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Re:The Best by MartinCron on Wednesday November 07, 2012 @07:23PM (#4755922)
Materialism isn't just owning a bunch of stuff, it's being defined by it

Spending hours researching anything can be seen as a form of "geeking out". People can geek out on all kinds of things, like politics or sports or musical instruments or computer components or saltwater aquarium livestock (my weakness).

Dcurtis may or may not be a rampant materialist, I don't know, and it's really none of my business. The guy just geeks out on flatware. Seems a little strange, but whatever. Live and let live.

Re:The Best by jessriedel on Wednesday November 07, 2012 @10:12PM (#4756362)
I'm not preventing him from living. Doesn't mean this stuff shouldn't be discussed. Otherwise, there would never be any criticism of life choices that have no negative externalities.

And I think geeking out on politics, sports, instruments (when not in the pursuit of beauty), and computer (when not being constructive) is generally negative. Status symbols like flatware, though, are especially pernicious.

Re:The Best by erichocean on Wednesday November 07, 2012 @10:32PM (#4756406)
> Status symbols like flatware, though, are especially pernicious.

Jeez, I just use my flatware to eat with. I had no idea it was an "especially pernicious" status symbol. Silly me.

Re:The Best by MortenK on Thursday November 08, 2012 @04:41AM (#4757098)
The flatware recommended in the article is $10 a piece. It compares a bit to buying a $80 dollar stainless steel salt shaker to match the $60 carbon-fiber wine bottle stopper.

It's probably those kinds of things op is calling a status symbol.

It compares to buying

Re:The Best by MartinCron on Wednesday November 07, 2012 @10:54PM (#4756445)
Anything can be a status symbol, but it doesn't mean everything is a status symbol.
Re:The Best by kayz on Wednesday November 07, 2012 @11:04PM (#4756463)
Very curious, why do you think geeking out on politics, sports, instruments, computers is generally negative?

Are we geeking out on "geeking out"? Should we stop?