Question of the Day

[ayoub]

If you get something valuable for free, does its value diminish in your mind?

Or

If it's too easy, do you feel there's something wrong with it?

Comments

[f-l-i-r-t.livejournal.com]

If I get something valuable for free I am chuffed to bits and feel so lucky, definitly doesn't diminish it's values in my eyes. It potentially increases the value to me, or at least I feel I got a good deal, which always makes me happy. *cheeky grin*

Also, if it is too easy, I am thankful, because too often life things are overly complicated, difficult.

[avis-noctis.livejournal.com]

Nope. The intrinsic value of something (non-commercial) is embedded in the thing itself.

[ccupguy.livejournal.com]

No, if it's valuable to you then it stays that way.

And if it's too easy? OMG! Have you been nicking old ladies purses again? LOL!

ccup

[katamphigorical.livejournal.com]

#1-- Absolutely not. The only scenario of which i can think that the value would be diminished is if the item(s) was stolen.

#2-- If something is easy, i usually conclude that i actually made some wise decisions preceding. o_0 "Something wrong" is harder to contend with than "something right". At least it is for me.

[ornjkitty.livejournal.com]

Not at all. If anything, the value increases for me. Two examples:

If I spent $50.00 for an outfit for the baby, (I saw the price-tag on some of the hand-me-downs my sister gave me that her baby never wore!), I would be too afraid to let her wear them. She's gotten a lot of cute outfits as hand-me-downs that are barely worn, and I don't have to worry if she decides to run off and play, or sit and draw pictures in the mud, because if they get a little dirt on them, they can be washed, and if she manages to find the odd Sharpie lying around the house ... well, at least she got a few wears out of them first!

My sister-in-law sent me a manual on teaching your child to read, and the manual stated that HOMEMADE index cards are more useful because they address what your child actually needs to learn (vs. stuff they might already know), and since they're (practically) "free", you aren't as attached to them and can throw them out when your child has the concept down pat, as opposed to continuing to drill with them for ten more years because "I'm getting my money's worth out of the darned things!" Same with workbooks -- doing every exercise on every page might not be necessary for your child to learn the concept, and once the concept has been learned, they're better off spending their time learning something NEW rather than beating the dead horse, so to speak, by finishing every last question on every last page.

[I started out six years ago wanting a boxed curriculum and "the works" as far as educational materials, but more and more I'm leaning towards the DIY with a public library card. ... We've got a great library here, and most of the resources I've seen in the catalogs for the "whole-book" (vs. textbook) approach to learning are at the library right across the street, or available at one of the other libraries in our system. They even have the early, early readers, like the BOB books, that are hella expensive if you buy them new ($40.00 for a box that looks like a 3-CD boxed set, with 10 little pamphlet "books"!), and which you'll only use once.]

[donnickcottage.livejournal.com]

No to both.

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

Sometimes.

[fox-bard.livejournal.com]

The quality of a thing is dependent upon its own value and merit, and what that means to the possessor of said thing (whatever it is), regardless of the method upon which it was acquired.

If I walk down the street and kick up a diamond in the groove of a pavement, I'll think myself extraordinarily fortunate and the value of the stone would be greater to me for that singular lucky accident than if I had spent any amount of money on it.

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

No and no. My response to both scenarios would be "score!" Unless it started happening all the time. Then I would get worried something bad had happened to the fabric of reality.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

I like your answer... And seeing the word "Chuffed" always makes me smile :D

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

I like the distinction between commercial and non-commercial :D

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

No, I stopped that years ago! :P Although, I had a handful of sweets and a few crying kids pointing at me... ;)

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

"Something right" is always good to contend with :D

[ccupguy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, kids these days. They point and cry for the least of things. They'll get over it, don't worry.
:P
ccup

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

That's awesome!

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

When?

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Well said bro :D

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

Heh... yeah, that thing about it happening all the time... You have to worry when Karma's that good to you!

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

Question A:When I only care a little about it.

Question B: When I'm playing in a table-top RPG and either Matt, JJ or Tom are running it. They're complete bastards, which makes their games sublime. It's like when Gene Hackman smiles in a movie, you know something bad's on it's way.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

B: LMAO!

[smwright.livejournal.com]

Because I'm still behind, I'll be brief and less psychological than usual. *tugs at the reins*

#1 no
#2 yes

[dolorinterno.livejournal.com]

No way! Value increases. I tend to like free stuff more than non free stuff...

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

2 - You'd look a gift horse in the mouth?

(No rush on responses... And pause for breath!)

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D

There's also a certain value add to saving slowly for something and then buying it...

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

You should check out these lyrics: http://www.jh3.com/robyn/base/song.asp?squid=230

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

That's hilarious! :D

[mighty-rontor.livejournal.com]

Robyn Hitchcock is an amazing lyricist. I've never known anyone else that could make something rhyme with "Messerschmidt". ("Give it to the Soft Boys".)

[smwright.livejournal.com]

#2 - Not so much a gift horse in the mouth thing, but more that I understand psychological motivations. When intrinsic motivation is undermined, it tends to be undermined permanently, and if I want to maintain the value of whatever the task is for myself, then I wouldn't want it to be too simple. For instance, if a bit of writing or prepping a lecture takes too little time or requires too little effort, then suddenly the overarching task (e.g., writing or lecturing) loses some of its appeal.

But then, I have a high need for cognition. That explains part of it for me. :)

Still tons to do, but at least I'm able to do LJ in fits and starts some today. I suspect I'm looking at Friday before real catch up begins. :(

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

So you want the reward to be worth the work?

Ouch... I hope things calm down for you!

[smwright.livejournal.com]

So you want the reward to be worth the work? That's precisely it. Excellent way to phrase things.

Ouch... I hope things calm down for you! Soon. One more day to lecture and the final on Friday. Of course, there's no way to finish all the material tomorrow I'm so far behind, but what can you do?

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

:D Glad you liked!

Stock up on the coffee and work through the night... :)

[mishi-ragdoll.livejournal.com]

to question#2: i think im a person who likes the easy way out for everything, so i dont really have that mentality of "if its too easy then theres something wrong with it." so nope, i like certain things to be easy, sadly. *please disregard my grammatical errors, this is the internet ya know!*

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

LOL!

No worries :D

[eternalxwhisper.livejournal.com]

If I get it for free then I treasure the gift even more.

[ayoub.livejournal.com]

That's a good way to be!