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Diamonds Suck (2006)

diamondssuck.com

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Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#201

Post by nailer »

xstartup wrote: post #86

Yes, this post missing the point that I as a diamond buyer already know this but it will not stop me from purchasing more diamonds. In a hypothetical world, if a diamond could be bought for $10K and sold for $10K, where is the risk? Then it's no longer for only rich, others can take a loan from a bank and purchase diamonds. When I pay for a diamond, I don't pay for its intrinsic value. I pay for diamonds because othe…

OK. You want to spend a bunch of money and show off. Cool. You know what looks better than a big, clear, well cut diamond?

A bigger one. Spend the same amount of money on an existing stone at Sothenby's or Christies.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#202

Post by xstartup »

lgl wrote: post #157
xstartup wrote: post #86

Yes, this post missing the point that I as a diamond buyer already know this but it will not stop me from purchasing more diamonds. In a hypothetical world, if a diamond could be bought for $10K and sold for $10K, where is the risk? Then it's no longer for only rich, others can take a loan from a bank and purchase diamonds. When I pay for a diamond, I don't pay for its intrinsic value. I pay for diamonds because othe…

When I pay for a diamond, I don't pay for its intrinsic value. I pay for diamonds because other people around me feel they are expensive and you've to be rich enough to set your money on fire (like you do while purchasing a diamond). It's a signal for others that I am "fuck you money" rich. This may have been a sarcastic post (?) but why do you care if other people think you have "fuck you money"? That just makes you…

> This may have been a sarcastic post (?) but why do you care if other people think you have "fuck you money"? That just makes you look intellectually weak and poor imho. But here's one thing that "fuck you money" won't buy: class.

Why should I care if that makes me look intellectually weak and poor imho? I am from old banker family, I love diamonds and I collect them. I gave you other reasons for which I collect all these diamonds.

If you ask me in an interview, I obviously won't mention these views and give you a politically correct answer. But this is the internet, I am using anonymity, where is the problem with that?

I am just sharing my views, I don't care about your judgment.

> But here's one thing that "fuck you money" won't buy: class.

I am born into it, there is no reason for me to buy.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#203

Post by a1369209993 »

throwawaymath wrote: post #156
charlesdm wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not everything is about money though. Want to have an extravagant wedding? Fine. Want something basic? Also fine. Yes: diamonds, jewellery, mechanical watches etc are all bad value for money. People don't buy them because they're bad value. They buy them because they like wearing them, and women buy jewellery because it makes them feel pretty. That's life. It's fine throwing money away sometime.

Yes, you're right. I don't understand the myopia on this forum when it comes to people spending money irrationally. Human beings are not hyper-efficient savings maximization engines. Every time the story about why "diamonds suck" hits the front page (maybe once a year or so?), the same rounds of patting-on-the-back are exchanged in the comments for rehashing a one-dimensional social commentary that buying diamonds is…

> Human beings are not hyper-efficient savings maximization engines.

Yes, but that doesn't mean we have to actively make the situation worse.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#204

Post by xstartup »

There are many people crafting software with category theory, refactoring it 10 times a week, using whatever latest JS framework is the trend, then asking for a price.

Most of it might mean absolutely nothing to a customer. But you think the price you charge is fair.

Don't conflate the efforts you put, with that actual value of your product.

Many software might have the same utility as of a diamond and may have the same price as a diamond.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#206

Post by theunixbeard »

charlesdm wrote: post #185
theunixbeard wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you an entrepreneur with a profitable business or successful exit? If not, 30K might represent 6-12 months of personal runway to build your own business.

He's not going to buy his wife a $30k engagement ring if he's earning $30k a year...

You don’t save 100% of what you earn.

50% is considered very good, but in consumer focused America some people might save only 10% of their income (thus for a 100K income to save 30K represents 3 years of savings obliterated).

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#207

Post by Antimachides »

to_bpr wrote: post #189
Antimachides wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not fine with me. If a girl wanted a diamond ring and/or and extravagant wedding I'd dump her. Materialistic, low IQ and shallow. Though that's what most people are, I suppose.

>Materialistic, low IQ and shallow. Though that's what most people are, I suppose. You should look into getting a therapist to talk through whatever has soured your outlook on life to this point of bitter cynicism.

Am I wrong? Can I change what is there simply by thinking about it a different way? Is that some quantum spook trick you can teach me?

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#208

Post by koolba »

cf498 wrote: post #199
koolba wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's by far the biggest example of fiscal irresponsibility. What's particularly egregious is when the families of the bride ( _cough_ her mother _cough_ ) or groom push them towards spending they can't afford. The wedding industry preys on those weak emotions knowing that many couples won't push back on the non-sense.

Weddings are a good example of horrible vicious social pressure depending on where you live. Too much of this is similar to "The child of a proper family marries at a certain age and gets a proper wedding".

> Weddings are a good example of horrible vicious social pressure depending on where you live.

Fight the power! Be the change!

> Too much of this is similar to "The child of a proper family marries at a certain age and gets a proper wedding".

Getting married "at a certain age" (i.e. young) isn't necessarily a bad thing. On the contrary, I'd argue that being a parent (or grandparent!) while you're still young, active, and in good health is a wonderful thing. It's blindly succumbing to social pressure to make financially disastrous decisions that must be avoided. Go ahead an have a wedding party too, but do it on your terms.

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#209

Post by gkya »

bluedevil2k wrote: post #147
LordHeini wrote: post #17

As a sidenote, the rings with diamonds thing is mostly an American fad. All people i know in Germany have just plain gold rings. It is way nicer because it is more a symbol of commitment than a show of wealth. Those never get out of style, can hardly be damaged and if need be can be replaced cheaply.

American, Canadian, and Japanese thing.

Oh, hello from Turkey!

Re: Diamonds Suck (2006)

#210

Post by Antimachides »

Frondo wrote: post #173
Antimachides wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not fine with me. If a girl wanted a diamond ring and/or and extravagant wedding I'd dump her. Materialistic, low IQ and shallow. Though that's what most people are, I suppose.

Yes, probably most people are materialistic, low IQ, and shallow. You're probably no different, and I don't mean that as an insult -- just that you're human, too, like all of us. Welcome to the club.

That's ridiculous. Some people absolutely stand out as not being materialistic and shallow. And some positively excel at it, to grotesque proportions. Don't pretend we are all in the same cesspool.
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