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General discussionNordstrom Sells Rocks for 85 USD(70 posts)(70 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted December 16, 2016
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Alaric.us: Nothing at all. Those are equally unneeded. That's the point.

Sending someone a rock is like sending someone flowers. It's an entirely useless item, which serves as a proxy for conveying a certain message. It's just that in our culture flowers are the standard way of doing this.
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mystral: I disagree. When you have enough money to buy pretty much anything, then the most valuable things become the things you can't buy, most notably time.
More specifically, I'd be way more appreciative of someone who baked me a pie, or offered some other thing that showed they had put some time and/or thought into it, than just someone who bought some random expensive thing.

So I'd agree offering flowers in and of itself is worth about as much as offering a rock, but sending the right flowers (i.e. ones that the person really likes) is worth much more simply because it shows you put some effort into the gift.
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.
Post edited December 16, 2016 by Alaric.us
Posted December 16, 2016
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Alaric.us: 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. =)
Actually, I'd appreciate a (good) digital videogame more than an expensive useless rock :P
Posted December 16, 2016
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Alaric.us: Nothing at all. Those are equally unneeded. That's the point.

Sending someone a rock is like sending someone flowers. It's an entirely useless item, which serves as a proxy for conveying a certain message.
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...
Posted December 16, 2016
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UnrealQuakie: 85 for a rock with a pouch, God damn I want to see the numbers on how much that dude sold by the end of the year.
I've got two rocks in a pouch. No need for more.
Posted December 16, 2016
<i>Dealers keep dealin'...</i>

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Vythonaut: At least you get something for your money; here in Greece, a company sells air (plz say it loud: "SELLS AIR") in a soda can. Greek air must be something every tourist wants, right. And right, you guessed it - this thing sells like crazy!
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.
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Pangaea666: I've got two rocks in a pouch. No need for more.
<i>Initially, we used three balls...</i>
Post edited December 16, 2016 by Lemon_Curry
Posted December 16, 2016
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Lemon_Curry: It must be the Chinese city dwelling tourists who crave it... they only have smog back home.
It is sad what these people breathe in their cities. And to tell the truth, smog or not, Hong Kong is still great. :P


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Alaric.us: Also, I wonder if they are selling just regular old air, or if it's like in Japan, where they are selling actual clean air so people can take a break from breathing polluted air for a moment.
I guess it's just regular air. And if the company's headquarters are outside major cities, it will be clean anyway. ;)
Posted December 16, 2016
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UnrealQuakie: 85 for a rock with a pouch, God damn I want to see the numbers on how much that dude sold by the end of the year.
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Pangaea666: I've got two rocks in a pouch. No need for more.
But can you break a plate glass Nordstrom's storefront window with them?
Posted December 16, 2016
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Pangaea666: I've got two rocks in a pouch. No need for more.
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HereForTheBeer: But can you break a plate glass Nordstrom's storefront window with them?
I thought all those high end places used bullet proof glass and crap now.
Posted December 16, 2016
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DieRuhe: Hey, it's almost Christmas. "Charlie Brown trolling" for the losers in your life! Provided, of course, that you can waste 85 bucks on a rock. But if you can, you're probably too insulated to realize you could walk outside and get one for free. A fool and his money...
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.
Posted December 16, 2016
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DieRuhe: Hey, it's almost Christmas. "Charlie Brown trolling" for the losers in your life! Provided, of course, that you can waste 85 bucks on a rock. But if you can, you're probably too insulated to realize you could walk outside and get one for free. A fool and his money...
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infinite9: 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.
Posted December 16, 2016
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Alaric.us: This month my family has been asking me what I want for Christmas, but I honestly can't think of anything. If they got me some rocks like these, though, I'd appreciate it just as much as some other meaningless stuff.
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.
Post edited December 16, 2016 by Maighstir
Posted December 17, 2016
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tammerwhisk: What's wrong with a fucking pie, cheese, drink or something instead though (if you absolutely must get someone something)? What special meaning does throwing one's wallet around convey exactly?
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Alaric.us: Nothing at all. Those are equally unneeded. That's the point.

Sending someone a rock is like sending someone flowers. It's an entirely useless item, which serves as a proxy for conveying a certain message. It's just that in our culture flowers are the standard way of doing this.
The rock doesn't wither and die in a couple days though :-P
Posted December 17, 2016
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Maighstir: The rock doesn't wither and die in a couple days though :-P
He might if UPS takes care of the packaging and delivery.
Post edited December 19, 2016 by Lemon_Curry
Posted December 17, 2016
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tammerwhisk: What's wrong with a fucking pie, cheese, drink or something instead though (if you absolutely must get someone something)? What special meaning does throwing one's wallet around convey exactly?
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Alaric.us: Nothing at all. Those are equally unneeded. That's the point.

Sending someone a rock is like sending someone flowers. It's an entirely useless item, which serves as a proxy for conveying a certain message. It's just that in our culture flowers are the standard way of doing this.
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. :)
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Pangaea666: I've got two rocks in a pouch. No need for more.
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HereForTheBeer: But can you break a plate glass Nordstrom's storefront window with them?
lol
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Crewdroog: That's right folk, Nordstrom's, an american yuppie retailer, is selling a rock in a leather bag for 85 USD. Better yet? It's sold out!

The reviews are pretty funny though.

I told my brother I was getting him this, and he said, "If you did, I'd punch you in the face. I'd rather you burn the money in front of me".

http://www.today.com/money/nordstrom-selling-rock-leather-pouch-85-t105642
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anothername: And your brother is right! It would be an utterly stupid thing to do so.

Think of it; why would you do that if "I" can sell you two (2!) original German stones for half the price! (excluding the shipping).
SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!
Post edited December 17, 2016 by Crewdroog
Posted December 17, 2016
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Crewdroog: 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. :)
I can only offer a trip to a mineralogical museum in response. =)
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionNordstrom Sells Rocks for 85 USD(70 posts)(70 posts)
(70 posts)