Anyone like Diamonds?

[edcool1]

Ten Reasons Why You Should Never Accept a Diamond Ring from Anyone, Under Any Circumstances, Even If They Really Want to Give You One

[Celey_the_Ego]

Hmm...


Well, that was interesting, Ed... //@.@\\'... *Isn't sure what to say, though*

[Mista_B]

But... but... so shiny! And sparkly!

=3

[MK]

*ponders how much of that is really truth*

[edcool1]

All of it? Is it that hard to believe?

[Maelstrom]

Some of these reasons aren't terribly surprising.

Regarding 1) and 2), while the details aren't easy to confirm, it can be argued that diamonds are a fad that has persisted over time. What purpose does the diamond serve?

a) It tells the world that the woman is engaged/married. You know, as if a woman's marital status should define who she is.

b) The size/quality of the diamond serves to tell the world that the woman is engaged/married to a man who hails from a certain income bracket (or worse, often how rich his parents are). While not universal, there is a large percentage of women (and men for that matter) that like to show off their *economic status*.

Regarding 10), while movies are hardly a reliable source of information, you do see a few movies where white-collar and international crime involves the exchange of diamonds for some service or good.

Regarding 5) and 6), this applies to other precious rocks as well. Heck, countries will throw native people off their soil just for oil and farming.

Regarding 4) and 7), this applies to so many other good we import (Nike shoes are notorious for human rights violations), so I wouldn't put it past diamond-related businesses to use the same tricks.

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I can't speak for who I eventually commit to, but I'm sure she'd rather me pull my weight (you know, changing stinky diapers, cleaning the house, tending to the kids, etc; you know, do stuff *that matters*) than put a month (or three) of salary into a piece of bling and then treat her like property or a slave (for household work and sex).

Maybe I'll just waste one week's salary...

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[EDIT]: If this point wasn't clear, it's worth noting that diamonds are hardly the only thing people buy that are wildly overrated. Men and women alike often make purchases that have less to do with utility and more to do with being popular/attractive and overall trying to "fit in," and many of them also happen to involve workers that have their basic human rights violated.

I could unleash a long-winded rant about materialism, but I just don't have the energy to fight that fight again in a forum (yet).

[edcool1]

And if you want a cool wedding ring, why not get one made of titanium? Sure, titanium might have similar issues to diamonds, but at least if you're ever on an flooding experimental underwater seafloor oil rig and there's an emergency hydraulic door trapping you in the flooding room you can hold the door with the ring until you can get Catfish De Vries to come cut the hose to the motor so you can force the door open to saftey.

[Lady_Sabine]

Ed, have you been watching too much Abyss again? ^^"

Anyway, I'm avoiding diamonds merely for facts one and two. Besides, if I buy a good engagement ring will most likely involve birth stones and/or other stones of symbolic value. Make that ancient symbolic value.

(and yes, I'm one of those crazy girls who takes traditional gender roles and shoves 'em out the window )

[ThE_RaVeN]

Ed, teh diamond is shiny, and teh diamond can cut glass dude, not much else can do that, unless you have a blowtorch for a ring.

[edcool1]

What do you need to cut glass with a ring for? If you need to cut glass, get a glass cutter.

Diamonds for bling = evil.

[ThE_RaVeN]

A glass cutter has a diamond tip. > _>

[edcool1]

Hence the "Diamonds for bling = evil" part

[Poopie]

Ed, have you been watching too much Abyss again? ^^"

Anyway, I'm avoiding diamonds merely for facts one and two. Besides, if I buy a good engagement ring will most likely involve birth stones and/or other stones of symbolic value. Make that ancient symbolic value.

(and yes, I'm one of those crazy girls who takes traditional gender roles and shoves 'em out the window )

I guess I'm "lucky" that way in that the diamond is my birth stone. But I do hate that it's colorless and boring. Meh. Ah well. Also, I think I'd rather put that engagement ring money to better use elsewhere in my life if given the chance. All I need is a gold band when I do finally get married...I don't care what's there before that and that's my two cents' worth.

[Dan]

I guess I'm "lucky" that way in that the diamond is my birth stone.

Ditto. I'd much rather have an emerald or sapphire.
-Dan!

[Misty Rydia]

I feel terrible. My boyfriend gave me an emerald ring and three weeks later I lost it.