StoneMtn Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Can shoes not be art? Sure they can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velvet Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 People want products so other people make them. The people that want the products pay for them.Products are made because people want them and buy them, so consumerism begins and ends with the consumer. No consumer, no consumerism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 i'd pay $250 for those bootsmaybe even $300 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Would you trade an $800 guitar for them, though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AD Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 A guitar at $800+ seems fine to me. You cant get a high quality cheap guitar. Thats art, and also often a one-time or at least rare-ish buy.what about those families who can't afford to be clothed or fed buying $800 guitars?just because someone gives you a gift doesn't mean you're tied to it for life either, you can sell it, re-gift it, donate it... plenty of options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 you're a tough negotiator, stnmtn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 maybe it was a buy one get one free sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenSeasJim Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 [The worst that could happen is that I could spill coffee all over this $3,000 suit. Come on!...... Yeah, the guy wearing the $4,000 suit is holding the elevator for the guy who doesn't make that in four months. Come on!....... Yeah, like I'm going to take a whiz through this $5,000 suit. Come on!I love that episode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 kitkat, is there a disconnect here, between the giver of the gift and the recipient? When I go in search of a gift for a particular person, my main thought is to find something that will improve that person's life, even if it's just to put a smile on her/his face for a few seconds. If I knew a person to be socially conscious, and to prefer modest (or modestly priced, non-high-fashion) items of clothing, an expensive pair of shoes is one of the last things I'd consider giving. (In other words, the gift needs to be appropriate for the recipient, with an appropriate price range varying from recipient to recipient and gift to gift.)Aloha,Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lara Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Well there has to be an area of reasonableness.Obviously we need shoes' date=' clothes etc. Obviously we need enjoyment, celebration.So I figure there has to be a line, what's ok and what's not ok. $100-$150 seems to be acceptable in most people's minds for a good pair of shoes that you're going to use. But the leap to $250, or over $500 for two pairs of shoes is excessive. And seriously, what's so superior in a $300 pair of shoes as opposed to a $100 pair of shoes?A guitar at $800+ seems fine to me. You cant get a high quality cheap guitar. Thats art, and also often a one-time or at least rare-ish buy. [/quote']I think it would be a bit harder to explain to a "starving child" that you spent $800+ on a guitar because it's "art" as opposed to $250 for a pair of good quality shoes that are practical and that you will wear for a long time?So my "area of reasonableness" is rediculous? Isn't it better than nothing though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
questcequecest? Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 who gives shoes anyway? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StoneMtn Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradm Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 I think it would be a bit harder to explain to a "starving child" that you spent $800+ on a guitar because it's "art" as opposed to $250 for a pair of good quality shoes that are practical and that you will wear for a long time?With an $800 guitar, you could sing and play your explanation to the child, which could be a beautiful, artistic thing. With shoes, you can't...unless they were tap shoes...Aloha,Brad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lara Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 kitkat, is there a disconnect here, between the giver of the gift and the recipient? When I go in search of a gift for a particular person, my main thought is to find something that will improve that person's life, even if it's just to put a smile on her/his face for a few seconds. If I knew a person to be socially conscious, and to prefer modest (or modestly priced, non-high-fashion) items of clothing, an expensive pair of shoes is one of the last things I'd consider giving. (In other words, the gift needs to be appropriate for the recipient, with an appropriate price range varying from recipient to recipient and gift to gift.)Aloha,BradSo the story goes...Person A took Person B shopping to "a new pair of shoes" and ended up buying 2 pairs of shoes, total cost $540. Person B only saw the total when it was rung up. Someone mentioned intentions...Person A's motivation was that Person B looked good when they were at one of Person A's events. Person A knows that Person B struggles to make ends meet on a everyday basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcO Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Well, then it works out fantastic kitkat. You got some beautiful shoes you wouldn't necessarily buy for yourself. What a generous gift! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Boy 2.0 Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 the plot thickens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lara Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Ahh... I knew I'd be outnumbered. All this caring is exhausting. Maybe I'll just join MarcO's train of thought. It sounds easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booche Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 This should go in the Burger Forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phorbesie Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 (edited) i think it's fine to spend however much you want on anything. it's just money. the amount i spend on shoes or jeans or concerts does NOT affect/take away from the amount i donate to charity. well...except that the more i earn, the more i'll spend on stuff, but also the more i'll donate. it works out.people give bono shit for spending 1000 on sunglasses, but i have no problem with that. it's part of his image, and he does more than enough to compensate.i don't see any ethical problem with spending money on quality stuff. Edited December 12, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lara Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 i think it's fine to spend however much you want on anything. it's just money. the amount i spend on shoes or jeans or concerts does NOT affect/take away from the amount i donate to charity. well...except that the more i earn, the more i'll spend on stuff, but also the more i'll donate. it works out.people give bono shit for spending 1000 on sunglasses, but i have no problem with that. it's part of his image, and he does more than enough to compensate.i don't see any ethical problem with spending money on quality stuff.It sounds like you're saying that its ok if you give/compensate in other ways. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phorbesie Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 kinda...this is just personally but i have no problem if someone spends 250 on shoes...even several pairs. but if you've got 50 or 100 pairs of shoes at that price, it seems excessive to me. i know you are saying it's hard to draw a line there, i guess (ie. how many pairs is OK then?) so i'll just say that if it seems reasonable to you than it's OK. anyway i wouldn't feel bad if someone gave me such a gift. i think one nice thing about gifts is that people will buy you something nice that you wouldn't necessarily buy for yourself...which makes it special! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lara Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 I would have a hard time enjoying those shoes, knowing that they cost more than the annual income of many families in South Africa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phorbesie Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 well if you won't enjoy them then it's surely best that you return them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timouse Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 I would have a hard time enjoying those shoes, knowing that they cost more than the annual income of many families in South Africa. kitkat, i totally get where you are coming from...jennifer and i have a really hard time shopping for anything anymore because of all the various ethical dimensions of voting with your $$. getting groceries is an ordeal, christmas doubly so. i've realized that not everyone has this approach, which is why products made by companies that behave abhorrently sell well. as for the shoes, if you truly can't abide them, then sell them on craigslist and donate the money to heifer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lara Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 (edited) If they were mine... I guess I have a different perspective because I grew up in South Africa. The last thing I want to is get Velvet thinking I'm judging him for his Armani suit, or Bouche for his Prada hand-bag. Thanks Timouse. I appreciate someone getting me here. Edited December 12, 2006 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now