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The Worst

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Re: The Worst

#91

Post by tptacek »

m0nastic wrote: post #38

If forced to decide between Dustin's reality and Moxie's, I think I'd chose Dustin's. A world made up of overly-reviewed, pretentious gadgets slightly edges out a utilitarian, post-apocalyptic, hellscape Bartertown where people scavenge through wreckage looking for makeshift utensils and clothing. I picture oil drum fires. Thankfully, I am not limited by those choices. I can continue to do what I already do, which is…

When you say "utilitarian, post-apocalyptic, hellscape Bartertown where people scavenge through wreckage looking for makeshift utensils and clothing", you mean Wal Mart, right?

Re: The Worst

#92

Post by desireco42 »

I somehow missed this post of his, but you are spot on and rightfully disgusted with both his post and HN reaction to it.

Stuff doesn't make you more free, it enslaves you. The stuff you have, more you need to care about it. Thoreau would be horrified :) ( Said he writing on macbook air, simbol of cult of stuff)

Re: The Worst

#93

Post by Domenic_S »

tptacek wrote: post #76
Domenic_S wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd also like to know the answer. I can't figure out what the guy actually does .

Besides running a blog network and designing websites?

Svbtle is new; I'm unaware of any sites other than his own that he's designed. What am I missing?

Re: The Worst

#94

Post by csmeder »

Breefield wrote: post #12
csmeder wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

for example: Wallace Silversmiths Five-Piece "Grande Baroque" Flatware Place Setting Original:$1,240.00 NOW:$992.00 - http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Wallace-Silversmiths-Grande-Ba... I agree, if the best Jacket, piece of flatware, flash light, etc is more expensive, that doesn't correlate: the overly expensive products are the "best". Which I think the writer is suggesting. Sometimes the cheaper product is the "best".…

Did you even read this article?

Sorry, just putting the word 'Best' in double quotes wasn't clear. I am using the word "Best" to be Dustin's definition. Where the author is arguing the [best] is the "worst".

Re: The Worst

#95

Post by jneen »

Forks and knives might not be the best examples here, but buying "the best" (as in the most likely to last the longest, has a generous warranty, and is relatively simple to repair) is often sound financial planning. It tends to be a more expensive outlay at the beginning, but it sure beats the disposable "planned-obsolescence" stuff we're usually suckered into buying.

Re: The Worst

#96

Post by thaumaturgy »

tptacek wrote: post #77

One guy likes a set of dinnerware. One guy doesn't care about dinnerware. Religious war ensues.

...and everyone focuses on the dinnerware when really they were just examples held up in each author's actual point. A completely absurd amount of time and words have now been spent discussing a message that apparently nobody actually comprehended.

Re: The Worst

#97

Post by Domenic_S »

imgabe wrote: post #73
daniel-cussen wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So, I had a small spoon get scratched pretty badly by the dishwasher grinder the other day. On the back, still pretty useful, except for one detail: being scratched, it could hold much more bacteria for much longer. And though it could have been stainless steel, it wasn't underneath. Furthermore, silver silverware, which is expensive, is very clean because it kills germs so well.

Silver silverware on the other hand, has to be polished by hand. This is not only time consuming but exposes you to harsh chemicals which probably negate any health benefit you get from not being exposed to (mostly harmless) bacteria. Anything you put in the dishwasher is going to come out more or less sterile anyway.

> exposes you to harsh chemicals

Why not go the old-school way and use baking soda and lemon juice/vinegar? Organic!

> Anything you put in the dishwasher is going to come out more or less sterile anyway.

Dishwashers don't get nearly hot enough to properly sterilize, and they definitely won't sterilize the parts that most need sterilization -- deeply nicked flatware, for example.

Re: The Worst

#98

Post by wazoox »

Breefield wrote: post #3

This reminded me of my father. Expensive things only complicated his interactions with other people, because of our ability to potentially break or abuse the object. There is a sweet spot in-between the highest quality, and poor craftsmanship. As well as between expensive and cheap. I like to operate somewhere in the middle.

So you are an Aristotelian of sorts.

Re: The Worst

#99

Post by tptacek »

Domenic_S wrote: post #93
tptacek wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Besides running a blog network and designing websites?

Svbtle is new; I'm unaware of any sites other than his own that he's designed. What am I missing?

I have no idea who you are either, but my presumption isn't that you've done so little in your career that I'd wonder why I was reading your thoughts.

Re: The Worst

#100

Post by csmeder »

ssharp wrote: post #16
csmeder wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

for example: Wallace Silversmiths Five-Piece "Grande Baroque" Flatware Place Setting Original:$1,240.00 NOW:$992.00 - http://www.neimanmarcus.com/p/Wallace-Silversmiths-Grande-Ba... I agree, if the best Jacket, piece of flatware, flash light, etc is more expensive, that doesn't correlate: the overly expensive products are the "best". Which I think the writer is suggesting. Sometimes the cheaper product is the "best".…

What you linked to would be referred to as "formal flatware". It's a totally different market than regular flatware. You're buying it because it has some intricate design or is made from some sort of expensive material. The pricing of it is not based on functionality. This happens in the lower end, too, but there are lots of reasonable options that are cheaper than the stuff from "The Best" article, probably hold up…

I agree, in particular "and the marginal loss in functionality is less than the marginal change in price." However, the thesis of Dustin's essay is that there are products which are worth the additional cost due to an increased (and worth while) functionality, utility and experience.

The way I see it is this:

Dustin: "I have decided to only go to the best amusment parks. For me this is Disneyland. I can afford to go once every 4 years."

The average person: "I go to about 2 amusement parks a year. Some times I have a horrible time."

But replace amusement parks with house hold goods. Dustin would rather have a few great things rather than a bunch of mediocre things.

That said, I would agree with his essay more if he didn't use the word "Best", and replaced it with "Great". Trying to find the "Best" product could quickly lead to obsessiveness and wasted time, I figure settling at "Great" would bring more happiness in the long run and be less evil.[1]

"...premature optimization is the root of all evil" - Donald Knuth

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