Comments on Talking with Virginia Postrel

Ralph Mcginnis — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:54 GMT

Um, Mr. Owl, I didn’t say anything about it not being able to grow… I was commenting on Postrel’s thesis, which jumps off from the point that our culture has a growing appreciation for Aesthetic Value…. which I think is ridiculous. Society is as tacky as ever.

Ralph Mcginnis is dumb — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:50 GMT

Well as my friend Ralph above so excellently proved, a level, a rarefied degree of mentality is needed for thi sort of discussion, which perhaps, our dear boy Ralph has not yet attained, and if not by now, probably won’t in this lifetime.

Aesthetic value isn’t something that is exists in stasis. Knowledge grows from the beginning of our mind, to its end. A valuation of beauty, and lack thereof, must to be granted a life expectancy and a waxing and waning, a growth period. You can’t simply adhere to one line of ability throughout years and years of practice, without some graduation of exponential increase in knowledge. And Appreciation is one form of knowledge, so yes, Aesthetic Value is something that most certainly can grow, brainiac.

Robert Bennett — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:36 GMT

Personally, I don’t find this pointless at all. From the aesthetic imperative to the switch from the knowledge worker to a model where most white-collar jobs are being outsourced to India and beyond, the idea that one need to know how and why to differentiate their product/design/site/whatever is very on target.

daria slivka — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:39:23 GMT

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” – william morris

As consumers of so much marketed to so many, I believe we’re seduced and deluded in ways we don’t even recognize. I question whether we’re really more sophisticated consumers of “aesthetics” and “smart design”, or just better-trained sheep.

I’m all for //smart & pretty// when it produces value; don’t make me pay for “pretty” in my plumbing or circuitry. Too much for too little. A little restraint, please.

P.S. – The Honeywell thermostat Postrel rails against in her Forbes FYI article was replaced by a new generation of “easy-to-use” devices. Or maybe not; in Dec 2005, from the pulpit of his daily talk show, Regis Philbin screamed his frustration with his new Honeywell programmable thermostat….

Ralph Mcginnis — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:52:23 GMT

There is a “growth in aesthetic value?” What universe do you live in?

nova silverpill — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:51:43 GMT

shorter postrel: it’s at target, so it’s cool.

blah. pointless, self-important pointification from a self-described “libertarian” and, thusly, a natural born contrarian.

anyone who links so vociferously to Instapundit/idiot from her own blog invalidates whatever opinions she claims as her own.

at least reason.com is well designed.

Kevin Pearce — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:51:43 GMT

The interview was an unexpected treat. I thought the book sounded kinda flimsy, but from reading her take what we do I was impressed.