Vintageness ( was Re: Serious Request For Moderation (On

From: Eric Chomko <chomko_at_greenbelt.com>
Date: Sun May 13 22:02:04 2001

Iggy Drougge wrote:

> Eric Chomko skrev:
>
> >Pardon me for jumping in...
>
> By all means.
>

Thank you.


>
> >Iggy Drougge wrote:
>
> >> Sellam Ismail skrev:
> >>
> >> >On 12 May 2001, Iggy Drougge wrote:
> >>
> >> >> Da Vinci's greatness as an artist stemmed IOW from his ability to
> >> >> produce great works of art. A work of art is a work of art even if
> >> >> mass-produced, the last century has taught us as much.
> >>
> >> >Abstractly, yes. The original is a tangible product of the man, hence
> >> >it's value relative to copies.
> >>
> >> Are copies less tangible?
>
> >No, more tangible, and that is the point! When speaking of rarity and value
> >one deals with supply and demand. The demand for copies of originals can
> >always met, therefore the price is low. The demand for a unique item will
> >drive the price of the item up as long as more than one person wants it.
>
> My point is that Mona Lisa isn't rare since there are reproductions. Anyone
> who'd pay millions more for the "original" is an utter fool.
>

There are many fools based upon your assessment. Did you know that Gates purchased

a painting for $30million a few years ago? Is he an utter fool? This is not
directly related
to the arguement but is quite on-topic for the group and this particular thread.

Okay, two points...

Gates is worth what, $50billion? Half that? Maybe more or less? Let's use
$30billion to
make a point. Ratio $30million to $30billion is 1 to 1000. If someone has a net
worth of
$300K, then the 1 to 1000 ratio puts their expeniture at $300. Would you spend
$300
for a "rare" computer (forget panitings for the moment)? Do you see the point? To
Gates
spending $30million is not unlike a $300 lay out for us poor slobs. Its obscene I
know, but
it is what it is. The worst part is that I'd be hard pressed to show I got $300K
in personal
wealth. :(

The second point is, suppose an organization like a museum or foundation raise
enough
money to make a purchase like one for a rare painting, is that such a bad thing?
They
put it on display for the public to see. Is this a ship of fools in your book?


>
> >Why is it like that? Because!
>
> >> >> But then that is metaphysics, and should we really invest that much
> >> >> money into something which essentially would be a golden calf?
> >>
> >> >A golden calf, as in idol worshipping? Is this becoming religious? I
> >> >hope not. Things connect us to the past. Perhaps you keep a memento that
> >> >reminds you of a dead relative, for example? Or maybe you're an
> >> >emotionless bastard and you don't, in which case you can't understand my
> >> >point?
> >>
> >> I'd go for the second. Bastards don't have emotional ties to their
> >> relatives.
> >> =)
> >>
> >> >> But of course it can! It's built from the same plans and offers the
> >> >> same functionality.
> >>
> >> >And it has all the historical significance that everything "Made in
> >> >Taiwan" has. Yes, of course!
> >>
> >> It doesn't matter whether it's built in Taiwan or the Czech republic as
> >> long as it's according to the plans.
>
> >That's not exactly correct when trying to determine the value of something.
>
> >By your own arguement, no one here should collect an old computer based upon
> >functionality, as I can buy a new one than can out perform the old ones.
> >Therefore,
> >no one should bother with older ones regardless of model or type.
>
> In what way can any computer outperform another? Every computer is unique in
> its own sense, isn't that why we collect several?

Agreed. So why would a replica of a painting be any different than the replica of
a computer?

>
> We don't use computers to run benchmarks. At least not most of the time.
>

True, but I think I missed the point of that.

Eric

>
> --
> En ligne avec Thor 2.6a.
>
> "Real life is full of idiots, and tons of ads. I don't see how IRC is any
> different, other than a lot more people want to have sex with you."
> -- m3000
Received on Sun May 13 2001 - 22:02:04 BST