# $190 rock wrapped in twine, wtf is this real? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2015, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645 "2015-09-11T03:44:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/21 "2015-09-12T15:43:11Z")
Calm down, people. The $190 refers to the whole set of rocks with wrapping. That one rock is probably like $20. They just sell the whole thing as a set, and put the price tag on one rock. Man, that explanation sounds like BS. But is it? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/22 "2015-09-12T16:34:22Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > That’s not twine. It’s rattan. “It’s not a purse - it’s _European_.” ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/23 "2015-09-12T17:22:42Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > That’s not twine. It’s rattan. …rat and…? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/24 "2015-09-12T17:31:26Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > That’s not twine. It’s rattan. Much classier. A Google search on “rattan rocks” or “rattan wrapped rocks” shows results similar to the example in the OP, such as the [website of this artist](http://www.delrocks.com/). His stuff is more elaborately wrapped than the $190 example from the Hamptons (although one of the out-of-focus rocks in the background of the OP’s photo also shows more elaborate wrapping). I can see the artistry in what this guy does. Perhaps if the photo in the OP showed the other side of the rock, the artistry would be more apparent? Honestly, if you think this is a ridiculous example of conspicuous consumption, congratulations on finding nothing new. Thorstein Veblen wrote the book on that over a hundred years ago, and it certainly existed well before then. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/25 "2015-09-12T17:40:14Z")
75 cents for the rock 25 cent for the twine 189 dollars for the Shaman that “blessed” the rock or, maybe, for the Artists “creativity”, assuming no Shaman was involved… ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/26 "2015-09-12T17:52:13Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > [this refers to Notting Hill](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUnvgKhWZdI) rather than the Hamptons but the point (and stereotype) still stands (warning, some slight NSFW language) Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there I just watched every single _I Saw You Coming_ skit and they are without exception brilliant! Thank you so much for introducing me to Harry & Paul, **Novelty Bobble**! ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/27 "2015-09-12T17:54:37Z")
That’s _not_ a rock. Only someone unfamiliar with a gall stone from a Dodo bird would think that. The clear giveaway is the bile stains in the top portion of the picture. This shop obviously has no idea what they have here. These things go for tens of thousands when they are available. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/28 "2015-09-12T19:24:03Z")
I thought for sure this would be something for sale on Etsy but I think they prefer to wrap their rocks in yarn. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/29 "2015-09-12T19:28:48Z")
I hate to ask this, but is it actually $1.90, with the decimal inadvertently left off? ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/30 "2015-09-12T20:05:30Z")
Clearly it’s a tiger repelling rock. You can make jokes about it not being worth the price but when’s the last time you heard about a tiger attack on Long Island? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/31 "2015-09-12T21:45:55Z")
Oh, good. Artisanal pet rocks. ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/32 "2015-09-13T05:39:37Z")
It looks to me a bit like the boundary stones used in Japanese gardens: > **[Tome ishi](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/02/19/reference/tome-ishi/)** > > Dear Alice, Recently I toured a beautiful traditional garden in Kyoto with a Japanese friend. At a fork in the path, I was about to turn to the right when ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/33 "2015-09-13T20:30:55Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Let’s go to the quarry and throw stuff down there I just watched every single _I Saw You Coming_ skit and they are without exception brilliant! Thank you so much for introducing me to Harry & Paul, **Novelty Bobble**! A better thank-you would involve a promise never to use your catchphrase ever again. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/34 "2015-09-13T22:02:12Z")
There is huge mark up over materials here to be sure but do note that a large polished rock of granite or such, like that, by itself as raw material, would cost you [$23 on EBay](http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/221847159266?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82). $60 being asked for a similar one [of marble.](http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-5-LARGE-STONE-BALL-MARBLE-HEAVY-SPHERE-GLOBE-POLISHED-ROCK-/201427926229?hash=item2ee60a3cd5) And of course being priced does not mean that it sells. Maybe it is part of marketing. They know that the usual price point for a spur of the moment craft art purchase is may say up to $150, so put some things above that make your $150 craft works look relatively like good deals in comparison! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/35 "2015-09-19T15:17:14Z")
So no one else thinks it’s just some item that someone slapped a $190 sticker on and took a picture to generate a meme? Or the sticker is itself part of the art, as a way of making fun of the concept we are making fun of? ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/36 "2015-09-19T15:41:21Z")
Somewhere, someone will pay any price for any thing, for any reason, **BigT**. Ours is not to question why, but to throw rocks. You should never miss the opportunity to throw rocks at a rock. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/37 "2015-09-19T19:14:38Z")
I find the [Weather Forecasting Rock](http://theweatherstone.com)more useful, personally And it’s far more affordable, and can be personalized to boot, not to mention 100% accurate ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/38 "2015-09-19T21:00:39Z")
You know, BigT, quite a few women wear rocks on their fingers. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/39 "2015-09-20T17:14:10Z")
If you think that’s expensive, you haven’t seen how much they’re asking for prosthetic foreheads. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2015, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645/40 "2015-09-21T08:51:39Z")
Maybe it’s a World’s Largest Ball of Twine starter kit… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/190-rock-wrapped-in-twine-wtf-is-this-real/730645.md?page=3)