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Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

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Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#41

Post by chaostheory »

deerpig wrote: post #27

US$1500 for something that we cobble together here in Cambodia from rubbish because we don't have any money? You have rubbish from an industrial collapse? We have rubbish from a fucking genocide! Now THAT is furniture with a story! We are happy to sell you standup desks built from wood from french colonial Indochina for US$1500. Our new office is being renovated from such a building. But if you want a REAL story, we…

I know you're being sarcastic, but it's viable if you have the right marketing.

> But if you want a REAL story, we have a premium standup desk made from reclaimed wood from work camps run by the Khmer Rouge for US$3000.

Yes it's a joke but from a non-Cambodian's point of view, this is like selling memorabilia from the 3rd Reich or Imperial Japan ala WWII.

After reading your comment and seeing stuff like Swatzikas (the day version) being displayed in mainstream department stores, or pictures from concentration camps being displayed in restaurants; I often wonder why people in Asia seem so ignorant or insensitive to historical atrocities. Is it because history education over there is near non-existent or do they just suck? Or is it because most people are just indifferent to history?

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#43

Post by tmuir »

mathetic wrote: post #39
tmuir wrote: post #18

"Handcrafted" has become a red flag for me, in the same way "vintage" and "cozy" are for apartment listings. Almost anything that isnt produced on a large scale is handmade. Its an empty marketing phrase that tells me you have nothing better to showcase. There is no detail of this desk that makes you say "wow this was built by a master craftsman."

Well, may be you should think of the difference in production of a Aston Martin vs a Ford.

Comparing a $200,000 luxury sports car to a desk is preposterous. First of all, there are actual features to differentiate an Aston Martin from a Ford. This is a piece of wood with some metal suspending it off of the ground. There's nothing to differentiate this product from a desk purchased from ikea, except for the fact that you get to "handcraft" the ikea desk yourself. In fact, besides the sourcing of the material.

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#44

Post by mathetic »

tmuir wrote: post #43
mathetic wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, may be you should think of the difference in production of a Aston Martin vs a Ford.

Comparing a $200,000 luxury sports car to a desk is preposterous. First of all, there are actual features to differentiate an Aston Martin from a Ford. This is a piece of wood with some metal suspending it off of the ground. There's nothing to differentiate this product from a desk purchased from ikea, except for the fact that you get to "handcraft" the ikea desk yourself. In fact, besides the sourcing of the materia…

Fair enough. I was making a general point rather than this specific product. I agree that this desk does not live up to its price tag.

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#45

Post by deerpig »

chaostheory wrote: post #41
deerpig wrote: post #27

US$1500 for something that we cobble together here in Cambodia from rubbish because we don't have any money? You have rubbish from an industrial collapse? We have rubbish from a fucking genocide! Now THAT is furniture with a story! We are happy to sell you standup desks built from wood from french colonial Indochina for US$1500. Our new office is being renovated from such a building. But if you want a REAL story, we…

I know you're being sarcastic, but it's viable if you have the right marketing. > But if you want a REAL story, we have a premium standup desk made from reclaimed wood from work camps run by the Khmer Rouge for US$3000. Yes it's a joke but from a non-Cambodian's point of view, this is like selling memorabilia from the 3rd Reich or Imperial Japan ala WWII. After reading your comment and seeing stuff like Swatzikas (th…

>I know you're being sarcastic

So you say, but then you go on as if it had been serious. The comment was meant to be more satirical than sarcastic.

The point being, that trying to cash in on the collapse of a city that had been one of the great industrial centers of the world is being insensitive to the people whose lives have been destroyed by the collapse. Just as it would be insensitive to do so by cashing in on the Cambodian genocide.

As for Asian insensitivity, yes there is some of that here and a lot of it is because western history is taught in about as much detail here as eastern history is taught in the west.

Many people here don't understand the tie between the swastika and nazis because it is an ancient Buddhist and Hindu auspicious symbol.

There is plenty of insensitivity about this part of the world in the west as well. How many people in America believe that Cambodia is little more than a hive of prostitutes and pedophiles? How many tourists come to Phnom Penh or Siem Reap each year not only to see Khmer ruins, but to take tours of orphanages?

There is plenty of ignorance and insensitivity to go around.

I'd love to see you review Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' on Amazon :)

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#46

Post by vog »

sasvari wrote: post #10
vog wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> What's important to you in a standing desk? Being affordable. That is, having a price tag comparable with normal furniture. Who will pay $ 1495 for a desk?!

Who will pay $ 1495 for a desk?! I don't completely get the concept of it has to be dirt cheap no matter what . People are paying $500+ for a TV which is next to worthless after a couple of years, but don't want to pay more than a couple of bucks for a solid table which will most probably outlife them.

> it has to be dirt cheap no matter what

Please restrain from hyperboles and strawman arguments.

There is a significant gap between dirt cheap and $ 1495. Somewhere in between there is a zone which makes it affordable for many customers and is still a good deal for the producer.

Re: Show HN: Handcrafted standing desks from reclaimed materials

#47

Post by chaostheory »

deerpig wrote: post #45
chaostheory wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know you're being sarcastic, but it's viable if you have the right marketing. > But if you want a REAL story, we have a premium standup desk made from reclaimed wood from work camps run by the Khmer Rouge for US$3000. Yes it's a joke but from a non-Cambodian's point of view, this is like selling memorabilia from the 3rd Reich or Imperial Japan ala WWII. After reading your comment and seeing stuff like Swatzikas (th…

>I know you're being sarcastic So you say, but then you go on as if it had been serious. The comment was meant to be more satirical than sarcastic. The point being, that trying to cash in on the collapse of a city that had been one of the great industrial centers of the world is being insensitive to the people whose lives have been destroyed by the collapse. Just as it would be insensitive to do so by cashing in on t…

> So you say, but then you go on as if it had been serious.

Because it is serious. From our point of view, making a joke about a death camp is poor taste. I was just trying to be nicer in my criticism because I'm less familiar with Cambodian culture than I am with East Asian culture(s).

> How many people in America believe that Cambodia is little more than a hive of prostitutes and pedophiles?

I hate to say this, but Cambodia doesn't even register with most people here beyond being an Asian jungle and the Khmer Rouge, if even that since there are so few Cambodians here compared to other Asians. I would imagine the most exposure people in the US have had to Cambodia is through a cartoon show. We're a lot more aware of Thailand and Vietnam.

> Siem Reap each year not only to see Khmer ruins, but to take tours of orphanages?

Are they not there to adopt or it something else? If they're there to adopt, what's the problem from your point of view?

> I'd love to see you review Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' on Amazon

I'll check it out

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