patrick.net

When the poor dresses like the rich, the rich will dress like the poor.

Derelicte

I believe if you really want something it is better to get the best example of it that there is within your reach… i.e. if I want a Mont-Blanc, and I can afford it, I get it. If I cannot afford it I don’t see the point of buying a cheap knock-off because I get no satisfaction from knowing that it is fake.

Is Mont Blanc any good? I heard that the resin body cracks easily. Is that true?

SP,

I think you're ignoring the market segment that places an extremely high value on the opinion of others, rich enough to afford the real thing, but unwilling to pay full price. I will argue that for this segment may find McMansions to be a good match for their needs. I think Randy's earlier comments about potential Toll Brothers purchasers go to the same demographic.

Note that what you are looking at the is one of the very first McMansions, built in 1987. CA really set the trend here.

But what about Tony Montana's place from Scarface? That pre-dates it by at least 4 years.

I'd go with an Omas. They're sooooo pretty. Monte Blancs are too heavy and stiff.

HARM,

When you think about it, high fashion has been going into the ghetto look for quite a while. John Galliano's entire line is pretty much crap in my eye and Prada has managed to market generic black stuff for a pretty outrageous price...and LV handbags? Ugly!

SP,

The true connisseur will realize the MontBlanc pens, from a practical standpoint, are like a low-end Jaguar (the one that's really just a dressed up Ford). High on prestige, low on quality. My own preference is to look for quality, and often that will guide me to a brand that's outside the normal "prestige-brand continuum".

For a pen, I might spend 100$ or more for a nice Namiki model (first brand I can think of right now, so not that obscure, sorry). It provides some satisfaction of eliteness both over those who wouldn't pay even that much (the price angle) and over those who buy the MontBlanc (the "actually knowing what you're buying angle").

Oh, and to bring this back to housing, if I wanted crown molding, I'd go buy power tools and lumber (or visit a friend with power tools). The "rich" I have known seemed to generally take a healthy attitude of "who cares what the others think; I'll buy it if it works for me". So, they might drive an older Mercedes or higher end Volvo, but it was usually because it was a solid car, not for the prestige value.

Joe,

Talk about price compression. That house actually looks pretty reasonable for the price. If I remember correctly, Northridge is a reasonably good Westside neighborhood, right?

...and LV handbags? Ugly!

I'll second that. Don't know why they're so popular with so many women.

Astrid,

It's farther out, one of the northernmost communities in the San Fernando Valley. In some ways Northridge was the original "exurb," a second-generation suburb built up in the 80's and populated by people who grew up in older suburbs built in the 50's and 60's. It's not really a true exurb, becuase it's not that far from LA, but you get the idea.

It provides some satisfaction of eliteness both over those who wouldn’t pay even that much (the price angle) and over those who buy the MontBlanc (the “actually knowing what you’re buying angle”).

True. I just need a good quality pen. Prestige is not important. But it needs to be BIG.

So, they might drive an older Mercedes or higher end Volvo, but it was usually because it was a solid car, not for the prestige value.

Volvo sedans are too small though. They need something much bigger than the S80. Older Mercedes are solid, but they do need some TLC.

It's better to buy pens second hand. Especially the celloid pens. So pretty!

From a practical standpoint. I have Chinese made fountain pens that I've bought for $1 or $2, they're easy to use and don't clog up or bleed. The main problem is that the nibs are too stiff.

I was given a cute little restored Esterbrook. Really nice until it started leaking. It's not big though.

I am amused by Joe Shmoe's example of the couple born into well-to-do families. Rich people can do whatever they like. These days, tastefulness is not necessarily a mark of upperclassness. As a matter of fact, uppers tend to have a coarse taste. Only the upper middles strive to be cultured and tasteful. Somewhere I read that the current ruling house in UK had a reputation for philistine taste. The old Duke of Kent, who died in an air crash in 1942 (or 1943), was the only exception: He was the only tasteful, cultured person in that clan. PoW may be another reasonable person. I don't know.

But that couple might not have come from the upper families. Yes, their respective father/mother was rich or struck it rich. But you know les nouveau riches tend to marry poorly, for they didn't have a choice. Sadly, the poor genes from the spouse side have a 50-50 chance to leave discernible marks on the children.

As I said over and over again, conspicuous consumption (or a pretentious imitation thereof) is no longer the mark of an upper class; it probably never was a mark of a hereditary upper class.

It’s better to buy pens second hand. Especially the celloid pens. So pretty!

Have you tried Pelikan?

I use only rollerballs because I am too lazy to maintain fountain pens.

Requiem,

I prefer your approach to the ones espoused by others. Do what you like and what suits you. Leave it to the others to ape you. Trust me, they will.

Peter P,

I'd say go with a low end Schaffer or Mont Blanc. Odds are, you'll only use it occasionally for signatures, so you just need enough bling to impress the other person. Actually, you probably don't want Schaffers because they're too pretty for conservative business uses.

GC has reëmerged?

Pelikans are nice, but I like Omas better.

(please note that I can't afford any of these, this is all gawking value)

Also Requiem,

I was in the market for a fountain pen, to (re-)practise and enjoy handwriting. What do you think would be a good pen for around $100? Does Waterman makes a good pen? I don't care about the brand image. The pen will stay at home. One does not travel with a fountain pen. I've had my share of inked shirts back in my school days. Besides, when in need, you can always borrow a MonBlanc from a rich man.

Peter P,

My normal pens are Pilot G-2s. They're definitely worth the 75 cents or so I pay for them. I don't like anything cheaper since they tend to bleed, clot, and cramp my hands.

Odds are, you’ll only use it occasionally for signatures, so you just need enough bling to impress the other person.

I just need a pen to write down my intuitions at home. I will not carry a pen with me... or it will be lost in a week. If I want to impress someone at the restaurant, I would just order 4 dishes. :)

I was in the market for a fountain pen, to (re-)practise and enjoy handwriting. What do you think would be a good pen for around $100?

See if Retro 51 works for you. Also, try LAMY.

My normal pens are Pilot G-2s. They’re definitely worth the 75 cents or so I pay for them. I don’t like anything cheaper since they tend to bleed, clot, and cramp my hands.

Are those gel-ink pens?

Well, they are classy people in the only way that really matters -- they are very nice.

But before meeting them, I always bought into the strereotype that people whose families have been rich for a long time are quiet about it. They don't feel the need to engage in ostentatious displays of wealth because they don't have to impress anyone, etc. Obviously, that's not true.

Yup. Are there any problems I should be aware of?

Are there any problems I should be aware of?

Drop some water on the writing and see if the ink dissolve. This may not be a big issue though.

Peter P,

If that's a concern, maybe this would work for you.

http://www.leevalley.com/gifts/page.aspx?c=2&p=40958&cat=4,104,53210

Joe,

Being nice to people, yes. Truly nice to people. Not being nice because you want a favor from them. Being nice to people, truly nice from the bottom of your heart, because this is the way you have been treated all your life and you treat others likewise.

Any fountain pen knowledge I have came mainly from this "Ask Slashdot" topic:
http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/03/10/05/171257.shtml

Pelikan, Rotring, and Lamy seemed well-thought of (as writing instruments in general).

I thought Rotring only made graphic pens...

Vielen Dank, Requiem.

I thought Rotring only made graphic pens…

They also make very nice mechanical pencils and multi-function pens.

GC-

Yes, that is how they are.

And I’m not even a Boomer, just on the leading edge of X.

I beg your pardon Sir.

And I’m not even a Boomer, just on the leading edge of X.

I beg your pardon Sir.

We should consider someone a boomer only if he has Pluto in Leo.

I also believe the more one matures -- I mean the older one gets, hopefully but not necessarily -- the less one is susceptible to social and societal pressures. Young folks are impressionable and always out to impress others.

I've just checked out the prices on celluloid pens, insane! I guess I'll try to get a bit more life out of my Esterbrook before trading it in something fancier.

Surfer-X,

I just found that according to wikipedia, I'm a generation-Xer. It's really weird and disorienting. But what the hell, I'm in good company.

I’ve just checked out the prices on celluloid pens, insane! I guess I’ll try to get a bit more life out of my Esterbrook before trading it in something fancier.

You should be able to get a new Pelikan 400 for well under $200.

Peter P,

You're right, very pretty.

I just found that according to wikipedia, I’m a generation-Xer. It’s really weird and disorienting. But what the hell, I’m in good company.

Pluto in Virgo or Libra?