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No offense, Malkin, but you're coming across as the world's biggest curmudgeon.

ConnertheCat wrote:

Tria wrote:

No offense, Malkin, but you're coming across as the world's biggest curmudgeon.

Well, people really could be more creative.

Maybe they just know their SO better than people on the internet.

ConnertheCat wrote:

Tria wrote:

No offense, Malkin, but you're coming across as the world's biggest curmudgeon.

Well, people really could be more creative.

Sure, but that kind of venom isn't exactly warranted for something like a vday gift.  Aren't we supposed to take gifts as gestures?  And come on, a little blue box is way better than a candlit dinner at McDonald's.

Tria wrote:

No offense, Malkin, but you're coming across as the world's biggest curmudgeon.

I couldn't spend money like that without thinking about how many ways it could be used more effectively.  Cut flowers are beautiful, but they're ephemeral.  Certainly they are worth some money, but the prices at Valentines Day far exceed their value.  For the amount some people spend for this day, they could have cut flowers every week for the rest of the year.

Jewels are neat.  They're shiny and pretty, I guess.  But what does one do with them?  The money spent on jewelry could be set aside for retirement or feed a starving family in a third world country.  Maybe if you took a diamond and stuck it on a drill and drilled down into the ocean floor and found aliens that would be worth it.  But just to have a shiny rock around one's neck or on one's finger?  What is the point?  Once again, the amount paid far exceeds any value in my mind.

Some people like owning "stuff".  Sometimes I wish my house would burn down just so I could be rid of all my stuff.  Most of the time, I'd rather give something away than buy something new.  That's just my personality though.  I understand that others don't feel the same way. 

If I had lots of money to spare, I would rather make an investment that would pay off better in the long term or give it to someone who could truly use it.  I'm not saying that I'm against flowers or fun gifts or things like that- I'm just saying that the prices are so jacked up around holidays that I can't help but wonder how people don't feel taken advantage of.  And if they do feel taken advantage of, well then don't they know that no one can take advantage of you without your permission?

I'd rather be curmudgeony than foolish.  And I would feel foolish for spending $100 on flowers when I could save for a downpayment on a house instead and buy the same flowers for $20 the next day.  Different people have different values though.

Anyway, I digress.  I don't mean to hijack this thread with rants against consumerism.  It's wonderful when people take any opportunity to show love, and that I truly believe.

We live in a country where people can spend their money on whatever they want.

Buying 100,000,000 pet rocks is beyond reason, but someone can still do it if they have the money.

Steyr AUG wrote:

We live in a country where people can spend their money on whatever they want.

You state that as though it is being questioned.  No where do I see it being questioned.

Malkin wrote:

Steyr AUG wrote:

We live in a country where people can spend their money on whatever they want.

You state that as though it is being questioned.  No where do I see it being questioned.

If it strenghtens the love and romance in their relationship. I dont see the problem.