3 ms·

This is a very interesting discussion. To me, it's rampant materialism to buy random items at Target/Walmart/etc. and replace them often. Now, I'm lazy enough t

This is a very interesting discussion. To me, it's rampant materialism to buy random items at Target/Walmart/etc. and replace them often. Now, I'm lazy enough to do that more often than not but I also plan and research a lot of things that I expect to last. I'm trading time now doing research for time later replacing the thing. Then when I go to use it for whatever task I know I won't have to worry about it, it won't take too much time away from the hobby or people I'm with. The good thing about being slightly obsessive about your purchases now is that you can take advantage of other people's time. I follow Kevin Kelley's Cool Tools mailing list so when I need something I can look there first and let somebody else recommend something good. There's plenty of options for buying good things and not spending lots of time.

jusben1369 14y ago
Matt I think both you and SkyMarshal have altered this discussion thoug . I too began reading this article thinking it would be about sustainability. I have changed my buying habits to only try and buy the best. Not because I obsess about design so much as I've come to realize that I'm buying a Timex watch for $50 every 12 months because they have these horrible crappy bands that are really difficult to replace. So instead I buy a good watch for $150 or more where the band will last longer and be easier to switch out. I do that because I'm struck by the landfill of each Timex decision * 100 we continually face. Dustin however never touched upon this in his post so doesn't really deserve to have this raised as a point in his defense against the initial criticism.
- benatkin 14y ago
  > Dustin however never touched upon this in his post so doesn't really deserve to have this raised as a point in his defense against the initial criticism. That isn't what the blog post is about, though. Why should it contain irrelevant details for laypeople?
  - jusben1369 14y ago
    I'm not sure what you mean here (and why you'd use 'laypeople')
nandemo 14y ago
> To me, it's rampant materialism to buy random items at Target/Walmart/etc. and replace them often. OK, but how often do you have to replace spoons or towels?

jusben1369 14y ago

Matt I think both you and SkyMarshal have altered this discussion thoug . I too began reading this article thinking it would be about sustainability. I have changed my buying habits to only try and buy the best. Not because I obsess about design so much as I've come to realize that I'm buying a Timex watch for $50 every 12 months because they have these horrible crappy bands that are really difficult to replace. So instead I buy a good watch for $150 or more where the band will last longer and be easier to switch out. I do that because I'm struck by the landfill of each Timex decision * 100 we continually face. Dustin however never touched upon this in his post so doesn't really deserve to have this raised as a point in his defense against the initial criticism.

benatkin 14y ago
> Dustin however never touched upon this in his post so doesn't really deserve to have this raised as a point in his defense against the initial criticism. That isn't what the blog post is about, though. Why should it contain irrelevant details for laypeople?
- jusben1369 14y ago
  I'm not sure what you mean here (and why you'd use 'laypeople')

nandemo 14y ago

> To me, it's rampant materialism to buy random items at Target/Walmart/etc. and replace them often. OK, but how often do you have to replace spoons or towels?