# Rant about obscenely expensive crap in "luxury" magazine **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102 "2008-11-17T06:42:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/41 "2008-11-17T18:10:53Z")
I will never understand how someone can be that wasteful and selfish with money. _Never._ Yes, I’m being judgemental, but don’t these people realize how little others have? That there are animals being euthanized every day because shelters can’t afford to keep them? Innocent creatures are dying because there isn’t enough money to feed and care for all of them. You couldn’t care less about animals? What about people, then? What about the millions who can’t afford food or shelter every night? Oh, no wait, I forgot, homeless people deserve what they get because they’re all on drugs. So no, you’re not the only one who is absolutely sickened by this kind of thing. I have no respect for the people who act as if money doesn’t mean anything. Because it does. To a whole hell of a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/42 "2008-11-17T18:13:37Z")
And so I’ll repeat… someone, somewhere, would be horrified by the idea of “wasting” $30 on a pair of jeans. Do you own any $30 jeans? Unless you maintain a subsistence lifestyle and donate all your money to charity, you’re “wasting” money that could be used to help others. So put up or shut up. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/43 "2008-11-17T18:26:12Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > And so I’ll repeat… someone, somewhere, would be horrified by the idea of “wasting” $30 on a pair of jeans. Do you own any $30 jeans? > > Unless you maintain a subsistence lifestyle and donate all your money to charity, you’re “wasting” money that could be used to help others. So put up or shut up. Those $30 jeans are “justifiable” by the fact that when you add up material cost, labor, storage,transport, store wages and profit margin at each step that $30 is not out of line. A pair of $600 jeans has very close to the same base costs yet cost an extra $570. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/44 "2008-11-17T18:26:20Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > And so I’ll repeat… someone, somewhere, would be horrified by the idea of “wasting” $30 on a pair of jeans. Do you own any $30 jeans? > > Unless you maintain a subsistence lifestyle and donate all your money to charity, you’re “wasting” money that could be used to help others. So put up or shut up. So there isn’t any continuum? Spending $30 on jeans is the same as say, spending $20K on a diamond-encrusted iPod? Sure, I waste some money, and maybe that makes me a hypocrite, but there is _no call_ for the kind of extreme wastefulness that some folks practice. They may as well go and burn their money in front of a homeless shelter for all the good it does. Does not giving all my “extra” money to charity make me selfish? Sure it does. I don’t want to have to go without that DVD or this shirt for the sake of others. But if someone’s got enough money to drop _$150,000_ on a bracelet, and they actually go ahead and spend it without giving a thought to anyone else’s plight, then yes, they are infinitely more selfish, and yes, I will be disgusted with them. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/45 "2008-11-17T18:28:46Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > True. Alternatively, lack of it does not equal moral superiority. [QUOTE=Stauderhorse] I will never understand how someone can be that wasteful and selfish with money. _Never._ Yes, I’m being judgemental, but don’t these people realize how little others have? That there are animals being euthanized every day because shelters can’t afford to keep them? Innocent creatures are dying because there isn’t enough money to feed and care for all of them. You couldn’t care less about animals? What about people, then? What about the millions who can’t afford food or shelter every night? Oh, no wait, I forgot, homeless people deserve what they get because they’re all on drugs. So no, you’re not the only one who is absolutely sickened by this kind of thing. I have no respect for the people who act as if money doesn’t mean anything. Because it does. To a whole hell of a lot of people. [/QUOTE] I feel your righteous indignation, but scroll up, read post 38, then respond, please. I’d like to know your feelings on that matter. Then again, maybe you’re wearing some cloth that you weaved yourself 30 years ago and been wearing non stop since, while you donate the bulk of your income to poor people all around the world. > [@Stauderhorse](#): > > So there isn’t any continuum? Spending $30 on jeans is the same as say, spending $20K on a diamond-encrusted iPod?. It is exactly the same. If you want to compare your income to a super rich person, it’s the same as comparing your income to a super poor person living on two dollars a day (guess what? You’re super rich to them). ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/46 "2008-11-17T18:35:52Z")
I should also note that if Bill and Melinda Gates want to spend $17k on a purse, but then give out [35 _BILLION_ dollars](http://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/Pages/foundation-fact-sheet.aspx), well, I’m going to say we don’t have room to complain. There’s nothing to say that these “super wealthy” aren’t _also_ giving money to charity, in addition to buying themselves silly things that make them happy. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/47 "2008-11-17T18:38:05Z")
> [@Stauderhorse](#): > > So there isn’t any continuum? Spending $30 on jeans is the same as say, spending $20K on a diamond-encrusted iPod? Translation: what you spend your money on is thrifty with minor selfish indulgences. What people who are much, much wealthier than you spend their money on is all selfish indulgences. Do you have more than one pair of jeans? More than one shirt? There are people who can’t afford a single pair of shoes. Most people I know (even broke people in minimum wage jobs) have at least a couple of pairs of jeans, a bunch of tshirts and at least 2 pairs of shoes. Why are your luxuries different than the mega rich person? To the person living on less than _one goddamned dollar a **day** _, both of you are living so high on the goddamned hog that it’s appalling. Get off your high horse. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/48 "2008-11-17T18:38:55Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Those $30 jeans are “justifiable” by the fact that when you add up material cost, labor, storage,transport, store wages and profit margin at each step that $30 is not out of line. A pair of $600 jeans has very close to the same base costs yet cost an extra $570. The issue being disussed isn’t relative worth, it’s the right to spend one’s money as one chooses. You can buy a pair of jeans at the Salvation Army store for $2. And by some people’s standards, you’re a blight on the face of humanity if you choose to spend more. After all, that’s $28 you could have donated to the poor! ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/49 "2008-11-17T18:52:56Z")
did anybody ever see that Dubai oil billionaire with his silver Audi A8? yes, the body panels are silver! What a stupid status symbol-the car must be polished daily 9silver tarnishes0, and the smallest fender-bender accident is a $5000 repair job. waith-this is exactly what Thorstein vebelen said-a show off piece is valuable PRECISELY because it is so wastefully expensive to maintian (while offering no added utility)! How about Warren buffet? Richest man in the world-and he waers cheap suits, drives an old car, and lives in a modest house-what doesn’t he live a little? ---
**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:** [November 17, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/50 "2008-11-17T18:53:09Z")
> [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > I should also note that if Bill and Melinda Gates want to spend $17k on a purse, but then give out [35 _BILLION_ dollars](http://www.gatesfoundation.org/about/Pages/foundation-fact-sheet.aspx), well, I’m going to say we don’t have room to complain. > > There’s nothing to say that these “super wealthy” aren’t _also_ giving money to charity, in addition to buying themselves silly things that make them happy. This reminds me of an episode of Wife Swap I watched recently: Family #1: Anti-consumerist, live in a communal-type arrangement with other families, do odd jobs for the little money they need Family #2: Mainstream, suburban-type family The wife of Family #1 was appalled that the dad of Family #2 was saving up some crazy amount…5 or 6 grand, I think, for a TV set. She asked him if he knew how many mosquito nets he could buy for people in Africa for that amount of money. Which I won’t argue is a valid question, and something to think about very seriously. On the other hand. Her family was choosing to live a lifestyle that didn’t require a lot of hard work and didn’t require a lot of money. Subsequently, she didn’t have any money to send to Africa for mosquito nets. So how does this make her morally superior to him? Either way, that’s X number of mosquito nets that could have been purchased, but weren’t. And it wasn’t that the family wasn’t capable of working more and making more, they just chose not to. How is that any less of an indulgence than working hard and using the money to buy yourself something? ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/51 "2008-11-17T18:53:20Z")
I understand that we are a very rich nation and have more than most people will ever see. I can’t argue with those who tell me I am selfish for wasting money as I do, because they’re right. I could go without movies and luxuries and make my own clothes for the rest of my life, and give my money to the poor. But I don’t want to. Because _I am selfish_. That’s a hell of an uncomfortable thought, and I haven’t seen it that way before today, but I am. I can afford to waste money, while other people can’t. Strictly speaking, I should be giving my extra money to those who need it, but I don’t. Up till now I’ve always thought less of those who wasted their money at places like Abercrombie & Fitch and spent $150,000 on a car. Because I was better than that. I wasn’t like them. I cared about the homeless and downtrodden. They were the selfish and stupid ones. Count me in the club, then, because I am like them. It’s only a matter of degree. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/52 "2008-11-17T18:58:32Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > The issue being disussed isn’t relative worth, it’s the right to spend one’s money as one chooses. > > You can buy a pair of jeans at the Salvation Army store for $2. And by some people’s standards, you’re a blight on the face of humanity if you choose to spend more. After all, that’s $28 you could have donated to the poor! Sorry, I didn’t make my point very well. What I was trying to say is that most people can see a point where the extra cost can no longer be justified by a increase in the quality of the item. To buy a pair of jeans at Goodwill requires that someone buys them for full price first. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/53 "2008-11-17T18:58:40Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > How about Warren buffet? Richest man in the world-and he waers cheap suits, drives an old car, and lives in a modest house-what doesn’t he live a little? I wouldn’t be too concerned for the guy: he has a few private jets, among other things. Comparatively frugal he may be, but he’s hardly free from the ire of many in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/54 "2008-11-17T19:25:26Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > did anybody ever see that Dubai oil billionaire with his silver Audi A8? yes, the body panels are silver! What a stupid status symbol-the car must be polished daily 9silver tarnishes0, and the smallest fender-bender accident is a $5000 repair job. waith-this is exactly what Thorstein vebelen said-a show off piece is valuable PRECISELY because it is so wastefully expensive to maintian (while offering no added utility)! > How about Warren buffet? Richest man in the world-and he waers cheap suits, drives an old car, and lives in a modest house-what doesn’t he live a little? If you mean [this “silver” Audi](http://www.snopes.com/photos/automobiles/silveraudi.asp), it’s actually highly polished aluminum. Still high maintenance, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dripping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Dripping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dripping)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/55 "2008-11-17T20:03:26Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Well, I am neither disgusted or outraged. I wouldn’t actually buy any of the stuff (well, maybe the purple handbag, but only if I unexpectedly came into an extra $17,000) but I’m not that bothered by the fact that other people do. Are you saying that if you won the lottery to the tune of $17,000, you would buy that handbag? Instead of, oh I dunno, investing it, or putting down a downpayment on a house, or paying off debt. 😕 If so…wow. Just wow. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/56 "2008-11-17T21:01:01Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > You said the sneakers on page 48 were ugly, but I had no idea how ugly sneakers could be until I saw them. It took me a minute or two to realize that it was in fact a shoe I was looking at. > > It’s got to be a joke of some sort, this magazine. If I saw someone with the $15K diamond iPod earbuds my first thought would be “that looks like the $1.99 earbud covers the shady-looking guy at the mall kiosk sells.” The sneakers look like they cost $8.88 at Payless. I mean, if I wanted to spend some cash at least I’d want to look good. It’s like the $500 T-shirts I see on sale at the Saks Fifth Avenue Outlet at the local Border Trap here. You could buy two of those and look disheveled, or buy a $1,000 tailored suit and look Bond-esque. My thoughts exactly! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/57 "2008-11-17T21:07:10Z")
> [@Stauderhorse](#): > > I will never understand how someone can be that wasteful and selfish with money. _Never._ Yes, I’m being judgemental, but don’t these people realize how little others have? That there are animals being euthanized every day because shelters can’t afford to keep them? Innocent creatures are dying because there isn’t enough money to feed and care for all of them. You couldn’t care less about animals? What about people, then? What about the millions who can’t afford food or shelter every night? Oh, no wait, I forgot, homeless people deserve what they get because they’re all on drugs. > > So no, you’re not the only one who is absolutely sickened by this kind of thing. I have no respect for the people who act as if money doesn’t mean anything. Because it does. To a whole hell of a lot of people. Thank you for this. I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels this way! ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/58 "2008-11-17T21:08:46Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Those $30 jeans are “justifiable” by the fact that when you add up material cost, labor, storage,transport, store wages and profit margin at each step that $30 is not out of line. A pair of $600 jeans has very close to the same base costs yet cost an extra $570. Well said. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/59 "2008-11-17T21:46:41Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > What I was trying to say is that most people can see a point where the extra cost can no longer be justified by a increase in the quality of the item. Yes, bu that point is \*entirely \*_relative_. People have differing definitions of “expensive” and of “quality”. We can argue for a year about whether a $600 pair of jeans is “worth it”, but it will \*always \*be worth it to someone. And since it’s their $600, who am I to tell them otherwise? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102/60 "2008-11-17T22:03:28Z")
Most of my jeans are in the $30-50 range, but I have a pair of Joe’s Jeans that cost me $172. Worth it? Hell, yes- my ass has never looked better. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-about-obscenely-expensive-crap-in-luxury-magazine/473102.md?page=4)