Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Dupes took over the world

vox.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

111–120 of 137 posts

Re: Dupes took over the world

#111

Post by tonyedgecombe »

AlecSchueler wrote: post #102
tonyedgecombe wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At the start of the last century the UK had a million people working in the coal mining industry. Now it is effectively zero. That reduction happened over a long period but it wasn't without its problems. Even now there are old coal mining villages that have never really recovered economically.

Maybe the village hasn't recovered but what about the descendants of the miners who now work service jobs in London?

It's the descendants that don't leave that cause all the problems.

Re: Dupes took over the world

#112

Post by account42 »

inigyou wrote: post #26
nine_k wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends on the speed of change though. If a million-strong industry collapses overnight, it can lead to really painful social disturbances. If it winds down in 10 years, the transition can be much more smooth. BTW see also https://www.edge.org/conversation/gin-television-and-cogniti...

This is an intentional policy choice btw. You could just legislate the horseshoe company pays 90% of each displaced blacksmith decreasing by 5% per year.

That's also a way to create a new royalty class.

Re: Dupes took over the world

#113

Post by account42 »

bruce511 wrote: post #60
inigyou wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just shows how powerful capital interests are.

I always find this line of thought interesting. Because it implies the manufacturer has all the power. But they don't. The consumer does. Ultimately the manufacturer wins the horse-shoe battle because they are cheaper. And the consumers in the village prefer cheap shoes to locally made (expensive) ones. Fundamentally consumers like cheap stuff. Manufacturing shifts happen because as soon as there's a cheaper output,…

> In Europe food generally costs more

Is this actually true?

As to your general point, I don't think the blame can lie with the consumer as the consumer almost always does not have the expertise to recognize quality and understand the consequences of buying lower quality. Nor can you expect everyone to be an expert in everything. Without that expertise, buying a more expensive product is a gamble while a lower priced one is at least a known quantity even if it isn't the theoretically best deal.

Re: Dupes took over the world

#114

Post by jrochkind1 »

xorcist wrote: post #101
jrochkind1 wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's interesting you used both saxophone and violin as your examples, as they are very different historically. Violins are basically ancient and evolved gradually over huge time spans, yes. But saxophones -- invented by a guy named Adolph Sax and patented in France in 1846! It really was a kind of new thing, combining aspects of brass and woodwind instruments in ways that hadn't been done before. I think it's fair to…

> Violins are basically ancient and evolved gradually over huge time spans, Hey! I understand your point and you are completely right about violins and saxophones being completely different, but it is simply not right to use the word "ancient" with violins. We know pretty much exactly how and when the violin evolved. If you found a viola or another instrument from the 1500s you would perhaps say that it's violin-like…

thanks! I obv knew less about violins than saxophones!

Re: Dupes took over the world

#115

Post by t0mpr1c3 »

DoneWithAllThat wrote: post #90
t0mpr1c3 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Solvair now make the real Dr Martens (in the UK)! The high street brand that owns the name makes all theirs in the far East. Check out Solvair if you can find them, they are better quality.

It’s Solovair, not Solvair. Also if you want legit ones, including vintage, check out the UK Boot Company in Camden Town.

Oops. Thanks for the correction.

Re: Dupes took over the world

#117

Post by shimman »

secabeen wrote: post #37
Rebelgecko wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sports jerseys are funny- they've gotten to the point where the dupes are cheaper AND higher quality (eg embroidered instead of cheap iron-on patches)

That's because Fanatics took over the jersey manufacture and cut the quality. Fanatics sucks in all sort of dimensions.

Is fanatic some localized term for capitalists I'm not aware of?

Re: Dupes took over the world

#118

Post by t0mpr1c3 »

tomjakubowski wrote: post #87
t0mpr1c3 wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. In contrast to Mozzarella, Champagne, and many others which are generic products in the USA, and protected trademarks in their region of origin. I didn't realise the trademark holder is a US company.

Only mozzarella di bufala campana has PDO, even in Italy there are non-PDO, generic mozzarella cheeses produced outside the region.

I see. Similar to Balsamico di Modena / generic balsamic vinegar?

Does non-PDO Parmesan exist in Italy? In the US, "Parmesan" is usually some kind of domestic hard cheese that lacks maturity. The genuine Parmigiano Reggiano costs around 3x.

Re: Dupes took over the world

#119

Post by marysol5 »

Rebelgecko wrote: post #15
bcraven wrote: post #2

With decreasing quality of branded products, there's less to distinguish them from dupes. https://ledger.worseonpurpose.com/

Sports jerseys are funny- they've gotten to the point where the dupes are cheaper AND higher quality (eg embroidered instead of cheap iron-on patches)

Incidentally I've seen some where they've taken off the sponsors too.

So cheaper, better quality, and I'm not a walking advert!

Re: Dupes took over the world

#120

Post by marysol5 »

coldtea wrote: post #40
secabeen wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's because Fanatics took over the jersey manufacture and cut the quality. Fanatics sucks in all sort of dimensions.

I don't think it's uniquely Fanatics. All kinds of "luxury" brands have been dropping their quality standards for several decades now. And not for making some mass market cheaper products, but on their regular supposedly "luxury" lines.

Doc Martin are absolute trash now. Managed to destroy a pair within a few months....
Post reply on HN