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The One-Eyed Man Is King: How did the monocle become a symbol of wealth? (2012)
- thih9 2y ago(2012) > Currently, a monocle in “whisky tortoise” can be had from the eye-dresser Warby Parker for $50. No longer being sold; details from when it was and an image: https://www.inc.com/neil-blumenthal/why-we-sell-a-monocle.html https://www.inc.com/neil-blumenthal/why-we-sell-a-monocle.ht...
- smeej 2y agoWhen I was 12, I got contacts for the first time. Well, technically, contact. I was only nearsighted in my right eye, so they only gave me one for my right eye. My mother, absolutely serious, asked why I had been wearing a full set of glasses if I was only nearsighted in one eye. (In her very slight defense, my dad had been the only one to deal with my eye doctor for me to this point.) I thought she was kidding and replied like a smartass, "Mom, monocles haven't been in fashion in a century!" Turns out she really hadn't known only one of my glasses lenses had a prescription. But who are we kidding? I absolutely would have worn one if I'd had the option!
- amelius 2y agoProbably because it was sold by a guy in a designer turtleneck.
- timonoko 2y agoPrice: €200 Product description: The monocle is the ultimate expression of style and intelligence. With this adorning your face, you declare by your very being that you are above others intellectually, fashionably and morally. Laser cuts are barbaric and now everyone on the street wears glasses. However, you are unique and irreplaceable, so let it show!
- blueflow 2y agoThis is a well-known trope: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HighClassGlass https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HighClassGlass
- Bluestein 2y agoPersonally, I agree about how "having to shape a lens in an erstwhile expensive process to fit to a particular eye socket shape" would render monocles expensive to produce, ergo, associated with wealth, might have something to do with it.- PS. That, and the "New Yorker", of course: - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41409311 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41409311
- keybored 2y agoThat’s the worst use of an allusion that I’ve seen in a while.
- Lio 2y agoI can't hear the word monocle without thinking about either Mr Peanut or cartoony Marxist propaganda about "capitalists". If it wasn't such an affectation I'd wear one just so that I could have it pop out at a moments of surprise in business meetings. "Found a bug in some of the core business logic, you say?!" o_O
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- Bluestein 2y ago(I used to carry an old-fashioned wooden pipe for that, and would pull it out while leaning back quizzically. I don't smoke).-
- Freak_NL 2y agoDon't forget to walk off in a huff supported by your silver duck beak topped cane, before getting on your penny-farthing to ride off. No need for half measures, surely? Bonus points for quitting on the spot the exact moment your man comes round with the brougham.
- Bluestein 2y agoYou had me at "brougham". Well played :)
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- Steve44 2y agoI started wearing a monocle about 5 years ago and it's and absolutely fantastic addition to my glasses. For about 20 years I've needed glasses for reading and close work, anything more that about five ft. away is clear and in focus. At my desk or reading I've no problems with glasses, but when I go out to museums or restaurants for example I like to travel light and glasses are a faff having to carry them and continually taking them on and off. I've tried bifocals and didn't like them. I now take my prescription monocle with me every time I go out. It's so easy, pop it in, read the menu, drop it out. What I hadn't appreciated was how clever the brain was at processing the images. With it in place my left eye sees distance clearly and my right eye can read close up, my brain merges the two images so I still get depth but also everything is in focus. It's strange, but works. I've had a few comments about it, generally surprised to see one in use or curiosity, and they have always been positive. I got mine from https://www.monoclemadness.co.uk/ https://www.monoclemadness.co.uk/ where they start from £35. If they'd work for you I really suggest giving it a go.
- Bluestein 2y agoIt is a very sort of portable optimum. Why carry two lenses when one will do?
- fuzzfactor 2y ago>my brain merges the two images so I still get depth but also everything is in focus. This might beat bifocals.
- itishappy 2y agoThis is exactly how they do some bifocals, particularly contact lenses. It's also very relevant to surgical procedures like Lasik. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/what-is-monovision-blended-vision https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/what-is-monovision...
- Steve44 2y ago
- rsynnott 2y ago[flagged]
- financetechbro 2y agoMakes you wonder what other things are equally sensitive to gravity
- rrnechmech 2y agoI'll start. The Boeing Starliner.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- timonoko 2y agoThis was more difficult than I thought. The lens is from old optician's set. https://github.com/timonoko/monocle https://github.com/timonoko/monocle This is so necessary. I have lost my spectacles at freak wave on Arctic Ocean. It quite difficult to land half-blind and look for the spare set.