Re: What to buy

1

Experiences suck because you have to stand up to get to them.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:02 AM
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2

The chapter ends with something like, "Joy had the best lunch of her life, and five minutes later she couldn't taste it anymore. Dameon had a terrible tasting lunch, and five minutes later he couldn't taste it anymore, either."

Seems like an odd note to end on. Shouldn't Dameon realize that Joy is a member of the exploiter class, and that he needs to seize the means of lunch production, or something?


Posted by: AcademicLurker | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:07 AM
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3

I just ordered new glasses, which was both purchasing a thing and having an experience if getting temporally blinded counts.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:12 AM
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4

I love shoes.


Posted by: Just Plain Jane | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:25 AM
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5

The ability to thoughtfully match one's shoes with one's outfit because you have more choices, and, more broadly, the ability to surprise yourself with how you dress in the morning are both experiences.


Posted by: Tia | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:31 AM
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6

I hate when right as I press post and can no longer edit I see that I switched pronouns mid stream.


Posted by: Tia | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:32 AM
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7

When people say they love shoes, they should clarify if they mean owning/wearing shoes or like stealing them to sniff and the like.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:34 AM
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8

I hate buying things.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:34 AM
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9

And also experiences.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:35 AM
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10

And everything else, really.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:35 AM
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11

Hating things is an experience.


Posted by: AcademicLurker | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:39 AM
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12

Hate that too.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:39 AM
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13

Without evidence, I figure higher SES people probably buy things they need when they need them. Experiences are more of a special occasion thing. Lower SES people can't always buy the things they need when they need them so they save up; finally having the need satisfied is a bigger deal. (For loose values of "need" that include getting a new TV when the old one breaks.)

As a further experiment, they should have the well-off people walk in busted shoes for three months, and see how they feel when they get new ones.


Posted by: dalriata | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 8:55 AM
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14

I think you summed it up nicely - marginal return of material goods which can be used over and over is less for people who already have a lot of material goods. Vice versa for experiences. Shit, ideas of scarcity value have been around for ever.

Maybe a more interesting thought - does the rise of internet conversation / wikipedia type standards, which often requires citations (Citation please!), drive a lot of these studies being produced?

Assuming we were discussing this topic in a world where this study doesn't exist - does the conversation go better or worse than our world, where people can now cite this study?


Posted by: Montisimoo | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 9:05 AM
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15

I've always valued experiences (cinema, concerts, travel) more than purchases even when I was poor. OTOH I am positively delighted with my new sports car.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 10:19 AM
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16

13 and 14 are correct. Periodically it seems like the New York Times runs a profile of some tech type who has figured out the key to happiness is only owning 100 objects. And the response is, sure, if you can always buy new things when you need them, no need to have them cluttering up the house all the time.


Posted by: Cryptic ned | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 10:51 AM
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17

15: Yeah, even when I was at minimum wage (but still comfortably living at home), things didn't excite me much. I've been teased as a penny pincher or complimented on my frugality-- weirdly, I get pleasure from stretching resources or making do. (Probably due to a childhood filled with "waste not, want not".)

I can absolutely see an income below which I'd really be cheering purchases -- where a splurge would be getting a better version of a useful thing. Since I'm well above that threshold, objects have to prove themselves -- I feel guilt if I buy a thing and don't use it, or don't use it much.


Posted by: Mooseking | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 12:46 PM
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18

In conclusion, we need a Value Added Tax to add all these Experiences to the tax base.


Posted by: Minivet | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 2:55 PM
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19

15: I guess since Halford isn't around, I'll ask - what kind of sports car did you get?


Posted by: diffuser | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 3:00 PM
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20

Did Hanford steal cars if they were a certain kind?


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 3:29 PM
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21

18

Gamifying the real world, one in-app charge at a time.


Posted by: Montissimoo | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 3:33 PM
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18

Gamifying the real world, one in-app charge at a time.


Posted by: Montissimoo | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 3:33 PM
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23

Wife and I can't even buy each other presents because if there's something moderately priced that we need we just buy it; If it's high priced we're not going to buy it as a surprise because we have to discuss large purchases. Have I mentioned what happened when I followed Ogged's toilet advice?


Posted by: SP | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 6:40 PM
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24

Piss on the seat?


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 6:45 PM
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25

19 A Mini Cooper S


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 7:04 PM
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26

I don't remember ogged's toilet advice. Always go before you have the house? Never wash your hands in an Arby's?


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 7:08 PM
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27

I don't think I would buy a sports car if I had nowhere cool to drive it. I pretty much gave up on driving entirely when I left California, but if I were to buy a car, I guess it would be a Pursuit Special.


Posted by: foolishmortal | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 7:16 PM
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28

Install a bidet seat. Those things are not cheap but I got a pretty good deal on one. Did not consult wife- I figured if she doesn't like it you just don't turn it on and it's a regular seat. Mistake.


Posted by: SP | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 7:26 PM
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29

A bidet seat in a sports car seems like a mistake.


Posted by: Spike | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 7:30 PM
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30

To be fair to ogged, I'm guessing he didn't recommend a butt spritzer as a surprise gift.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-19-18 7:35 PM
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31

I am such a follower of ogged that I ended up buying two and still haven't sold the first one on. Oddly, the market does not seem huge.


Posted by: NW | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 3:21 AM
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32

I once stayed at a mid market hotel on Rutland Water (to break a journey, since you ask) and found that butt spritzers in the toilets and jacuzzi mods in the tubs came as standard. Never seen the like before or since. Didn't use either (I mean I use the toilet and the shower obviously, but not the fancy attachments.)


Posted by: chris y | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 4:14 AM
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33

A bidet seat in a sports car seems like a mistake.

But sports cars are full of assholes.


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 5:43 AM
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34

(Sorry, Barry.)


Posted by: Stanley | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 5:44 AM
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35

I fear he's going native.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 5:55 AM
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36

Just as long as he doesn't do a DNA test.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 6:03 AM
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5: You're joking, but I think you're right. Or at least that having a reasonable quality item that one uses regularly isn't something to be overlooked. Or maybe I just want to justify my boot purchases.

16: and the interviewee practices mental accounting such that items that are owned by "the family" don't count. I have 100 items, if you overlook everything that I need for work, or the house, or the kids.


Posted by: Cala | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 7:52 AM
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38

I have way more.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 8:48 AM
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39

Does a book count as an item?


Posted by: NW | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 9:20 AM
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40

Do bookends count as one item or two?


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 9:23 AM
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41

It counts as the sum of the digits of its ISBN.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 9:23 AM
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42

I have like six cigarette lighters, only three of them disposable, and I don't even smoke.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 9:32 AM
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43

I suppose one of them could count as "family" since we use it to light the grill.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 9:33 AM
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44

So much stuff in the house. Just today I found a big pile Reese's cups shaped like pumpkins. I don't even know why we would have so many in the house and never eat them, so I just started.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 10:06 AM
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45

I have little stuff! Life-stagnation FTW!


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 10:09 AM
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46

Quite possibly more than 100 though.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 10:09 AM
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47

||

Burmah is of a soft and molluscous consistency, and is consequently far less adapted to serve the required purpose.
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Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 10:37 AM
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48

Well so much for that, we had heavy thunderstorms with major flooding all over the place including in the parking lot where I parked my car. The water was almost up to the door handles and I tried to drive it out like a dumbass. I'm afraid it may be totaled. I'd post pics to the group but I lost my log in when I got my new computer. FML


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:06 AM
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49

Oh, that's horrible.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:07 AM
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50

Every toilet here comes with a spritzer*. It's great.

*Not on the inside of the toilet but a hose with a sprayer nozzle like you'd have in the US in your kitchen sink.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:08 AM
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51

49 No work tomorrow, I just opened a new bottle of bourbon and I'll see how much I can drink of it.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:09 AM
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52

That sucks Barry.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:12 AM
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53

The flood insurance must have been cheap though.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:12 AM
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54

Insurance and plates stay with the car so I didn't have to get new insurance. This means I don't know if I'm covered (if I had had to get new insurance I would have insured it to the hilt).


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:14 AM
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55

Good luck! Here, take some comfort in human folly:

The Secretary for Upper Burma wrote to the Chief Commissioner: 'The people of this country have not, as was by some expected, welcomed us as deliverers from tyranny.'


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:17 AM
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56

Many respondents report less satisfaction than anticipated from acquisition of dominions in Southeast Asia, is what I'm saying.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:22 AM
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57

Clearly I will have to buy another Mini Cooper S, it's a better bet than a dominion in SE Asia.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:25 AM
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58

Apparently white elephants are auspicious. Also, totally unfazed by floods.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:27 AM
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59

I parked my car. The water was almost up to the door handles and I tried to drive it out like a dumbass.

You're supposed to blow the bloody doors off.


Posted by: Ginger Yellow | Link to this comment | 10-20-18 11:57 AM
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60

That's really bad luck, Barry. No one expects to lose their car to rain in Arrakis.


Posted by: NW | Link to this comment | 10-21-18 10:31 AM
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61

Hopefully he won't poison himself with an excess of water-of-life.


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-21-18 11:17 AM
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62

OMG, the brand new car that you mentioned upthread? I'm so sorry.


Posted by: heebie-geebie | Link to this comment | 10-21-18 12:22 PM
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63

Ugh, Barry, that's awful. You've had the worst luck.


Posted by: dalriata | Link to this comment | 10-21-18 9:33 PM
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64

Thanks all. I tried drying it out a bit today and set up a tow. We'll see what happens. I'm not usually attached to possessions but it feels like someone just died.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-22-18 9:11 AM
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65

Speaking of, if you do need to junk the car, can we borrow the trunk?


Posted by: Opinionated Saudi Agent | Link to this comment | 10-22-18 9:13 AM
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66

It's a hatchback with a really tiny trunk so...good thing you brought that bone saw.


Posted by: Barry Freed | Link to this comment | 10-22-18 9:43 AM
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67

||

In Burma the strength and political dominance of a Burmese/Myanma identity based on older Ava-based memories has never allowed the development of a newer identity which would incorporate the divers peoples inhabiting the modern state. Instead, it has led since 1948 to recurrent warfare, the growth of a large military machine and an army rule which seems unlikely to end.
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Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-22-18 10:31 AM
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68

That seems a bit pessimistic given there is a civil-led genocide.


Posted by: Moby Hick | Link to this comment | 10-22-18 10:34 AM
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69

A Burmese/Myanma civil/military genocide! (It's from 2004.)


Posted by: Mossy Character | Link to this comment | 10-22-18 10:38 AM
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