# I pit people who don't understand the true value of things. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419 "2009-07-18T07:50:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/41 "2009-07-20T17:31:48Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Yes, but the Euro is currently at a near-all-time high relative to the US$. It’s been as low as $1.02=1 EUR in the last 10 years. The two currencies are roughly equal in purchasing power. And he’s buying a motorcycle now. Though it seems to me based on what he says that the purchasing power is not the same if the same bike would be $ 14k here in the states. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/42 "2009-07-20T17:33:14Z")
> [@Discipline](#): > > 1. It’s a brand new Porsche, don’t ask stupid questions you already know the answer to. I know the value of a Porsche but I’ve never had the chance to ride in one. Are you near New York by any chance? I promise to fully appreciate the value of your purchase if you’ll give me a ride in it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/43 "2009-07-20T17:38:38Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > And he’s buying a motorcycle now. Sure, but any meaningful comparison has to look at relative rates over time; the Euro is currently significantly overvalued against the dollar. See [here](http://fx.sauder.ubc.ca/PPP.html). > [@](#): > > Though it seems to me based on what he says that the purchasing power is not the same if the same bike would be $ 14k here in the states. Vehicles don’t really fit into purchasing power comparisons well because we tax them a lot less than most countries do. We only tax most consumer products a little bit less than most countries do. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/44 "2009-07-20T17:58:02Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Nothing made by Harley-Davidson qualifies as “a decent bike”. I agree. Noisy, over-priced, mechanically unsound, too-heavy, oil-leaking, too-much-vibrating bloated boats. No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/45 "2009-07-20T17:59:19Z")
So who makes a good touring bike these days? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/46 "2009-07-20T18:00:58Z")
As a foodie, I get tired of this myself. My boss lives somewhere near me, and I’ve been telling her about this magnificent local fruit orchard and stand for years. It kind of goes over her head, as she’s a discount supermarket-shopping kind of person. The other day, I brought her a peach from this place. She bit into it, and as I expected, she had a “mouthgasm” because the fruit from this place is just that good. “My God - where did you get this?” “Same place I’ve been telling you about for years. They’re $2.50 a pound.” “That’s expensive!” “Yeah, it does cost more than the supermarket. It’s worth it, isn’t it?” ::pause:: “Yes. Would you draw me a map to the place?” ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/47 "2009-07-20T18:05:27Z")
$ 2.50 a pound for fresh peaches is not expensive at all. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/48 "2009-07-20T18:09:03Z")
I don’t think she’s talking about that kind of peaches. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/49 "2009-07-20T18:10:10Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Yes, but the Euro is currently at a near-all-time high relative to the US$. It’s been as low as $1.02=1 EUR in the last 10 years. The two currencies are roughly equal in purchasing power. One Euro was worth just under $0.84 at one point in Novermber of 2000. It didn’t climb over parity from January 2000 until July 15, 2002. Since December 9, 2002 it’s been over parity and was on a steady rise until it peaked at 1.60 in April 2008. If you think the Euro and dollar are roughly equivalent in buying power I’d love to buy any Euros you’re willing to sell. I’ll even give you 1.10 on Euro. Today’s exchange rate: 1.42 dollars to the Euro. Closer in value than the Indian Rupee to the dollar, but 40% premium is not what I’d call equivalent. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/50 "2009-07-20T18:14:59Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > One Euro was worth just under $0.84 at one point in Novermber of 2000. It didn’t climb over parity from January 2000 until July 15, 2002. Since December 9, 2002 it’s been over parity and was on a steady rise until it peaked at 1.60 in April 2008. If you think the Euro and dollar are roughly equivalent in buying power I’d love to buy any Euros you’re willing to sell. I’ll even give you 1.10 on Euro. > > Today’s exchange rate: 1.42 dollars to the Euro. Closer in value than the Indian Rupee to the dollar, but 40% premium is not what I’d call equivalent. Do you understand what PPP means? What she’s saying is that an apple that costs 1.00 in America will cost 1.42 in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/51 "2009-07-20T18:17:15Z")
Crap, I’m a she now. Knew I shouldn’t have visited that _Bureau de Sex-Change_. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/52 "2009-07-20T19:14:55Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So who makes a good touring bike these days? Not HD, they make cruisers. (Fat, bloated cruisers … but don’t get me started!) Anyway, check this out: [Types of motorcycles - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Types_of_motorcycles) ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/53 "2009-07-20T19:23:22Z")
**elbows** said: > [@](#): > > I don’t care why you bought it, if you can’t help telling me the price, (obviously different if I inquire, “Gosh, how much does such a bike cost?”), then the price is clearly what’s important to you. Uh, **elbows** , are you illiterate? The OP begins with: > [@](#): > > Occasionally an idiot will ask me about my motorcycle: > > **Idiot: How much did you pay for the bike?** That’s right, the person **asks** the effing price. **Dog80** , I feel your pain. If they don’t share your appreciation for the item, they can’t appreciate the cost and its relative value. **ivn1188** said: > [@](#): > > I’m sorry that people who are reacting to your penis extension don’t react the way you want them to. I can certainly understand how annoying it must be to find that your planned status symbol purchases don’t seem to convey the attitude of respect and coolness that you were hoping for. Wow, could you _try_ to be a bigger asshole? Without knowing anything about the product, the features, the market costs in that location, or the alternatives, or even the person’s motivations for the purchase, you immediately jump from “motorcycle” to “must be buying it as a ‘penis extension’”, as if that is the only justification. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/54 "2009-07-20T22:21:40Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > $ 2.50 a pound for fresh peaches is not expensive at all. That’s my opinion, and especially not for kickass high quality fruit, but I think she doesn’t believe in paying the absolute cheapest bargain bin price for anything. I buy pounds and pounds of this orchard fruit, and run up a big tab. The thing is, I _don’t_ buy a lot of other crap, like chips and cookies and candy. So I’m not buying this stuff in addition to junk food; I’m buying it instead of junk food. Still, I’ve learned not to talk about my obsession with quality foodstuffs, because people give me the stinkeye over my expensive habit. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/55 "2009-07-21T05:21:11Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > **ivn1188** said: \ > > Wow, could you _try_ to be a bigger asshole? Without knowing anything about the product, the features, the market costs in that location, or the alternatives, or even the person’s motivations for the purchase, you immediately jump from “motorcycle” to “must be buying it as a ‘penis extension’”, as if that is the only justification. Sure. Your mother’s a cunt. Now that I am a bigger asshole, yes, I can state that someone who is spending 17k Euros on a motorcycle in Greece, and bragging about it to others before he has purchased it, including in his OP factoids about how fast it is and giving us the model, the apparent age of the OP, the availability of cheaper used bikes and the availability of bikes that aren’t overkill (there is no place on earth other than a racetrack where you _need_ a 1000cc sportbike) all point to the fact that OP is buying a status symbol. Buying a status symbol is fine; we all do it. However, whining about someone calling you on it, or not thinking it’s a wise decision is gilding the lily and sort of pathetic – yet more evidence that OP wants people to think he’s cool for buying this ridiculously expensive bike. You, on the other hand, by being so sensitive about penis extensions, make me think you probably have a few stashed away in your garage as well. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/56 "2009-07-21T05:29:36Z")
Oh, P.S. **Irishman** , I owned a motorcycle when I was younger too. I’m not jumping from “motorcycle” to “penis extension”, I’m jumping from “Look how leet my bike is” to “penis extension”. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/57 "2009-07-21T06:56:24Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > That’s my opinion, and especially not for kickass high quality fruit, but I think she doesn’t believe in paying the absolute cheapest bargain bin price for anything. > > I buy pounds and pounds of this orchard fruit, and run up a big tab. The thing is, I _don’t_ buy a lot of other crap, like chips and cookies and candy. So I’m not buying this stuff in addition to junk food; I’m buying it instead of junk food. Still, I’ve learned not to talk about my obsession with quality foodstuffs, because people give me the stinkeye over my expensive habit. Everyone has their hobby that costs too much. My friends and I buy little plastic toy soldiers that cost up to 11 dollars each. Some people will pay a hundred dollars or more for an exceptionally well posed and painted little toy soldier. Buying fruit from a farm you can take an afternoon trip to is probably one of the better ways to waste money. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/58 "2009-07-21T06:57:24Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > Oh, P.S. **Irishman** , I owned a motorcycle when I was younger too. I’m not jumping from “motorcycle” to “penis extension”, I’m jumping from “Look how leet my bike is” to “penis extension”. You’re still someone I would never, ever invite over, even if you were dating my best friend. ---
**Author:** ![ivn1188](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e480ec/32.png) [@ivn1188](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivn1188)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/59 "2009-07-21T07:11:46Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > You’re still someone I would never, ever invite over, even if you were dating my best friend. That’s ok; I don’t hang out with socially retarded nerds who play Warhammer. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419/60 "2009-07-21T07:40:55Z")
> [@ivn1188](#): > > That’s ok; I don’t hang out with socially retarded nerds who play Warhammer. Who DO you hang out with? Or should I say “did”, since I can’t imagine anyone doing it twice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-people-who-dont-understand-the-true-value-of-things/503419.md?page=4)