(no subject)

[vicarz]

Diamonds?
Jack had my favorite response - the things are entirely a scam, with or without blood diamonds:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2524/is-a-diamonds-price-a-true-measure-of-its-value
I had heard that the whole "tradition" of diamonds for engagement was a marketing ploy from the 50s, it appears it may have been in the 30s.

Also, while I don't mind sounding a bit classist when I mock people trying to impress others with displays of wealth (which to me is a lack of class), a lot of why I ripped on this particular person was lost in my rant. I have no problems with clerical/admin staff, but a lot with this lazy character.

And oddly - yes, yes she is trying to impress me with her taste and wealth. She thinks everyone looks up to her or should based on her superior taste.

Comments

and in her life...

[kitteblue.livejournal.com]

.. they probably do think she has great taste. As you may have noticed; different social/ethnic groups have different criteria for what’s important/tasteful/hot. (See: weird hair in the club vs. in the workplace.)

Being Lazy- that’s a different issue than taste.

Re: and in her life...

[joanarkham.livejournal.com]

and in her life they probably do think she has great taste

Bingo. Taste is subjective. I have really strong ideas about what's tacky, but I also occasionally go around in public looking like a deranged undead drag queen.

Re: and in her life...

[vicar.livejournal.com]

And so too, proudly, does Dolly Parton but she is also universally loved. I'm sticking with the concept of an objective standard of not accidentally tacky in the sense of trying to impress others with wealth.

Re: and in her life...

[railwaymadness]

Good luck with that "objective taste" thing. If you're trying to relate a fondness for shiny things to a fondness for boobies, I expect the secretary is more on the evolutionary/enduring/universal side of "correctness" than you are.

Hating on her style is fine (I'm sure she hates yours too), although you'd be better off focusing on her work. Assuming you can see inside her brain is ridiculous.

I watched a lot of movies

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Only with a spoon...

[http://users.livejournal.com/_blackjack_/]

There are probably a lot of people who think you work out just to show off your muscles and get attention. And let's face it, you do LIKE the attention, but that isn't why you do it (I assume). You do it because it's valuable to you, but those who don't value the same things might see it as an ostentatious display in pursuit of the approval of others.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Men like boobies. Objective.
I hope that while we do forcefully tacky as fun, others do irony, that there is a difference between tacky fun variables of fashion vs. trying to impress people with wealth.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_blackjack_/]

You're still assuming you know what her motives are. Plenty of people have accused me of being weird just to get attention. Doesn't make it so. Or, I don't want THEIR attention, anyway.

[feistydiva.livejournal.com]

I am going to agree with Jack and Kitty and L here.

It IS possible she does her nails up like that just to treat herself and make herself happy. I don't get tattoos and piercings to show off to other people; I do it to treat myself and make myself happy. However, others might see it as a way to show off my "freakness." They're wrong, but they are welcome to formulate their own opinions because that's what people do.

I think you need to start being a little less elitist and a little more accepting of others. You spout off about how people should show more tolerance of homosexuals and groups who don't conform to the social norm, yet you yourself show signs of intolerance toward those from the "opposition." You're doing exactly what they do, but on the other side of the line.

Try saying just for once, "Hey, that's what they like doing and it isn't hurting me or anyone else, so it is what it is," then shrug it off and continue to mind your own business.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Or I can just hate her because she doesn't do her job and not worry about how she dresses.

I have tree frog nail polish too...

[feistydiva.livejournal.com]

Or I can just hate her because she doesn't do her job...

Exactly! Now, that's a valid gripe!

have tree frog nail polish too...

So do I, except that it's a startling lime green... and I'm using it at my next pedicure. I did purple this time to impress a boy, though I like it when my piggies are nicely painted regardless of the color. ROFL! :-P

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Mine too! I made it "free frog" by adding black dots...

[jukebox-heroine.livejournal.com]

my objection to the whole thing was not your hatred of her nails or big jewelry (i am not a fan of long, fake nails or big stones either. in fact, i got rid of my acrylics when they proved to be too long. it's hard to tell when they first apply them). my objection was with the cruel way you spoke of her class level in direct correlation to her paycheck/job description.

i'm unsure of your economic background, since we haven't known each other forever or anything, but i'm going to assume that you weren't always in the position of not having to worry about money. & you weren't born a gs-double digit. you worked your way up & nobody begrudges you that, but please don't shit on those of us who aren't afforded those luxuries.

just because someone doesn't have letters after their name, that doesn't make them less worthwhile. i don't pretend the post was directed AT ME, but i can't help feeling like 'order me some toner, you lazy cunt' hits a little close to home, that's all.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Oh god no - and it was me who was not clear. I don't care how much anyone makes. I've had long-term problems with this lazy person, and the tacky on top of it is just funny. Nothing says not interested in helping you like long nails (at least according to Reno 911). We have other people in the same position who do great.

Yeah I started as a 7 and before that I was working in a factory. I haven't forgotten my roots, though when I was poor I uh...looked poor. Actually I kind of look the same.

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

I think that's one of the things that had rubbed me the wrong way in your last post complaining about her. I don't understand why we should put so much emphasis on diamonds anyhow. There are many many other gems I like looking at far more than diamonds and I would frankly be disappointed if I were presented with a big diamond for an engagement ring. Part of me wants to talk my boyfriend out of ever buying me an engagement ring since I don't even wear jewelry. And this idea that someone's supposed to blow 3 months' salary on a ring is infuriating. Also, while I understand hating someone's laziness, the bulk of your rant didn't address that at all. And one of my friends is indeed a secretary with impeccable taste and class -- even if her salary doesn't let her buy the more expensive things.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

I find the whole thing absurd, from dowry as an origin, to marketing by a monopoly industry, to big tacky displays. My dad did something I liked - plain matching bands. I think you're all better off taking a memorable trip or just putting it into the house!

[fitfool.livejournal.com]

Yes! I would far rather blow the money on a trip or the house. I had one friend who just got married at City Hall so they could plow whatever they would've spent on a wedding into a down payment for a house instead.

[vicar.livejournal.com]

Whenever asked I've always recommended a "JOP wedding" (Justice of the Peace or courthouse)