[Paladin79]

What is the poster in the background on the left?

That is a Tesla patent for an electro magnetic motor dated 1888

 

[433521]

Why bother with a Modi when the dac in your phone works just fine?

Some times you need just a little extra to close the deal. When she sees your DAC on a DESK, she's all yours.

Schiit.

 

[bifcake]

Maybe some just think bling is purty.

I'm hard pressed to think of any material item that has any intrinsic value. Value is mostly a social construct. The value of something is that which we choose to afiix to it, IMHO.

Food has intrinsic value, industrial metals, wood, etc. Anything that can be used has intrinsic value. You can't eat gold, you can't make weapons with it, it's too malleable, you can't build a house with it, you really can't use for anything. Hence, it has no intrinsic value.

So, let's say that it's just pretty. Ok. If I see gold and I admire it because it's pretty, that's one thing. However, if I were to wear it, then I announce that I am beautiful now. I'm not beautiful without gold, but gold makes ME beautiful. We can make it even more subtle than that. I am MORE beautiful with gold than I am without. That's feeding an insecurity because wearing gold doesn't change ME. It only changes the way I feel about myself.

 

[Paladin79]

Food has intrinsic value, industrial metals, wood, etc. Anything that can be used has intrinsic value. You can't eat gold, you can't make weapons with it, it's too malleable, you can't build a house with it, you really can't use for anything. Hence, it has no intrinsic value.

So, let's say that it's just pretty. Ok. If I see gold and I admire it because it's pretty, that's one thing. However, if I were to wear it, then I announce that I am beautiful now. I'm not beautiful without gold, but gold makes ME beautiful. We can make it even more subtle than that. I am MORE beautiful with gold than I am without. That's feeding an insecurity because wearing gold doesn't change ME. It only changes the way I feel about myself.

You can eat gold.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/...Tn_J23W8bKPqSLW7EjAH5hQs9Mn-qv_MLMnkAy7JpFE&s

Also gold does not tarnish so it is used throughout electronics, it is a good conductor.

 

[Ableza]

There are things that have no intrinsic value, such as jewelry, gold, etc. That's not controversial. I have labeled all of those things as "bling". Hence, bling has no value. Its "value" lies primarily in satisfying one's insecurities by raising one's self esteem in one's own mind and using said bling as a security blanket.

And once again, that is an opinion that you may hold for yourself, but it is not one that applies to anyone else. I find value in jewelry, gold, what you call bling. It has nothing to do with self esteem or "insecurities," a term which I find incredibly insulting by the way. It has to do with the intrinsic value placed on them by me and by society. If you see bling as a security blanket, fine, live your life bling-free. But stop insulting me and anyone else who likes bling, who finds value in bling, and who thinks you are being insufferable. Maybe that last one is just me.

 

[Ripper2860]

Well, I guess my wife has some serious self-esteem issues and I'm an enabler.

Art also has no intrinsic value. I wonder what emotional void the artist and the art lovers are trying to fill?

 

[Ableza]

Well, I guess my wife has some serious self-esteem issues and I'm an enabler.

Art also has no intrinsic value. I wonder what emotional void the artist and the art lovers are trying to fill.

Value is a social construct. Art has value because people appreciate it. Or hate it. Art (good art) creates emotion.

 

[Plautus001]

There are things that have no intrinsic value, such as jewelry, gold, etc. That's not controversial. I have labeled all of those things as "bling". Hence, bling has no value. Its "value" lies primarily in satisfying one's insecurities by raising one's self esteem in one's own mind and using said bling as a security blanket.

I think we are mixing terms of value:

Absolute is what something is worth considering the cost to produce it.

Example: if something is made of gold, it may have a higher absolute value than something made of tin.

Intrinsic value is tied to function, utility, durability related to cost.

Example: i once bought no name tires for $300 for my van and they lasted 18 months. Later I purchased $600 Michelin tires for the same van and they lasted 30 months, stopped better, and mildly improved fuel economy. The piece of mind was worth it.

Associated value is tied to the end user's experiences and the utility of the product for that particular user.

Example: if you are a chef, a $300 professional knife will be of more value to you than 10 $30 knives that are considered "good enough" by consumers.

Perceived value is tied to what consumers think something is worth based on brand, aesthetics, and reviews, etc.

Example: Luxora (not sure of correct spelling) makes many of the luxury brand name eyeglass frames, but the retail price varies according to which name is placed on them, not the materials used or cost of manufacturing them. (60 minutes).

Everything thing has value; however, in most cases value is the sum of various metrics you are using to assess said value.


Edited some of my typos (note to self: never type anything without reading glasses while in a car waiting for your wife to finish shopping - we used her car... so my back up reading glasses weren't available).

 

[Ripper2860]

Value is a social construct. Art has value because people appreciate it. Or hate it. Art (good art) creates emotion.

Yep.

I'm hard pressed to think of any material item that has any intrinsic value. Value is mostly a social construct. The value of something is that which we choose to afiix to it, IMHO.

 

[bifcake]

Well, I guess my wife has some serious self-esteem issues and I'm an enabler.

Art also has no intrinsic value. I wonder what emotional void the artist and the art lovers are trying to fill?

And once again, that is an opinion that you may hold for yourself, but it is not one that applies to anyone else. I find value in jewelry, gold, what you call bling. It has nothing to do with self esteem or "insecurities," a term which I find incredibly insulting by the way. It has to do with the intrinsic value placed on them by me and by society. If you see bling as a security blanket, fine, live your life bling-free. But stop insulting me and anyone else who likes bling, who finds value in bling, and who thinks you are being insufferable. Maybe that last one is just me.

Ripper, You are indeed an enabler. Art, just like music and literature is emotional communication. Art lovers experience emotions communicated via whatever medium by those who created those pieces.

Albeza, a few things, first of all, what I said is not controversial, meaning it's not just MY opinion, it's widely accepted. This is nothing new. Secondly, this discussion has nothing to do with you personally, there is no intent, nor is there a possibility to insult you given that I have no idea who you are, so there is no reason to take it personally.

I don't want to make this personal, but I'm a bit of a loss as to how to formulate my next question. So, here goes: You said that you find value in what I call bling. Ok. What type of value is it? What exactly does it do for you? How does this value manifest itself?

 

[Paladin79]

Yep.

An item is worth what people are willing to pay for it. Salt at one time was quite valuable yet it is the fifth most plentiful mineral on earth. We get our word salary from it.

 

[KoshNaranek]

An item is worth what people are willing to pay for it. Salt at one time was quite valuable yet it is the fifth most plentiful mineral on earth. We get our word salary from it.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/colonial-india-british-hedge-salt-tax

The use of Himalayan Pink salt began at this time as it could be mined north of the hedge line.

 

[GearMe]

Value is a social construct. Art has value because people appreciate it. Or hate it. Art (good art) creates emotion.

Yep...surely most folks on this forum should get that given that they appreciate some artists and their music more than other artists and their music

 

[Balthazar B]

Maybe some just think bling is purty.

I'm hard pressed to think of any material item that has any intrinsic value. Value is mostly a social construct. The value of something is that which we choose to afiix to it, IMHO.

Oh, there are several physical items that have intrinsic value, even though it's not always perceived. And the value varies, often accompanied by changes in perception.

For instance, water, food, air. Things that no living organism absolutely can do without definitely have intrinsic value. The fact that someone in Portofino might throw something away doesn't indicate that something which could mean life or death for someone in Bangladesh doesn't indicate it has no intrinsic value. As said Portofinian will suddenly discover when s/he walks in the Bangladeshi's shoes...

 

[macdonjh]

That large square clock in the first picture is calling to me - would you please DM his contact information?
/john

New summit conquered?