Horological Meandering

ThomasM
[PuristS]
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I was waiting...

Hi, Ben,

Why not "twenty-somethings?"  Do they not share some things in common, which they don't share with non-twenty-somethings?

How about the fact that they just (likely) graduated college; are most likely early in their money earning careers; are still "young" enough that brands and what other people think is likely still important to them; that "signaling" qualities of a material good are possibly a high priority; that they likely have to stretch to buy that Rolex (unless they are using Daddy - or Mommy's - money) and the PP or AP are really more likely beyond reasonable reach.

This was actually one of the undercurrents I wanted to address in my (almost) diatribe, but I got carried away...

Have we become so damned "politically correct" that real, statistically supportable "generalizations" and "stereotypes" have to be avoided at all costs, polite company pretending that the "demographics" don't exist?

Have we to be so considerate of everyone, in every stripe and color, that even among "enthusiasts" (which we are, as a group, if ever there was one) we still have to tip toe around and avoid terms like "tourbillon" and "beat stability" or have to define what a Guillaume balance is, or heat bluing, every time we use the term or refer to the specific, lest some newbie not follow or understand?

I raised ion channel reuptake, Andrew, being an MD, echoed the (rhetorical?) question of how much we have to avoid jargon. I remember a discussion on Star Trek; yes, Star Trek. The debate was, when the crew brought up their phasers, how necessary was it to make sure the audience understands just exactly how the phaser works, for the storyline to make sense and connect with the audience?

On another track, I understand the concept of using a language at a dinner table that everyone at the table can understand, and avoiding one that even one person doesn't. This is basic courtesy.

The funny thing is? It's more a problem for Westerners who don't speak Japanese or Chinese, than for Chinese or Koreans or Persians who have a hard time speaking English. That is, the one's who complain the most and loudest are the one's who make no effort to learn or appreciate other languages than their own.

Americans traveling to China -duh! They speak Chinese in China, get over it.  I wonder how accomodating those same Americans are to the visiting Chinese who don't speak a word of English...

I'm in Geneva 8-15 times a year; I appreciate the effort of those I am with to speak English with me. I look at it as a courtesy, not a right, and I am not offended in the least if they, on occasion, resort to French or German in order to communicate among themselves more completely and deeply. The onus is on me to learn French and German...

Which, back to this thread, the onus is on ...

You end your post with "vintage..." um, Ben, you are not a twenty-something, and likely remember first hand when some of those vintage pieces were "new." Do you not recall the same amount of marketing fluff (read: bullshit) that went into advertising them?

My point being...well, I'll leave that up to the reader.

Cheers,

TM

(ps: Ben, hopefully we know each other well enough to be able to take the effete "politeness" gloves off and say what we really mean, without risking unintended offense.

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