Value ain’t something things have on their own—it’s about how we see it. It comes from the meaning we give stuff, not just the thing itself.
Think about business class flights. The plane’s going to the same place whether you’re in the fancy seats or squeezed in the back. Both get there at the same time, but one ticket costs way more just because it feels exclusive. Sure, you get a bit more space and better food, but what you’re really buying is that feeling—like you’re important, special, maybe even a bit fancy. Business class sells a story of privilege, and people are happy to pay for it.
Diamonds are just rocks made of carbon, but thanks to clever ads (DeBeers im looking at you…), they now stand for love and forever. No marketing, no sparkle, right?
Same with avocados. They used to be just a weird fruit. Then came some rebranding and now they’re trendy, showing up on every brunch table. Before that? Not so popular.
Here’s the thing: value is all in what we believe. Economy or business class, tap water or bottled, plain carbon or diamonds—it’s the story we buy into. And in business, that story is everything.
Yes, I admit I’m obsessed with the con; climate change is so sexier than global warming but I can’t understand how billions of human beings have become so scared of carbon dioxide that they see impoverishment and a feudal lifestyle as a reward for suicide…
Auctions are interesting as they give an instant snapshot of the current value of an object in real time. I quite enjoy those low budget TV shows about antiques and house clearing that end in an auction, the results are often impossible to call, even by their, fairly knowledgeable pundits.
On climate change, I have found it quite sobering to realise how much an alternative reality can be maintained just by having a compliant media. News stories that contradict the narrative are simply not reported*. News stories that appear to support the narrative are reported but with important details omitted. That seems to be sufficient to keep a non curious population believing total nonsense.
*Antarctic sea ice has now recovered to where it was around forty five years ago. It was already well known that polar sea ice was prone to long term fluctuations but, while it was in a declining phase, this was reported in numerous media stories.
Must admit I don’t keep up with fashion. So I consider climate change to be nonsense.
Of course when I was a boy, 70 odd years ago the world had real problems.
But I was certainly surprised when the Commies collapsed. Though no doubt my parents felt they were a lot less dangerous than Hitler.
People value diamonds for some reason, mostly because the female of the species are partly magpies. Ooh! Shiny! Sparkly! Gimme!
On a universal scale, wood is far rarer. Needs trees to grow, which as far as we know are only found on our planet. Diamonds fall as rain in Neptune, with giant diamonds floating around in the soup of the atmosphere.
We can manufacture diamonds if we want.
Yet wood be cheap. Diamonds expensive.
Business class, eh?
Over the last decade or so, in the name of fuel economy and emissions reduction, manufacturers and airlines have made a concerted effort to lighten airliners and cram more passengers in down the back. This has resulted in aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350, both designed for 9-abreast seating in Economy, now regularly flying 10 abreast with reduced seat pitch, passengers seated on lightweight seats made of advanced materials, lacking padding, and bloody uncomfortable. Business class, meanwhile, now regularly offers lie-flat seats.
At some point I’m going to have to do 14 hours to Japan again, and the same back. I’m over 6′, unlike the petite, short-legged Japanese. Which class to choose? I can’t afford Business so it’ll be Premium Economy, which offers space and comfort equivalent to the ordinary Tourist class of 20-30 years ago. I’d rather not pay the premium but I don’t want to disembark completely trashed, with the recovery time that entails. Been there, done that.
You were talking about “that feeling—like you’re important, special, maybe even a bit fancy?” No. I just want to feel human, alive and functioning, thanks. Diamonds? No interest. Avos? Like ’em; very nutritious. Buy ’em yellow label, when they’re affordable.
Most business class travel is paid by companies or clients of consultants and yes I know about compensation packages.
As far as I’m aware business class travel isn’t taxed as a perk and it certainly wasn’t when I was during a lot of travelling, most of it to Asia and some to the US. Apart from needing to be as fresh as possible to go in to some gruelling projects it was a very nice to have and I would quite happily take a business class flight over being paid the difference with cattle class and then losing over 50% of it in tax.
And after the first 2 or three long haul return flights in as many weeks the status part of it losses its appeal.
Business Class is much more than feelz IMHO…
It is not queuing with 500 others to check in and Fast Track through security…
That nice Lounge before the flight and all the facilities…
More space, food, drink and service on-board…
But it really pays off when things go wrong – flights are cancelled or delayed. You’ll be looked after and if necessary put up in a hotel while the others get a voucher for a sandwich and a coffee…
Once you’ve done it, it is very hard to go back!
On diamonds. Recently had to buy one. Her who makes the decisions round here had lost one from the shoulder of a ring (I’d like to have a chat with the cvnt who set it in with superglue) I buy them from a trade place in the Garden. I had to make a choice between synthetic & natural. I went with the natural although it was twice the cost of the synth. 20 quid as opposed to 10. The postage was a tenner.
Jus’ saying, that’s all.
Business class flying is for when the company is paying for it. Someone wants me to go to Edinburgh and is paying fee + expenses, I will fill my boots with expenses. Nice flight, hotel, dinner. Because of course you would.
If someone tells me they’ll pay me £700/day and I have to sort out my own costs, I’ll fly in on Easyjet, stay in a Premier Inn and go to Wetherspoons, McDonalds or grab fish and chips. I might sometimes grab a good meal if I feel like it but it’s not an every night thing if I’m paying for it.
Beyond a certain level with flights and hotels, like avoiding Grand Duchy of Fenwick Air or staying in Hotel Bastardos, I just don’t get the value. Like Premier Inn: good bed, bathroom, desk, telly. Does the job. Places like The Midland in Manchester are worth about another £20 a night to me.
Value can be something inherent to an object – or, more accurately, something independent of people’s opinions. While there is the placebo effect, if all that mattered was people’s perception, double-blind tests would never show a difference between treatments,
Some value is subjective – such as the value of a song. Yes, in that case the value is determined by opinion. But some is not. The value of the Thames Barrier to people who want to hold back the tide is objectively higher than the order of a king.
I do a couple of 12 hr plus flights a year on my own dollar and have gone business ever since I could afford to. Don’t give a monkey’s about status. Space and sleep on the other hand….
I also really like avocados. Converted after eating a nice ripe one in Australia. We used to be able to get some light green ones from Spain with thinner skin than the dark green Hass variety, but not seen them anywhere recently.
@BiS Blimey, mate. You know how to show a girl she’s appreciated. Twenty quid splashed out to repair her (wedding?) ring? Mad extravagance!