# Bottled water- Is it really worth it? (Scam or not) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327 "2016-08-19T18:19:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/101 "2016-08-24T14:50:52Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Funny how being anti-exploitation turns into being “anti-capitalist.” But it’s okay. Even after years I get endless amusement from the sophist extremes people will go to explaining how they really like being buggered by the consumer products industry. > > Radical consumer economics, to answer your first question. Oh I see, interesting…can you tell me more about your background? I assume you mean this is an academic field. Do you teach economics? ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/102 "2016-08-24T15:10:48Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Oh I see, interesting…can you tell me more about your background? I assume you mean this is an academic field. Do you teach economics? I don’t know, it seems he has a particular interest in a defined area, but doesn’t want to deviate for whatever reason. He seems to understand areas of economics but not economics overall. ---
**Author:** ![onething](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/df788c/32.png) [@onething](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/onething)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/103 "2016-08-24T15:54:27Z")
You people are nasty. Take it easy on each other! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/104 "2016-08-24T16:41:29Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > I don’t know, it seems he has a particular interest in a defined area, but doesn’t want to deviate for whatever reason. He seems to understand areas of economics but not economics overall. Thanks for the laugh. I needed it. If you don’t understand why I won’t try to drag multiple topics into one thread, you need to lurk a few more years. I invited you to start a thread on any reasonably concise topic you like; I can only assume you understand how to participate in a thread but have no idea how to use the board overall. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/105 "2016-08-24T16:54:26Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Oh I see, interesting…can you tell me more about your background? I assume you mean this is an academic field. Do you teach economics? I’m not an academic, thank St. Tom. (I come from a family of academics and managed to escape that fate.) My c.v. is as long and dull as anyone’s, but the only relevant parts add up to “investigative journalist” - and the adjective is perhaps better understood as “research” or “observant” or maybe even just “curious.” I find; I dig; I research; I write. An increasingly radical approach to consumer economics has been a primary focus for about a decade, following some other epochs. TL;DR - I’d go stand next to Alvin Toffler before I’d align myself with anyone in economics. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/106 "2016-08-24T17:03:07Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > I’m not an academic, thank St. Tom. (I come from a family of academics and managed to escape that fate.) > > My c.v. is as long and dull as anyone’s, but the only relevant parts add up to “investigative journalist” - and the adjective is perhaps better understood as “research” or “observant” or maybe even just “curious.” I find; I dig; I research; I write. An increasingly radical approach to consumer economics has been a primary focus for about a decade, following some other epochs. > > TL;DR - I’d go stand next to Alvin Toffler before I’d align myself with anyone in economics. Oh got it…what kind of publications do you write for? ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/107 "2016-08-24T17:11:10Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Thanks for the laugh. I needed it. > > If you don’t understand why I won’t try to drag multiple topics into one thread, you need to lurk a few more years. I invited you to start a thread on any reasonably concise topic you like; I can only assume you understand how to participate in a thread but have no idea how to use the board overall. Look, here’s the thing, pal: the people who understand economics most are not economists, scholars, analysts, accountants, Wall Street Suits, Corporate Heads, Harvard Grads, but common people who have to figure out how to pay for something that is necessary but they can’t afford. You’re scholarly opinion is laughable and easily dismissed. I understand this has all hell else to do with bottled water, but that is my point: you’re focusing on a run scored in the 3rd inning but ignoring the 12 runs the other team scored in the other innings. ---
**Author:** ![Mince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Mince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mince)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/108 "2016-08-24T17:16:28Z")
> [@onething](#): > > You people are nasty. Take it easy on each other! This does seem pretty strong for Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/109 "2016-08-24T17:16:57Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > Oh got it…what kind of publications do you write for? I’m sure they are some not un-famous ones. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/110 "2016-08-24T17:58:38Z")
> [@Mince](#): > > Look, here’s the thing, pal: the people who understand economics most are not economists, scholars, analysts, accountants, Wall Street Suits, Corporate Heads, Harvard Grads, but common people who have to figure out how to pay for something that is necessary but they can’t afford. You’re scholarly opinion is laughable and easily dismissed. I understand this has all hell else to do with bottled water, but that is my point: you’re focusing on a run scored in the 3rd inning but ignoring the 12 runs the other team scored in the other innings. Do you understand that this thread was about bottled water, so that’s what I commented on? Do you understand that I am a charter(-era) member here, not to mention a decade before that in AFCA, and I’ve learned that letting a thread wander all over hell is a waste of everyone’s time? Do you understand that I understand that bottled water is not the only consumer issue of consequence, or that it’s even all that important in comparison to many others? I am not in any way trying to dodge your questions. I simply refuse, from experience, to turn a specific thread into a rambling omnibus one simply because you don’t want to get out of your comfy chair here? ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/111 "2016-08-24T18:03:49Z")
[QUOTE=onething] You people are nasty. Take it easy on each other! [/QUOTE] > [@Mince](#): > > This does seem pretty strong for Cafe Society. [I agree, so I made a pit thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19578863#post19578863) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/112 "2016-08-24T18:23:24Z")
> [@Azeotrope](#): > > [I agree, so I made a pit thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=19578863#post19578863) Neither the first nor last. Sorry no one was able to trap me into defending their positions for them here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/113 "2016-08-24T19:24:43Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Do you understand that I am a charter(-era) member here, And how does that make you smarter than everyone else here? :dubious: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/114 "2016-08-24T20:25:30Z")
I buy maybe 6 cases of generic grocery store water a year. I need them for frozen water bottles-if you live in Arizona, you understand that. I refill and use them in the bathroom- bathroom cups are nasty and I don’t want paper cups in there. Our water is passable to drink, but very very very hard. So after a while, the bottles get ( I guess) a calcium magnesium film on the inside. Then I recycle them. I do buy and drink Propel water, yes, I know there are cheaper alternatives blah blah blah, but I like them. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/115 "2016-08-24T20:32:19Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > And how does that make you smarter than everyone else here? :dubious: :rolleyes: Only in not getting drawn into scattered discussions that end up nowhere. I offered to answer questions in separate threads, but it’s obvious Mince just wants to piss and moan that I didn’t chase hir questions all over Great Grimpen Moor. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/116 "2016-08-24T22:38:40Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Only in not getting drawn into scattered discussions that end up nowhere. > > I offered to answer questions in separate threads, but it’s obvious Mince just wants to piss and moan that I didn’t chase hir questions all over Great Grimpen Moor. Mire. Grimpen _Mire_. ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/117 "2016-08-24T22:50:15Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Scam? Hell no. My aunt has hard water and it smells and tastes like _sulfur_. If you want to drink water that tastes like rotten eggs, be my guest. (And trust me, it’s extremely strong. Even with a water softener) I grew up drinking well water that had a strong sulfur taste and odor. I miss it so much. ☹ Seriously, we moved the stuff my sister would visit my mom every week and fill multiple plastic gallon jugs with water so she had some to drink. She kept it up for years until mom moved. The water in the town I live in now just sucks, even when they aren’t sending out warnings. But I seldom buy bottled water. It barely tastes better. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/118 "2016-08-24T22:59:13Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > I grew up drinking well water that had a strong sulfur taste and odor. I miss it so much. ☹ Seriously, we moved the stuff my sister would visit my mom every week and fill multiple plastic gallon jugs with water so she had some to drink. She kept it up for years until mom moved. > > The water in the town I live in now just sucks, even when they aren’t sending out warnings. But I seldom buy bottled water. It barely tastes better. Assuming I’m not being whooshed, that’s fucking disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/119 "2016-08-24T23:36:44Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > The odds that you would buy bottled water as any kind of a regular drink, had you not been exposed to two decades of intense marketing pressure, are pretty close to nil. This is total nonsense. I’m certain that I’ve never seen an ad for the store-brand bottled water I buy, and I’m pretty sure that it’s never been advertised at all. I buy it on the basis of its good taste, it being local spring water, low price, and its mineral analysis. It’s impossible to have a generic conversation about “bottled water” because it means so many different things and there are so many different reasons for using it. To some, it means a fancy imported mineral water; to others, like me, it means local spring water that they buy simply because it tastes way better than their tap water. It’s also a bit deceptive to claim, as you later did, that water is just water and trivially easy to purify. There are many different kinds of filters with different degrees of efficacy, often used in combination. Filters are fine if the objective is to remove specific harmful or undesirable substances and they happen to do it well, but not necessarily the solution if what you want is the best tasting water, because taste is not just a function of what’s _not_ in the water, but also of what _is_ in it – dissolved minerals, etc. You’ll often find pure distilled water in the same grocery aisle with bottled water, but that’s for putting in your steam iron or mixing with antifreeze in your car radiator, not typically for drinking. I buy bottled local spring water because it tastes way better than the crappy chlorinated stuff that comes out of my tap. I may or may not be able to achieve results to my satisfaction with a high quality filtration system, but I’ve never bothered trying because such systems are not cheap and I’m not certain of the results, while bottled spring water where I live is so cheap it’s practically free – you’re basically just paying for local transportation and handling. Last time I was at the grocery, 12-packs of 500ml bottles were on sale for 89 cents. That’s the princely sum of less than 7 and a half cents a bottle. Even if I average two bottles of water a day that’s about $54 a year, total. Plus, the bottles are very convenient, and environmentally, the carbon footprint is likely quite small, and the bottles, which can be recycled, are themselves made from second-generation recycled plastic. So while some of your comments may be valid in some circumstances, they are over-broad generalizations and in many cases they are misdirected judgmental pontifications. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2016, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327/120 "2016-08-25T01:09:18Z")
> [@Lok](#): > > I grew up drinking well water that had a strong sulfur taste and odor. I miss it so much. ☹ Seriously, we moved the stuff my sister would visit my mom every week and fill multiple plastic gallon jugs with water so she had some to drink. She kept it up for years until mom moved. > > The water in the town I live in now just sucks, even when they aren’t sending out warnings. But I seldom buy bottled water. It barely tastes better. Not quite the same, but I kind of miss the water of my childhood, although I can still get it here if I really want to–water fresh off a garden hose in the middle of summer, part rubbery taste, part metallic, part chlorine. All summer and memories. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bottled-water-is-it-really-worth-it-scam-or-not/763327.md?page=7)