thaaththa,” Bindu said, “the real problems start if the newspapers start carrying advertisements from the big bank...”
“Why is that, Bindu?” Percy was curious.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “if the newspapers were to follow the instructions set out by the big bank itself, they would have to check whether the big bank is in safe hands and probably check whether the guv’nor is fit for his job too...”
Percy didn’t quite know what to say to that.