This is true. And I'm not saying that people should start sending each other rocks. =) Obviously this is a tongue-in-cheek novelty item and much like the pet rocks of yesteryear has no future. As to time being the most valuable thing — yes. Time and health. Which is why neither is something I would ask my friends and family to gift me as a token of good will. Wasting time or wounding oneself is not a good idea.

Generally none of us require actual sacrifices from our friends and family to prove to us that they care. I certainly don't want my father baking me a pie (likely burning down the estate in the process) and then mailing it to me across 2000 miles. =) A simple call will do. Or a postcard. Or a rock.

And once again, I do agree that it's stupid. =) Absolutely. But since in our culture we are used to physical tokens, most people have the desire to give something tangible to others. Doesn't matter what. Maybe a common mineral. =)

It's kind of like when you walk up a mountain with your girlfriend, find a pebble there, break it in half and each of you keep a piece. The pebble in itself is useless and worthless, but you can assign some meaning to it, which may make it valuable to you personally.

Actually, I'd appreciate a (good) digital videogame more than an expensive useless rock :P

Eh, the only way I can think of a rock serving as a "proxy for a message" is if you put some momentum behind it...

Come to think of it maybe Nordstrom is onto something...

I've got two rocks in a pouch. No need for more.

<i>Dealers keep dealin'...</i>

Ah, hot air - the foundation of a stable economy! :/

It must be the Chinese city dwelling tourists who crave it... they only have smog back home.
<i>Initially, we used three balls...</i>

It is sad what these people breathe in their cities. And to tell the truth, smog or not, Hong Kong is still great. :P


I guess it's just regular air. And if the company's headquarters are outside major cities, it will be clean anyway. ;)

I thought all those high end places used bullet proof glass and crap now.

It kind of reminds me how many people are willing to spend money at a restaurant for a diet drink when they could have just asked for a cup of water that would have been given to them without additional charge. Water is better for you than any diet drink and it is basically the ultimate diet drink.

I think I know what the overall difference is.

Case 1: You actually need something. Someone buys you a rock. It's insulting because you clearly see the resources, which could have benefited you, being wasted (so far as you are concerned.) This is relative and depends on your overall income, because those for whom $85 is a lot and they'd be insulted by an $85 rock, would still most likely be amused by a $1 rock.

Case 2: You need nothing. Someone buys you a rock. It's amusing.

That's me most christmases, I think that by now they might have actually given up on asking.

I much prefer when they don't ask, but just give something from their own idea of what I should get - what I already know I want, I've probably already bought, am saving up to buy, or is either much too expensive in itself or require a fuckload of time and money in preparation.

The rock doesn't wither and die in a couple days though :-P

He might if UPS takes care of the packaging and delivery.

True, but at least flowers are ascetically pleasing. A rock is, well, just a rock. At least these rocks in any case. But then again, beauty IS in the eye of the beholder. :)
lol
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

I can only offer a trip to a mineralogical museum in response. =)