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Diamonds Are Bullshit

blog.priceonomics.com

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Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#21

Post by stephengillie »

arbuge wrote: post #13

"So here is a modest proposal: Let’s agree that diamonds are bullshit and reject their role in the marriage process. Let’s admit that as a society we got tricked for about century into coveting sparkling pieces of carbon, but it’s time to end the nonsense." Hear hear, but good luck convincing zillions of single women that they'll be the first generation in living memory to miss out on their carbon.

I'd rather have someone convince zillions of single women that they'll be the first generation in living memory not to get duped by JP Morgan in 1938.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#22

Post by pyre »

stephengillie wrote: post #18
clicks wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm going to delete this post in 30 minutes, but man, I'm just screaming to say... it is so peculiar that he consistently kept making that mistake (along with a bunch of other ones). It looks like the guy is a graduate from Stanford's business school... and is the co-founder of Pricenomics. What the heck. Edit: heh, I guess I won't delete it now (to preserve continuity of extant conversation). Sorry.

Because grammatical ability is correlated with business acumen? Edit: sorry Clicks it was too tempting :)

Well, there are things like proofreading, and having an editor.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#23

Post by clicks »

stephengillie wrote: post #18
clicks wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm going to delete this post in 30 minutes, but man, I'm just screaming to say... it is so peculiar that he consistently kept making that mistake (along with a bunch of other ones). It looks like the guy is a graduate from Stanford's business school... and is the co-founder of Pricenomics. What the heck. Edit: heh, I guess I won't delete it now (to preserve continuity of extant conversation). Sorry.

Because grammatical ability is correlated with business acumen? Edit: sorry Clicks it was too tempting :)

Well, I think it probably wouldn't be a stretch to say that strong communication abilities correlate to business acumen. If I'm going to be reading a piece of writing that keeps on getting these basic things wrong I'm going to get distracted in a bad way.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#24

Post by hanleybrand »

stephengillie wrote: post #5
gkoberger wrote: post #3

Logically and financially, sure... but try telling your fiancée-to-be that.

Try sending her this article. I'd rather be single than marry someone who has so much more emotion than logic. To put it another way: If the ring is more important to the woman than I am, then she's not marrying me, she's marrying the ring. It's a huge red flag to me.

Word.

For the record, not all women insist on a diamond, except reflexively... I actually know few couples that have bought diamond rings (for many reasons - some financial planning (a young couple should be worried about a house, insurance and retirement before a shiny ring) and some ethical (if you buy a new diamond, there is absolutely metaphorical blood on it - terrible juju to kick off a lifetime commitment of love))

Self-interest/selfish alert: if you're rolling in it and get that $30k ring for your spouse-to-be, don't give it to them on their birthday, Christmas or any other gifting occasion, because they don't have to give it back if they decide to ditch you Pre-nuptuals.

In my mind if a marriage isn't a lifetime commitment, then forget any of the other traditions.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#25

Post by stephengillie »

pyre wrote: post #20
stephengillie wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Try sending her this article. I'd rather be single than marry someone who has so much more emotion than logic. To put it another way: If the ring is more important to the woman than I am, then she's not marrying me, she's marrying the ring. It's a huge red flag to me.

| If the ring is more important to the | woman than I am, then she's not marrying | me, she's marrying the ring From some women's perspectives the diamond ring is 'proof' of your love.

A commitment to spend one's life with the other person isn't proof of love?

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#26

Post by jpdoctor »

arbuge wrote: post #13

"So here is a modest proposal: Let’s agree that diamonds are bullshit and reject their role in the marriage process. Let’s admit that as a society we got tricked for about century into coveting sparkling pieces of carbon, but it’s time to end the nonsense." Hear hear, but good luck convincing zillions of single women that they'll be the first generation in living memory to miss out on their carbon.

The carbon is a proxy (which is missed in the article, among other things.)

It's social signaling. Or to put it another way: How many $$ can your man throw away without incurring pauperhood?

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#27

Post by ScotterC »

stephengillie wrote: post #5
gkoberger wrote: post #3

Logically and financially, sure... but try telling your fiancée-to-be that.

Try sending her this article. I'd rather be single than marry someone who has so much more emotion than logic. To put it another way: If the ring is more important to the woman than I am, then she's not marrying me, she's marrying the ring. It's a huge red flag to me.

Sometimes it's more about understanding what is real and then making a pragmatic choice due to the pain of having to explain one self constantly. A woman could fully understand that a ring is worthless but deal in circles where the public perception is such that having one anyway is beneficial.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#28

Post by [deleted] »

stephengillie wrote: post #5
gkoberger wrote: post #3

Logically and financially, sure... but try telling your fiancée-to-be that.

Try sending her this article. I'd rather be single than marry someone who has so much more emotion than logic. To put it another way: If the ring is more important to the woman than I am, then she's not marrying me, she's marrying the ring. It's a huge red flag to me.

[deleted]

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#29

Post by sanswork »

gkoberger wrote: post #3

Logically and financially, sure... but try telling your fiancée-to-be that.

Start early maybe? My fiancee had 2 years of knowing I wouldn't buy a diamond before I popped the question so she knew way out and it wasn't a surprise. If she was the type that would demand a diamond she would have left a long time ago.
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