transitionality

The site has the format of a product presentation site rather than a designer's portfolio site. Its format is intentionally misleading. And that sort of disingenuousness is grating.

If this were on DeviantArt, etc., clearly framed as a design, the reactions would be more muted and possibly positive.

All it takes is one click on a checkbox.

Anyone is free to fork AdBlock Plus' codebase and prepare a version that doesn't require that checkbox.

I, for one, am happy that AdBlock Plus is being funded (and will continue to provide a great, reliable product) at the expense of users too stupid or ignorant to click on a single checkbox.

Your claims are ridiculous and you're bigoted.

Glory holes had zero stigma for gay folks. Gay folks aren't exactly picky when it comes to getting tail.

I bet your idea of a horrible dating life is most guys' idea of a Casanova style dating life, 6'8'', built, good looking guy.

You are your own parody. You are living proof of Poe's Law. You are why feminism is now a dirty word and even successful women like Marissa Mayer don't want to be associated with it. Feel proud.

I can't imagine that anyone's friends are as invested as they themselves are (or would put an equivalent amount of energy) in their dating success, but maybe I just have lousy friends. It's an experiment worth conducting.

Why spend thousands on a mere token if the only value is one of sentimental association?

Nothing changes overnight, but there's already informed resistance to De Beers' marketing in a significant fraction Generation Y adults. Things will only get better. In the age of the Internet, you can't maintain a Big Lie in the long term.

It's true that most iPhone purchases are due to marketing, but an iPhone delivers exactly what is promised. A diamond doesn't. Diamonds are neither particularly rare, nor last forever, nor a good investment, nor a part of any organic tradition.

He's obviously talking about these people challenging social norms careerwise.

Of course it's possible. Private detectives can procure an insane amount of information on anyone, often using quasi-legal means like social engineering of the target or "favors" from friends on the police force.

Given equivalent conditions, the two tasks are equally easy.

De Beers enjoyed a monopoly on the market for a long time, so the prices were pretty much standardized across the entire marketplace. Yes, you could obviously find someone willing to sell you diamonds for more than what De Beers charged, but nobody would believe that you willingly paid more than "market rate". "Market rate" in this context refers to De Beers' monopolistic pricing, not actual market rate, which is actually peanuts because diamonds are in fact very common.

You're proving his point with your overreaction.

Because it's literally worthless.

> realize what an asshole you sound like when you judge other people

I'll just let you read what you wrote.

Both can be faked equally easily, given equivalent verification mechanisms.

Without the help of professional services, a layman can be easily fooled in either context.

However, if the layman is going to get the diamond appraised by a professional, then the same standard should be applied to the other task. One can likewise use professional services to accurately determine a person's net worth.

My point remains.

No.It becomes important for women to stop leeching off of men. It becomes important for women to let more men leech off of them. This is what equality entails.

A diamond is just as easily faked as a bank statement.

This is mostly thanks to De Beers expanding the scope of their advertising campaign internationally.

You'll have a much better shot at getting it if you explicitly make it part of your negotiation process, since most companies won't think to include it on their own.

Welcome to planet earth. Have you met women yet? They are quaint and gross.

Women deserve better than to be coddled like children. They deserve to be given a reality check like adults.

You read too many fairy tales.

The birthstone myth is just as made up as the De Beers diamond myths.

Gigolos servicing rich cougars don't ask for diamond rings.

The one with better romantic prospects, obviously.

You spent an amount of money equivalent to what De Beers charges for a diamond ring because of the advertising campaign De Beers started about a century ago. You felt like you had to match that expenditure, perhaps subconsciously. If the diamond cartel and diamond advertising and diamond pricing didn't exist, you wouldn't have that specific financial figure to aspire to.

Does "I'm not stupid enough to pay insane margins on a worthlessly common piece of rock." count as a story? It sounds more like a statement of fact to me.

Coke plain tastes better. They spend millions on research getting the taste just right. Most store brand colas have one overpowering flavor that ruins the experience.