Comments on: Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part One http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/ a cultural website in ever-shifting standing Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:01:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim Schueler http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-260257 Jim Schueler Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:16:01 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-260257 Today, my 10 year old reported that in Arizona, 25% of the population is employed either in retail or food service. Less than 10% in production industries, including agriculture and mining. This economic shift surely affects almost everyone. Ms. Ruppel Shell at least articulates the situation, regardless of specific points or emphasis. Sadly, this topic gets scant attention. I was unable to find any other online discussions. Are there any? I am currently an unemployed freelance programmer. In the software business, the hot topic is free, open-source software. Recently, advocates promoting open-source started emphasizing its cost (free, as in beer). I'd previously assumed that open source would create opportunities, which hasn't happened. Instead, I observe a trend that discourages innovation. Haven't encountered anyone who agrees with this heretical viewpoint yet. Today, my 10 year old reported that in Arizona, 25% of the population is employed either in retail or food service. Less than 10% in production industries, including agriculture and mining.

This economic shift surely affects almost everyone. Ms. Ruppel Shell at least articulates the situation, regardless of specific points or emphasis. Sadly, this topic gets scant attention. I was unable to find any other online discussions. Are there any?

I am currently an unemployed freelance programmer. In the software business, the hot topic is free, open-source software. Recently, advocates promoting open-source started emphasizing its cost (free, as in beer). I’d previously assumed that open source would create opportunities, which hasn’t happened. Instead, I observe a trend that discourages innovation.

Haven’t encountered anyone who agrees with this heretical viewpoint yet.

]]> By: Best of ‘09: Andy Hunter on Independent Publishing http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-260020 Best of ‘09: Andy Hunter on Independent Publishing Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:03:14 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-260020 [...] floated in the popular consciousness. When music became too terrible to bear, punk broke. When Walmart and Target started filling our homes, closets and cupboards, people returned to local farms and crafts. With each trend that threatens to rob us of our [...] [...] floated in the popular consciousness. When music became too terrible to bear, punk broke. When Walmart and Target started filling our homes, closets and cupboards, people returned to local farms and crafts. With each trend that threatens to rob us of our [...]

]]> By: Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part Three : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256935 Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part Three : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:13:48 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256935 [...] discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. Other installments: Part One, Part Two, Part Four, and Part [...] [...] discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. Other installments: Part One, Part Two, Part Four, and Part [...]

]]> By: Summertime, and the Living Is Surprisingly Easy, Considering « Jackson West’s Obsessive Compulsion http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256656 Summertime, and the Living Is Surprisingly Easy, Considering « Jackson West’s Obsessive Compulsion Tue, 21 Jul 2009 05:14:08 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256656 [...] Trust to File Sharing.” If that’s not your speed, I was also honored to be invited to a roundtable discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap by Ed Champion, and proceeded to (hopefully) amuse and [...] [...] Trust to File Sharing.” If that’s not your speed, I was also honored to be invited to a roundtable discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap by Ed Champion, and proceeded to (hopefully) amuse and [...]

]]> By: The Bat Segundo Show: Ellen Ruppel Shell : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256591 The Bat Segundo Show: Ellen Ruppel Shell : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:57:12 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256591 [...] in an in-depth five-part discussion with several thoughtful people, which you can investigate here: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part [...] [...] in an in-depth five-part discussion with several thoughtful people, which you can investigate here: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part [...]

]]> By: Ellen Ruppel Shell (BSS #297) : The Bat Segundo Show http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256588 Ellen Ruppel Shell (BSS #297) : The Bat Segundo Show Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:54:50 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256588 [...] in an in-depth five-part discussion with several thoughtful people, which you can investigate here: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part [...] [...] in an in-depth five-part discussion with several thoughtful people, which you can investigate here: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, and Part [...]

]]> By: Bill Ectric http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256586 Bill Ectric Fri, 17 Jul 2009 17:54:35 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256586 The phrase "Time is Money" is only true for the self-employed, not for anyone who works 8 hours a day, five days a week, for a specific salary. The phrase “Time is Money” is only true for the self-employed, not for anyone who works 8 hours a day, five days a week, for a specific salary.

]]> By: Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part Five : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256582 Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part Five : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:39:46 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256582 [...] discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. Other installments: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part [...] [...] discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. Other installments: Part One, Part Two, Part Three, and Part [...]

]]> By: Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part Four : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256556 Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part Four : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:50:59 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256556 [...] discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. Other installments: Part One, Part Two, and Part [...] [...] discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. Other installments: Part One, Part Two, and Part [...]

]]> By: Colleen http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256522 Colleen Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:18:47 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256522 The alternative for IKEA is filth? Really? That's not the way I grew up and we couldn't even afford IKEA. The alternative for IKEA is filth? Really?

That’s not the way I grew up and we couldn’t even afford IKEA.

]]> By: Charlene http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256510 Charlene Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:10:28 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256510 Peter Winkler has a point. It would have cost us $3,200 to have custom bookcases built in 1991. IKEA had them for $199. We still have them eighteen years later, so it's not like they fell apart in a week. The elites don't seem to realize that without stores like IKEA, the middle-class would have to live in that mind-destroying, hideously and disgustingly ugly world of planks and concrete blocks (as one of your commenters suggests is a **GOOD THING** in section two of this review - is he freaking insane?!?) that only a college student can tolerate for long without going insane. The choice is not between IKEA and local craftsmen; the choice for the vast majority is between IKEA and <i>going without</i>, or, more likely, living in a hideous pigsty. Historically and today, only the wealthy can afford fine craftsmanship. What the availability of cheap products has done is to extend physical and aesthetic comfort to the lower middle classes, something I don't think the average member of the elite even thinks about, or acknowledges is even an issue. Peter Winkler has a point. It would have cost us $3,200 to have custom bookcases built in 1991. IKEA had them for $199. We still have them eighteen years later, so it’s not like they fell apart in a week.

The elites don’t seem to realize that without stores like IKEA, the middle-class would have to live in that mind-destroying, hideously and disgustingly ugly world of planks and concrete blocks (as one of your commenters suggests is a **GOOD THING** in section two of this review – is he freaking insane?!?) that only a college student can tolerate for long without going insane. The choice is not between IKEA and local craftsmen; the choice for the vast majority is between IKEA and going without, or, more likely, living in a hideous pigsty. Historically and today, only the wealthy can afford fine craftsmanship.

What the availability of cheap products has done is to extend physical and aesthetic comfort to the lower middle classes, something I don’t think the average member of the elite even thinks about, or acknowledges is even an issue.

]]> By: Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part Two : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256500 Ellen Ruppel Shell’s CHEAP — Part Two : Edward Champion’s Reluctant Habits Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:44:12 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256500 [...] (This is the second of a five-part roundtable discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. You can check out the first part here.) [...] [...] (This is the second of a five-part roundtable discussion of Ellen Ruppel Shell’s Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture. You can check out the first part here.) [...]

]]> By: Peter L. Winkler http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256498 Peter L. Winkler Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:17:12 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256498 Shell says that the availability of IKEA's cheap bookshelf drives the local craftsperson like a carpenter out of business. What planet does she live on? When did she last get an estimate from a competent carpenter, let alone a handyman, of the cost of making a nicely finished, custom built bookcase? Unless you make a six-figure income, such indulgences are unaffordable. Also, it's snobbery to call pre-fab furniture junk and claim it will fall apart from the terrific strain of holding books. I have several pices of furniture like that, though none from IKEA, and they easily sustain the weight of audio and video equipment. Most furniture today is made from particle board with a woodgrain veneer. "Quality" furniture outlets simply charge a premium for delivering an assembled product to your door that is qualitatively indistinguishable from what one buys at IKEA or elsewhere. Also, I frequent the 99 Cent stores for cheap batteries. Why pay $4.99 for a 4 pack of AA cells at the 7-11 when they can be had for $.99? The batteries are all OEMed by the same companies. The extra $4 only helps pay for Eveready or Duracell's empty marketing. Shell says that the availability of IKEA’s cheap bookshelf drives the local craftsperson like a carpenter out of business. What planet does she live on? When did she last get an estimate from a competent carpenter, let alone a handyman, of the cost of making a nicely finished, custom built bookcase? Unless you make a six-figure income, such indulgences are unaffordable. Also, it’s snobbery to call pre-fab furniture junk and claim it will fall apart from the terrific strain of holding books. I have several pices of furniture like that, though none from IKEA, and they easily sustain the weight of audio and video equipment. Most furniture today is made from particle board with a woodgrain veneer. “Quality” furniture outlets simply charge a premium for delivering an assembled product to your door that is qualitatively indistinguishable from what one buys at IKEA or elsewhere.

Also, I frequent the 99 Cent stores for cheap batteries. Why pay $4.99 for a 4 pack of AA cells at the 7-11 when they can be had for $.99? The batteries are all OEMed by the same companies. The extra $4 only helps pay for Eveready or Duracell’s empty marketing.

]]> By: hrt15 http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256497 hrt15 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 23:28:50 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256497 "Is it the consumer or the corporation who is guilty of letting discount culture and bargain hunting dominate our culture like this? Have we lost the ability to let time simply be time? Why most every action have a monetary value?" Interestingly, this same question can be asked of the publishing industry. More and more writers are turning away from the corporate publishers and going to small presses and university presses. I began in these place and choose to stay in these places. Great writers, fiction or non-fiction give a person a reason to allow a poem or book to engulf them no matter what the price. Books like the above have brought corporate publishing to the point it is at and that is why editors are being laid off. Junk is produced and, no matter what the price, Junk still is junk. “Is it the consumer or the corporation who is guilty of letting discount culture and bargain hunting dominate our culture like this? Have we lost the ability to let time simply be time? Why most every action have a monetary value?” Interestingly, this same question can be asked of the publishing industry. More and more writers are turning away from the corporate publishers and going to small presses and university presses. I began in these place and choose to stay in these places. Great writers, fiction or non-fiction give a person a reason to allow a poem or book to engulf them no matter what the price. Books like the above have brought corporate publishing to the point it is at and that is why editors are being laid off. Junk is produced and, no matter what the price, Junk still is junk.

]]> By: DrMabuse http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256489 DrMabuse Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:22:13 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256489 BC: Have no fear. We do get into specific issues of elitism, low-income workers, and wages later on. And the bookshelf question proves to be more controversial than anybody intended! BC: Have no fear. We do get into specific issues of elitism, low-income workers, and wages later on. And the bookshelf question proves to be more controversial than anybody intended!

]]> By: BC Silvia http://www.edrants.com/ellen-ruppel-shells-cheap-part-one/comment-page-1/#comment-256484 BC Silvia Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:57:20 +0000 http://www.edrants.com/?p=12014#comment-256484 Fascinating stuff from everybody, so far. I haven't read the book yet (this round table will probably have a lot to do with whether or not I ever will), so I'm wondering how much coverage Ruppel gives to the effects of declining real wages. It seems from the discussion so far that this situation is blamed chiefly on the discount culture being described, and I wonder how far she considers other contributing factors. (Assuming there are any to be considered. I confess I get rather baffled by the chicken and egg nature of these discussions.) Fascinating stuff from everybody, so far. I haven’t read the book yet (this round table will probably have a lot to do with whether or not I ever will), so I’m wondering how much coverage Ruppel gives to the effects of declining real wages. It seems from the discussion so far that this situation is blamed chiefly on the discount culture being described, and I wonder how far she considers other contributing factors. (Assuming there are any to be considered. I confess I get rather baffled by the chicken and egg nature of these discussions.)

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