$6500.00 Chonowitsch
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A good older friend, retired brain surgeon, also owner in Alabamas largest construction company loved to fish with me, had a small ramshackle fishing camp, he was very thrifty, didn't abuse on people but you didn't know he had money, big in Boy Scouts, a lot of them made the Jamboree due to his finances. I used to like seeing him tie his artificial bait to the line , he did knots that were faster than the eye. He brought several of his high roller friends to my camp at my invitation , loved my wife's cooking. I asked him one time, why do you like to come here Stanley, this ramshackle place. His answer was because you treat me like like regular folks, and bust my balls when I need it. Rich folks are no different than me or you, just have more dinero.
It's a social status thing and I'm fine with it. Would I spend such an amount of money on a pipe... the answer is no. I would rather spend it on a more useful thing for the family or myself.
I've never understood the obsession with other peoples spending habits. Large or small amounts of money are all relative, as are most things in life. If I had $6,500 to bet, I would bet that this was purchased by someone overseas, probably China. I don't have $6,500 to bet, so I'll pony up a 5 Dollar bill. (Actually, that's pushing the budget, I'm in for a nickel) Probably totally wrong, but what I do with my nickel is up to me and no one else.
Also, I have a question? Why is the comparison always a luxury car. This argument has come up a least eleventy seven hundred times since I have monitored pipe forums. Could we change up the argument just a tad and use say, tiny homes vs. mansions, blended scotch vs. single malts, different forms of potting soil, plastic vs. silver/gold cutlery etc. I don't know, I just want to jazz it up a bit. I'm crazy like that. :nana:
Also, I have a question? Why is the comparison always a luxury car. This argument has come up a least eleventy seven hundred times since I have monitored pipe forums. Could we change up the argument just a tad and use say, tiny homes vs. mansions, blended scotch vs. single malts, different forms of potting soil, plastic vs. silver/gold cutlery etc. I don't know, I just want to jazz it up a bit. I'm crazy like that. :nana:
I would never be caught dead in a $175,000 ride. A cheap crappy ride like that is way beneath my needs. I do get a kick out of idiots driving expensive racing cars in the overcrowded stop and go traffic of LA. They keep their mechanics extra busy.
Many of us do know some modestly wealthy people, and by that I mean a net worth beginning in the lower 8 figures and going up from there.
Millionaires are not wealthy, they're just less poor.
Of those folks I know who have a few bucks, they're pretty frugal. Some of them inherited and then built up from that. Others simply had the knack for piling up piles. But few of them would consider anything like a $6500 pipe, a $175,000 car, or any of that silliness. They are some of the cheapest bastards I know. But they will put their money where it will grow, whether it's prime real estate, or education for their kids at the best school they can provide. They understand that it's social connections that lead to opportunities so elite schools are an investment tool. Like most folks, they're focused on survival. They just have different tools for assuring it.
Yes, there are many very self indulgent people in the world. A few months back we sold a house to the playboy scion of a Texas billionaire. He tried to get out of the deal after he found out that when we designed the house, we hadn't designed the main wall in the great room in such a manner as would allow him to mount one of his Ferraris on it. Fortunately the contracts were all signed and the money deposited before "Junior" had this bright idea. His agent will find him a team to demolish his new house so that he can build yet another one to fit his predilections. But he's more the exception than the rule.
Many of us do know some modestly wealthy people, and by that I mean a net worth beginning in the lower 8 figures and going up from there.
Millionaires are not wealthy, they're just less poor.
Of those folks I know who have a few bucks, they're pretty frugal. Some of them inherited and then built up from that. Others simply had the knack for piling up piles. But few of them would consider anything like a $6500 pipe, a $175,000 car, or any of that silliness. They are some of the cheapest bastards I know. But they will put their money where it will grow, whether it's prime real estate, or education for their kids at the best school they can provide. They understand that it's social connections that lead to opportunities so elite schools are an investment tool. Like most folks, they're focused on survival. They just have different tools for assuring it.
Yes, there are many very self indulgent people in the world. A few months back we sold a house to the playboy scion of a Texas billionaire. He tried to get out of the deal after he found out that when we designed the house, we hadn't designed the main wall in the great room in such a manner as would allow him to mount one of his Ferraris on it. Fortunately the contracts were all signed and the money deposited before "Junior" had this bright idea. His agent will find him a team to demolish his new house so that he can build yet another one to fit his predilections. But he's more the exception than the rule.
Funny. I doubt I'd spend $6,500 on a pipe. But I wouldn't use that single fact about someone else to label them as "sick" or "ridiculous."
As for whether someone spending $6,500 renders one "sick" or "ridiculous," I'd need to know a lot more about they guy to render such a judgment -- presuming I were arrogant enough to imagine it was my place to judge him at all. In my business [which includes advising and representing some enormous businesses] I have known many spectacularly wealthy people. Some of them have been kind-hearted humanitarians who built businesses and charities that made literally thousands of others' lives better. On the other hand, some rich folks have proven themselves to be reprehensible, vile, dangerous, rapacious scoundrels.
I have also, in my business and my personal life [which include pro bono representation of women at risk and overseas disaster relief] known and worked for some of the poorest, most disadvantaged people in world. I have found some of those folks to be kind-hearted humanitarians who do everything in their power to make the lives around them better. And I have known some poor folks who little better than feral predators, heaping yet more misery upon the miserable.
Why, it's ALMOST as if the amount of money a person has, or the amount that a person might spend on a pipe, has NOTHING at all salient to say about that person's character.
On the other hand, I DO find extremely telling even a single statement by a guy who imagines for even a moment he has the right or authority to tell any other human being how to dispose of the fruit of his own labor.
Sadly, throughout time, far too many folks have shared this view, that they somehow own or should control the product of other men's labors. All too often, instead of just whining on the internet, they have actually been able to attain power and make good on their views. [We call such people tyrants.]
As for whether someone spending $6,500 renders one "sick" or "ridiculous," I'd need to know a lot more about they guy to render such a judgment -- presuming I were arrogant enough to imagine it was my place to judge him at all. In my business [which includes advising and representing some enormous businesses] I have known many spectacularly wealthy people. Some of them have been kind-hearted humanitarians who built businesses and charities that made literally thousands of others' lives better. On the other hand, some rich folks have proven themselves to be reprehensible, vile, dangerous, rapacious scoundrels.
I have also, in my business and my personal life [which include pro bono representation of women at risk and overseas disaster relief] known and worked for some of the poorest, most disadvantaged people in world. I have found some of those folks to be kind-hearted humanitarians who do everything in their power to make the lives around them better. And I have known some poor folks who little better than feral predators, heaping yet more misery upon the miserable.
Why, it's ALMOST as if the amount of money a person has, or the amount that a person might spend on a pipe, has NOTHING at all salient to say about that person's character.
On the other hand, I DO find extremely telling even a single statement by a guy who imagines for even a moment he has the right or authority to tell any other human being how to dispose of the fruit of his own labor.
Sadly, throughout time, far too many folks have shared this view, that they somehow own or should control the product of other men's labors. All too often, instead of just whining on the internet, they have actually been able to attain power and make good on their views. [We call such people tyrants.]
My working theory is that 10% of humans are good people, and the other 90% are just opportunists. If we colonize space with the former, we might become a great species.
This is getting SERIOUS! We're talking tyranny here!
I agree that it's kind of pointless to make a diagnosis based on one anonymous act. For all we know, the $6500 Chonowitsch was bought as a gift for a dying child in a sub Saharan African village.
Perhaps it's envy. Perhaps we all wish that we could buy $6500 Chonowitches and that we all feel somewhat "less than" because we can't. Come on folks, how many of you are just envious. Admit it. You're not outraged because someone spent $6500 on a Chonowitsch pipe, you're outraged because you can't afford it. And because you can't afford it, you feel "less than". You wish you could spend $6500 on a Chonowitsch more than just about anything. But because you're a financial failure, you can't afford a $6500 Chonowitsch and it just irritates you because it also reminds you of all the other necessary stuff that you can't afford.
I agree that it's kind of pointless to make a diagnosis based on one anonymous act. For all we know, the $6500 Chonowitsch was bought as a gift for a dying child in a sub Saharan African village.
Perhaps it's envy. Perhaps we all wish that we could buy $6500 Chonowitches and that we all feel somewhat "less than" because we can't. Come on folks, how many of you are just envious. Admit it. You're not outraged because someone spent $6500 on a Chonowitsch pipe, you're outraged because you can't afford it. And because you can't afford it, you feel "less than". You wish you could spend $6500 on a Chonowitsch more than just about anything. But because you're a financial failure, you can't afford a $6500 Chonowitsch and it just irritates you because it also reminds you of all the other necessary stuff that you can't afford.
No envy here. Even if I were a billionaire, as per my principles, I would find it obscene to spend such amount of money on a smoking instrument.
olko, as a public service, would you provide a comprehensive list of prices that may acceptably be paid by people other than yourself for products or services made or rendered by people other than yourself? I am sure saltedplug would be interested in helping. No doubt you guys will be able to agree on precise dollar figures.
Let's start with this:
How much may a teacher and firefighter pay a homebuilder for 3-bedroom house?
How much may a waitress pay a dressmaker for a bridesmaid dress?
How much may plumber charge a homeowner for one hour of labor?
How much may sablebrush pay another forum member for a hand made pipe (specifically a Group 5 bent bulldog with a Cumberland stem)?
[There are about eleventy-billion other specific transactions that we will need you guys to pass moral judgment on. Golly, just figuring out all the individual pipe sales, what with all sellers, buyer and shapes is going to be a staggering number. But since evidently that whole "free marketplace" thing is now obscene, there's nothing for it but for self-appointed arbiters of fairness to tell everyone else what is permissible and good. So let's get started.]
Hmm -- maybe if we used a single guiding principle that would speed the process -- you said you like principles. I know one that folks have used for this before: "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." How about that one?
Let's start with this:
How much may a teacher and firefighter pay a homebuilder for 3-bedroom house?
How much may a waitress pay a dressmaker for a bridesmaid dress?
How much may plumber charge a homeowner for one hour of labor?
How much may sablebrush pay another forum member for a hand made pipe (specifically a Group 5 bent bulldog with a Cumberland stem)?
[There are about eleventy-billion other specific transactions that we will need you guys to pass moral judgment on. Golly, just figuring out all the individual pipe sales, what with all sellers, buyer and shapes is going to be a staggering number. But since evidently that whole "free marketplace" thing is now obscene, there's nothing for it but for self-appointed arbiters of fairness to tell everyone else what is permissible and good. So let's get started.]
Hmm -- maybe if we used a single guiding principle that would speed the process -- you said you like principles. I know one that folks have used for this before: "From each according to his ability; to each according to his need." How about that one?
olkofri: I doubt that, when you have large amounts of money, EVERYTHING changes (or shifts), including principles. A 1300 sq ft house will No longer suffice, a grabow over a Chonowitsch come on, a used beater car to a new one, my wife cleaning the toilet versus a "housekeeper", vacationing in the Wisconsin Dells or Hawaii, etc.
There have been many studies on people coming into large amounts of money via inheritance, lotteries, entrance into the professional ranks of sports, large raises...one common problem they many of them have is they GO and SPEND it rapidly, too rapidly. Multi-generational wealth is almost unheard of, the second generation usually squanders the first generations success.
There have been many studies on people coming into large amounts of money via inheritance, lotteries, entrance into the professional ranks of sports, large raises...one common problem they many of them have is they GO and SPEND it rapidly, too rapidly. Multi-generational wealth is almost unheard of, the second generation usually squanders the first generations success.
Ok ok ok, I admit it. I bought the Chonowswisch. But, it was just to practice using my new Dremel tool on. I just started rusticating it, and I’m not sure if I will use the blue stain on it or just paint it with some acrylics. I think i could widen out the draft to fit a filter too. I’m so excited!!!
I did mess up the rim a little, but no fears... i have a new belt sander!
I did mess up the rim a little, but no fears... i have a new belt sander!
This would seem to argue against amassing great wealth since it produces a generation of entitled brats.
To be sure, there are both economic and political arguments about the profoundly destabilizing effects of highly concentrated wealth on democracy. And maybe that's not a bad thing. Freedom and democracy may be beyond the ability of the vast majority to maintain. If we are indeed going the way of the Roman Republic we might as well get it over with and move onto the decadence of the Roman Empire.
Wow! Who knew that a $6500 Chonowitsch could wield so much meaning?
I do not believe this topic will ever be without disagreement. To some $6500.00 ( spent on something ) is the same as some else spending $65.00 or $650.00. Or maybe the buyer saved all their pipe money for the past 2, 3 or more years just to be able to buy 1 Jess. A pipe that they have always lusted after. We don't know.
I have no problems with anyone spending their money the way they choose. Would I spend this amount on a pipe? Not at my income level. Could I save and eventually buy one? Sure, but I still doubt I would. I'm just not that disciplined. I see too many other things I "need". LOL
The above being what it is, if the pipe is left un smoked, when Jess fully retires, the pipe will increase in value. How much, who knows. I wish I'd bought the Bo's that came through my site years ago, that sold for $3000.00 a pop. I wish I held on the pre trans Barling 7 day cased set, that I sold then for $700.00. I bet Jesse wishes I still had it also. bbwaaa hahahahahaha
Regards
Michael J. Glukler
I have no problems with anyone spending their money the way they choose. Would I spend this amount on a pipe? Not at my income level. Could I save and eventually buy one? Sure, but I still doubt I would. I'm just not that disciplined. I see too many other things I "need". LOL
The above being what it is, if the pipe is left un smoked, when Jess fully retires, the pipe will increase in value. How much, who knows. I wish I'd bought the Bo's that came through my site years ago, that sold for $3000.00 a pop. I wish I held on the pre trans Barling 7 day cased set, that I sold then for $700.00. I bet Jesse wishes I still had it also. bbwaaa hahahahahaha
Regards
Michael J. Glukler
Well you never know. We're deregulating like crazy so there's a pretty good chance that there will be another market crash and worldwide financial panic in a few years. We could see those prices again. The question would be whether I would have the necessary cash at hand. But please let me know if such an opportunity presents itself in the future. :D
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