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Diamonds Are Bullshit

blog.priceonomics.com

711–720 of 774 posts

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#711
post #609

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two people propose to you with rings that cost 25k each. One ring is resellable for 20k. One is resellable for 5k. Which one do you think is more likely to renege?

If a proposer reneges, then you'll own the ring: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engagement_ring#Legal_ownership

By then it's too late. The point is not to get more out of it if things go south. The point is to make sure they don't. This is basic game theory, buddy.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#712
post #496

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wanting the respect of others in your peer group is sad now?

> Wanting the respect of others in your peer group is sad now? Wanting superficial respect based on material things is sad.

Why do you care what the respect is based on? What differentiates "superficial" respect from genuine respect? I guarantee you the criteria you use to judge people look equally ridiculous to other people too.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#713
post #621
post #496

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wanting the respect of others in your peer group is sad now?

Respect for something you are or something you do is not the same as respect for something you buy.

Earning money and buying things with it is something you do, no less than climbing a mountain or writing a play.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#714
post #496

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wanting the respect of others in your peer group is sad now?

Wanting respect is fine, but not respect based upon the size of an arbitrary stone.

What's worse about that than any other silly thing to respect someone for?

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#715
post #609
post #579

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh? Having the money to splurge on a ring is a signal of financial fitness because you have the extra money to spend on something that will 'have no return' (so the speak). It's hardly a case of 'burning of your ships.' If you have the financial security to splurge on some ridiculous ring, then it's also possible that you have the ability to just absorb the cost if you don't like the marriage. Besides, depending on…

Two people propose to you with rings that cost 25k each. One ring is resellable for 20k. One is resellable for 5k. Which one do you think is more likely to renege?

The one with better romantic prospects, obviously.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#717

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"actually I decided that I don't want to spend the rest of my life with someone who wants this badly to manipulate me to buy them something useless." There are a lot of girls out there you haven't met yet. Go find one who gets you.

Interesting assumption there that he is buying her something. Agreeing as a married couple whether to spend money on something doesn't indicate that it is his or her money, the discussion implies that money is shared. For all you know if could be all her money in terms of income. Of course if she wants it, it's useless.

Gigolos servicing rich cougars don't ask for diamond rings.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#718
post #566

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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. I don't get it. Why would you even want to be engaged with women so stupid to want a shiny rock no matter what. If anything I'd want a man-made diamond, because it's cooler. I neve…

I wanted my birthstone, a sapphire, and that's what I got. Everyone in my family and circle of friends thought it was great. The only one who had an issue was my mother-in-law, who said "I know my son loves you more than that". My MIL and I had different values. . .

The birthstone myth is just as made up as the De Beers diamond myths.

Re: Diamonds Are Bullshit

#719
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.

You may be interested in signalling theory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signalling_theory

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