So, I imagine that diamond sales are down right now. But why on earth does the diamond industry need to inundate me with the message "If those who love you don't buy you diamonds, they don't really love you
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Re: Is this about diamonds?cz_unitDecember 17 2005, 22:51:22 UTC
There are other problems The advent of Bellitaire type diamonds and synthetic diamonds that are identical to "real" diamonds (because they are... um... real) is causing a problem.
Unlike Gold, which you really can't manufacture and has an objective traved value diamonds are only worth as much as people are willing to pay for them. In this sort of environment, marketing is king.
Thus the ads. After all, it's not about the diamond really, it's about showing you love someone so much you're willing to burn 20-40k in a fireplace. Oh wait, instead you can give it to some random person.
Re: Is this about diamonds?dangerpuddingDecember 18 2005, 06:11:20 UTC
After all, it's not about the diamond really, it's about showing you love someone so much you're willing to burn 20-40k in a fireplace. Oh wait, instead you can give it to some random person.
I take so much more love from someone letting me know that they're saving for their/our future then from getting shiny new things.
Re: Is this about diamonds?mactavishDecember 18 2005, 06:21:53 UTC
I remember very clearly an ad that said, "Tom, how much should I spend on an engagement ring?" and he said something like, "Properly, an engagement ring should cost two months of your annual salary." SHIT! I can get a car that doesn't overheat for less than that! It'd be used, but it wouldn't overheat!
Re: Is this about diamonds?vvvexationDecember 19 2005, 23:09:45 UTC
I would kill anyone who spent that much of what was presumably supposed to be "our" money on a piece of jewelry, even if I were a big jewelry wearer to begin with.
Re: Is this about diamonds?karenbynightDecember 18 2005, 09:25:33 UTC
Obviously, the lack of a rock on my finger implies that I fundamentally agree with you. Bry and I didn't exchange anything but vows.
But rationally, convincing millions of americans that love=diamonds is actually somewhat less silly than many of the other results of commercializing relationships. Ethical questions about their origins aside, diamonds at least hold value, which is more than you can say for a thousand-dollar wedding dress.
Myself, I think the whole industry that capitalizes on telling people what it means to love other people should be burned to the ground. But that won't happen until more people opt out of having commercials tell them what to do on this and every other facet of life.
Re: Is this about diamonds?dangerpuddingDecember 18 2005, 06:07:54 UTC
Why are you watching / listening to commercial media? If it's pissing you off, why are you doing this? I don't understand.
Sometimes it's hard to get around it. And this ad campaign has been annoying me for years.
I understand liking diamonds. I have one piece of jewelry with diamonds in it that I love, it's a family heirloom and, well, means a lot.
However, you're right - this isn't about diamonds, it's about the sorts of messages being used in society and why they annoy me. Avoiding them is great, but I'm also trying to figure out how (other then not buying the things they advertise) I can *change* them.
Re: Is this about diamonds?inflectionpointDecember 18 2005, 19:20:10 UTC
Ummm, I don't know, but it would be valuable maybe to make public the human costs of diamond mining as it is done now.
I remember reading about anti slavery folks in the eighteen hundreds who campaigned against the use of sugar, because it came from plantations where the treatement of slaves was even worse than it was in most of the USA. They used the slogan, "Sugar is made with blood."
I don't know how to make the human cost more visible, but think that might be one tack to take. Everything does cost something, I get that, but some things cost more than I am willing to pay. I don't think most folks know the cost of a diamond, and perhaps they shy away from learning the truth. It's truth that needs to be told, how best to do it?
Re: Is this about diamonds?plymouthDecember 18 2005, 06:28:29 UTC
You didn't even complain about diamonds.
So now I'm confused. This sure sounds a lot like a complaint to me:
I don't like diamonds. They aren't that pretty, they're sharp and tend to hurt me
Regardless of whether you categorize it as a complaint, it is a statement I agree with and I don't see how it is inappropriate to respond by stating my agreement with it. And I don't see how you could possibly construe he statement as having nothing to do with diamonds seeing as it has the word DIAMONDS in it.
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Unlike Gold, which you really can't manufacture and has an objective traved value diamonds are only worth as much as people are willing to pay for them. In this sort of environment, marketing is king.
Thus the ads. After all, it's not about the diamond really, it's about showing you love someone so much you're willing to burn 20-40k in a fireplace. Oh wait, instead you can give it to some random person.
Myself, I prefer the house.
CZ
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I take so much more love from someone letting me know that they're saving for their/our future then from getting shiny new things.
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Careful reading suggests to me that actually she asked why the Diamond industry is trying to sell Diamonds so stridently with this particular message.
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But rationally, convincing millions of americans that love=diamonds is actually somewhat less silly than many of the other results of commercializing relationships. Ethical questions about their origins aside, diamonds at least hold value, which is more than you can say for a thousand-dollar wedding dress.
Myself, I think the whole industry that capitalizes on telling people what it means to love other people should be burned to the ground. But that won't happen until more people opt out of having commercials tell them what to do on this and every other facet of life.
Reply
Sometimes it's hard to get around it. And this ad campaign has been annoying me for years.
I understand liking diamonds. I have one piece of jewelry with diamonds in it that I love, it's a family heirloom and, well, means a lot.
However, you're right - this isn't about diamonds, it's about the sorts of messages being used in society and why they annoy me. Avoiding them is great, but I'm also trying to figure out how (other then not buying the things they advertise) I can *change* them.
Reply
I remember reading about anti slavery folks in the eighteen hundreds who campaigned against the use of sugar, because it came from plantations where the treatement of slaves was even worse than it was in most of the USA. They used the slogan, "Sugar is made with blood."
I don't know how to make the human cost more visible, but think that might be one tack to take. Everything does cost something, I get that, but some things cost more than I am willing to pay. I don't think most folks know the cost of a diamond, and perhaps they shy away from learning the truth. It's truth that needs to be told, how best to do it?
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So now I'm confused. This sure sounds a lot like a complaint to me:
I don't like diamonds. They aren't that pretty, they're sharp and tend to hurt me
Regardless of whether you categorize it as a complaint, it is a statement I agree with and I don't see how it is inappropriate to respond by stating my agreement with it. And I don't see how you could possibly construe he statement as having nothing to do with diamonds seeing as it has the word DIAMONDS in it.
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