Comments on: why? just because, that’s why

By: Amber

Amber — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 22:01:19 +0000

Hey Duane, looks like your plants are back! Smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em…

Fucking assholes (which, like opinions, everyone has).

By: dpb

dpb — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:36:42 +0000

Back to the “shameful markup of goods…”

Should we outlaw such markups? Or, should we just tax the fuck out of anyone that could afford the markup? If you have an issue with rich people spending their money the way they see fit, what is your solution to this travesty?

By: duane

duane — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 16:20:37 +0000

I was waiting for someone to cast the “starving kids in Africa” stone, and I just love that you call that an instance of my being a hypocrite. Well, if I would have bought a Dolce and Gabbana completely overpriced because of the name brand camera just because, well, then that would be hypocritical; but that isn’t what I did. Buying something wasn’t the point of my post, and it wasn’t the point I was making; I was angry about the D&G phone because it is a shameful markup of goods because of branding and consumerism. The reason I can say that without doubt, is because THAT phone sells for $69 dollars everywhere else (probably cheaper if you can find it), and paying the additional $531 because it says D&G on it is just silly. THAT was my point, and I knew it was missed. Perhaps I used the wrong example with the starving kids in Africa, but, there are still starving kids in Africa; fuck, there are starving kids in Atlanta. That doesn’t mean that capitalism will (or should) stop, but it does beg criticism when it is (in MY opinion) out of control with branding and pricing over the same exact merchandise that has a different label sewn into the back.

Paying more for a brand, in my opinion, is a waste of money; and that doesn’t make me a hypocrite for buying other things. Nuff said.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 15:23:53 +0000

We’re talking about a camera people. It’s not as if Duane is purchasing a blinged-out Humvee with hot-and-cold running taps of Dom Perignon in the dash. A camera — particularly a sensible one — is a perfectly reasonable purchase. Duane has a good eye for image, so he deserves a workable tool for that talent. End of story.

Now … Duane, you’re making a good decision about the make and model. I bought a Panasonic (Lumix) FZ5 last year and could not be happier with it. The colors are great, the images are sharp. The image stabilization is not as flat out awesome as I hoped, but it certainly cuts down on the blur. You’re going to really like this camera. Enjoy.

By: Slubbage

Slubbage — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 15:15:46 +0000

Wendy, I will do my best to post in a positive manner from now on unless absolutely necessary. I probably sound like a jackass because when I voice an opinion I am countering some pretty off the wall thinking as is the case with my last post. Nikki is completely correct that everyone has the right to their own opinion and I agree that is what makes this country great. We can voice our opinions on any issue we want and not be persecuted by our government for doing so. Believe it or not you can’t do that in many places around the world. I may have differing opinions than Duane on many issues but I keep visiting his site because I think he’s a creative writer and he hosts an entertaining blog. It doesn’t matter if your views are from the left or from the right on political issues but when you make judgements on how people should spend their own money then you are taking away a person’s freedom. The jab at Duane was purely sarcastic but hopefully stressed the point I am trying to make. If I can offer an opinion that makes Duane or someone else think differently on an issue in the future then that is great. I keep reading his blog because there are opinions on here that make me look at issues in a different manner as well.

By: Eater

Eater — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 05:27:45 +0000

Ohhh, and don’t forget about that looming AC replacement debt. You didn’t forget about that, did you? Mwuahahaha. (Voice of fiscal reason.)

Just kidding. Buy the camera. This is America, we buy whatever the fuck we want, when we want.

Sorry I’m going to miss the thing this week. I’m out of town on biz Give my regards to Team Awesome et al.

By: Fairness

Fairness — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 04:47:15 +0000

It is curious to see someone judge and criticize people for buying designer cell phones and then blog about their own unnecessary purchases like tatoos and digital cameras.
A tad bit hypocritical you think? Priorities a little out of wack?
Just food for thought.

By: T. Johnston

T. Johnston — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 03:05:23 +0000

NO NO NO! if you are going to get ANY camera it needs to be a digital SLR! do it… DO IT!

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 02:10:06 +0000

Slubbage, you make a good point but why do you have to be such a jackass in doing so? Everytime you post on Duane’s blog it seems to be in a negative manner. If you have such opposing views as Duane why visit and post??

By: Nikki

Nikki — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 01:54:10 +0000

You are exactly as entitled to think that Duane shouldn’t buy a camera as Duane is to think that people who spend a million dollars or whatever on a cell phone are stupid.

It’s a free country that way.

Nice innit? No lesson to be learned here other than it’s permissible for everyone to have an opinion. Perhaps also, everyone can have a blog, and everyone is welcome to rant about whatever they like on said blog.

Like this one.

Funny old world, huh?