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Diamonds Are Bullshit

blog.priceonomics.com

361–370 of 774 posts

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#361

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, it seems even more useless or irrational though.

No less useless than a peacock's plumage or an elephant seal's beach combat.

I still like to pretend that our social skills allow us to elevate beyond primal instincts.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#363
post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really know. Something symbolic would be nice, but in my mind it would be like a tungsten carbide ring with my partner's name in binary or something. Economical, long-lasting... but I'm not sure. That's a bridge quite a ways away for me. The lack of social traditions and traditional obligations seems daunting at first but it's kind of fun to be unencumbered (especially when I read reynir's replies and go whit…

I'd rather just go with really traditional and give land. Like, say, the Duchy of Burgundy.

I really appreciate you and a few others bringing a little levity to this thread, makes me feel much better about it. Cheers.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#364
post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reasons that you could see a thearapist, that would not traditionally be considered mental illness in casual conversation, can include: coping with occupational stress, coping with grief, preparing for anticipated grief, coming to terms with mortality, (often for children) learning what mortality is, coping with changes in lifestyle (including divorce, marriage, birth of a child, birth of a special needs child, inabi…

Even if you don't redefine mental illness that way the negative connotations are bullshit.

Agreed, it would make sense to expect them, culturally, though they would of course be bullshit regardless.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#365
post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> so they just leave De Beers to run around gouging consumers That's kind of missing the point. If diamonds were 5 bucks a piece, women would no longer be interested in receiving rings bejeweled by them. A woman wants a man who is financially secure. If you can't afford a shiny rock, you can't afford what's coming after it either, so there's no point.

It doesn't have anything to do with financial security. Look, if your man is spending three months worth of salary on a piece of shiny rock, he is exercising poor financial judgment and that is a signal against future financial security. Women want diamonds not because of any symbolic reasons ("Diamonds are forever!") but because of reasons that are much more practical: they want to be able to show off the diamonds t…

  | It doesn't have anything to do with financial
  | security. Look, if your man is spending three
  | months worth of salary on a piece of shiny
  | rock, he is exercising poor financial judgment
  | and that is a signal against future financial
  | security.
But A Diamond is Forever. It's an investment. If you're ever on hard times, then you can just turn around and sell the... oh... ;-)

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#367

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's been done: Pink products to support breast cancer research, PRODUCT (RED) for combating AIDS in Africa.

Eh, point. And witness discomfort about making generosity a commodity.

Just needs the right marketing behind it to nullify that. Sell these pieces of charity jewelry to the public as not only ways to flaunt your wealth, as diamonds are, but also a way to flaunt your moral superiority.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#368
post #166

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> so they just leave De Beers to run around gouging consumers That's kind of missing the point. If diamonds were 5 bucks a piece, women would no longer be interested in receiving rings bejeweled by them. A woman wants a man who is financially secure. If you can't afford a shiny rock, you can't afford what's coming after it either, so there's no point.

I doubt the point is to demonstrate financial security: Spending three months' salary on a single ring would seem to indicate financial irresponsibility more than financial security (unless it's like a rebate and you sell the ring once you're married? /s). I'm inclined to agree that you're right about the price being the point. I think it has more to do with "You're worth it to me". I still think it's utter bollocks.

"Spending three months' salary on a single ring would seem to indicate financial irresponsibility more than financial security"

Not if you have assets that are considerably greater (have accumulated) than whatever your "salary" is.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#369

I see people talking about various things like the (1) (2) (3) arguments for a women to evaluate a man : (1) is the ability to provide; 2) is the willingness to forgo other things (opportunity costs to talk economics) (3) "is demonstrating to the woman's peers her husband's social standing." (signalling) Raynier posted this deep down in a reply which might be lost to you if you don't read all the comments. It would b…

When I was buying an engagement ring, the idea of "conflict-free" diamonds was starting to gain popularity. But now, after reading OP's article, I wonder--was this mainly marketing to persuade me to buy from a mine that was cooperating with the cartel? Did movies like Blood Diamond appear because paying for Leonardo DiCaprio's salary was the easiest way to get people to buy diamonds they could control?

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#370

I see people talking about various things like the (1) (2) (3) arguments for a women to evaluate a man : (1) is the ability to provide; 2) is the willingness to forgo other things (opportunity costs to talk economics) (3) "is demonstrating to the woman's peers her husband's social standing." (signalling) Raynier posted this deep down in a reply which might be lost to you if you don't read all the comments. It would b…

Social convention is powerful, I don't think people would currently give 4 much consideration unless there is an accompanying societal backlash. It does turn quickly though, if there was enough anger at diamond companies built up the diamond ring may quickly become a negative signal.
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