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Not at all. Of all the reasons for wanting a diamond ring, the mere fact that it's expensive is relatively low on the list for many (most?) people, and even the

Not at all. Of all the reasons for wanting a diamond ring, the mere fact that it's expensive is relatively low on the list for many (most?) people, and even then the price is just a proxy for expressed commitment. If it were about the money, a million other things could take its place. Personal value is the sum of many different factors, of which finances, morality, tradition, etc. are all a part.

eeZah7Ux 10y ago
"she values a diamond" sounds very different. If it was about "expressed commitment" donating a significant sum of money to a charity would be equivalent to buying a diamond. Now I wonder if that would float...
- somestag 10y ago
  There are many factors and implications that go into the tradition, and the diamond itself is symbolic of much of it. That's why you can't logically reduce the tradition down to a single element with an easy alternative. For example, the actual act of popping the question is an important part of the tradition, and it's inextricably linked to the ring. We all know how it goes: the guy and the girl are on some sort of date, the guy says something vague, he pulls out a small box and opens it, and the girl can see the ring inside. She knows what this means before he even says anything, and is already nodding her head (hopefully) before he asks, "Will you marry me?" That's all very easy to follow. Now imagine the guy pulls out the keys to a house or something instead of the ring. She wouldn't realize what's happening until he actually asks the question, which is fine of course... but it's not the same tradition, and it might not have the same magic to it. Beyond the proposal itself, the ring is a physical difference that she will carry through to the next day, which will prompt excitement from her friends and coworkers and remind her of that moment. And that's just one element of the whole tradition. I think it's very easy to see why one would value the diamond. I just said that the price was about expressed commitment. There's much more to the tradition than that.

eeZah7Ux 10y ago

"she values a diamond" sounds very different. If it was about "expressed commitment" donating a significant sum of money to a charity would be equivalent to buying a diamond. Now I wonder if that would float...

somestag 10y ago
There are many factors and implications that go into the tradition, and the diamond itself is symbolic of much of it. That's why you can't logically reduce the tradition down to a single element with an easy alternative. For example, the actual act of popping the question is an important part of the tradition, and it's inextricably linked to the ring. We all know how it goes: the guy and the girl are on some sort of date, the guy says something vague, he pulls out a small box and opens it, and the girl can see the ring inside. She knows what this means before he even says anything, and is already nodding her head (hopefully) before he asks, "Will you marry me?" That's all very easy to follow. Now imagine the guy pulls out the keys to a house or something instead of the ring. She wouldn't realize what's happening until he actually asks the question, which is fine of course... but it's not the same tradition, and it might not have the same magic to it. Beyond the proposal itself, the ring is a physical difference that she will carry through to the next day, which will prompt excitement from her friends and coworkers and remind her of that moment. And that's just one element of the whole tradition. I think it's very easy to see why one would value the diamond. I just said that the price was about expressed commitment. There's much more to the tradition than that.