Not sure if this has been posted before but it may be useful to those who are interested

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

Oh yes? Would you like me to quote and highlight other interesting points from that seven page article?

I'll make it clear right now though. I'm not arguing about what's "right" or "wrong". Merely bringing up something that others may find interesting to know. How they interpret it, is up to them.

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 24 2009, 07:50 PM

The difference between those commodities you listed and diamonds is that those commodities have real and useful economic lives. Their prices are also governed by exchanges and markets. You sell for the price that people are willing to buy.

No such exchange or market exists for diamonds.

Has anybody here tried to sell a diamond? You cannot even get wholesale prices for them, because they are simply not worth that much. The diamond industry is essentially a large cartel dedicated to propping up the perceived value of an otherwise useless item.

Has anybody even seen the diamonds being sold in retail outlets nowadays? They're so frickin TINY, your eyes would be hard pressed to pick them out.

---

Added on April 25, 2009, 8:07 pmYes, this article is the original written in 1982. The article traces the history of the diamond ring from the late 1800's... but the history of the diamond trade goes back longer before that. I'll try to find a few links.

In addition since 1982, there have been NEW developments regarding the diamond trade. These events occurred within living memory. Chances are, those of you reading this thread would have been in school, or in college, or at work when you first heard about the horrifying civil wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

Has Mobutu Sese Seko been forgotten already?

The film "Blood Diamond" has actually skirted around the more hideous truths of the diamond trade and stopped short of naming the true perpetrators of a human rights violation that beggars imagination.

I shall also look for the links.

I may also post certain pictures here. I found that pictures and news articles of people having their arms, legs and breasts cut off, gang rape and murder, the usage of child soldiers drugged up on hard narcotics, all committed by militias and warlord forces funded by the diamond trade, has put a damper on my enthusiasm for diamonds.

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 25 2009, 08:07 PM

Lol Moorish and the other pro-diamond ppl here. Why are you avoiding the issue and silverhawk's questions?

Do you think that if you accuse him of being a troll and vigorously re-affirm your DeBeers sales points people will fall in line to listen to you like sheeple?

Maybe that will work... on people with no brains.


My dear, it is YOU who is unacquianted with logic and the process of informed, educational debate.

It is of course easier to ignore Silverhawk than to answer the questions he posed to you. The only thing you know about diamonds is what you have been spoonfed to believe. That, and the fact that by selling diamonds you can get rich.

---

Added on April 27, 2009, 6:51 pmDiamonds, unlike gold and oil, have no real economic usage, and its price is kept afloat by perceived value alone.

It is this over-inflated perceived value, and it's association with perceived prestige, along with the monopoly on the supply and demand exacted by DeBeers, which has financed dictators and human rights violators such as Mobutu Sese Seko, Charles Taylor and Foday Sankoh. The artificially high prices of diamonds has financed civil wars in Angola and the Congo for decades and armed militias who practise the recruitment of child soldiers and drug them up with hard narcotics to serve as cannon fodder.

The next time you buy a diamond, think very, VERY carefully where your money goes. Who does it ultimately profit?

Just like I encourage you to do so when you buy furniture made from rare hardwood timbers.

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 27 2009, 07:00 PM

I'm comparing diamonds with gold and oil because Moorish made that comparison earlier. When you brought up "supply and demand" I assumed you also believed that diamonds are governed by the same market forces that govern gold prices, oil, or even the stock exchange.

My assertion is that diamonds are NOT the same with gold and oil because diamonds do not have a useful economic life by comparison, and it's prices are not governed by the same markets and legislated means of exchanges that commodities are. You know this.

Diamonds versus watches and art is a better comparison, but for one thing.

Artists and watchmakers are not as horribly exploited as the miners and people in diamond producing African countries, who have to live under dictatorships financed by the diamond industry, and work hazardous duty in mines owned by the diamond cartel, often as slaves, and with slave earnings.

The majority of them do not live and work under conditions of extreme poverty, brutality and social collapse that diamond workers in Africa do.

But I guess that because according to you, oil causes warfare too (care to give examples? We can compare notes. I know a bit of oil history), and "Anything of financial value is being played by someone in power- think crude oil, gold, stock markets, etc.", that makes it okay.

---

Added on April 28, 2009, 2:15 amSo if your significant other needs to sodomize you vigorously with a spiked strap-on to be happy, then that is priceless too?

Nice investment standards you have there buddy.

---

Added on April 28, 2009, 2:23 amInteresting. Can we get a definitive answer for this too?

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 28 2009, 02:26 AM

Yes, the Iraq war was motivated by oil and several other unsaid agendas. Yes, America spat forth a torrent of bullshit about "preserving freedom" and "human rights" (but shut up about the latter when we found out they were committing torture, massacre and punitive rape on men and women).

As you can see the ugly reality does not match the fabricated lie.

Diamonds would be a analogy for this also. It's fabricated lies of being worth the money you pay for it for sentimental reasons of "romance" and "special" finances the cutting off of breasts in Africa

YES, the CUTTING OFF OF BREASTS IN AFRICA, the very same thing that you girls watch on Oprah and then CRY about

and the conscription of entire villages to work as slaves in diamond mines in Myanmar.


You've been sodomised with a spiked strap-on too, for real?

I was just being sarcastic when I feted wlcling. I think that some experiences are not worth the price.


I don't hate diamonds. I hate dirty lies.



LOL!!!
Your husband really loves you. You should be loyal to him. A man who does not love or appreciate you that much might ask you to grow up or worse, grow a brain, and that would be horrible.

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 28 2009, 02:37 PM

Lalala syndrome, anyone?

My wife doesn't need diamonds to look pretty and feel loved.

You also have no idea how much walking I do.

Saved for posterity. This comeback of yours is priceless.

You really don't know what's going on, do you? You must have had some real trouble following the debate and dealing with all the issues, points and nuances raised.

I almost pity you.









Except that BREASTS WERE SLICED OFF IN AFRICA

must... calm down... before....!!! SMASH TABLE IN TWO!!!!!!

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 28 2009, 03:47 PM

Ok ok, no need to force the point. You and Bishop do not care.

See, that's very easy to say isn't it?

Just say that you do not care that breasts were cut off in Africa. You just want to preserve your feelings of "pretty", "special" and "romance".

No need to go the round about way and bring up oil, Iraq or Palestine.

Come on. Just say it, the both of you. Trust me, it's liberating.

So, you are saying that I am hypocrite because I use petrol?

That's what you and Bishop are trying to say, aren't you?

You're both truly geniuses.

---

Added on April 28, 2009, 4:10 pm^ I'm waiting to see how Moorish and Bishop answers this.

Go ahead, guys. Dig a deeper hole for yourselves.

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 28 2009, 04:10 PM

Oh but I thought this thread was to EDUCATE people about diamonds.

I didn't know that this thread was only for people who like diamonds.

You see? This is the root of all our misunderstanding here.

You sure about that? Isn't that what Moorish said? That diamonds are a good investment?

Want me to find the post where she said that?

Hmm, you can't refute or answer the questions and points raised - such as the ones that Silverhawk VERY CIVILLY asked - so you resort to labelling the dissenting point of view as trolls and "troublemakers".

Moorish you are indeed a sophisticated woman, every bit as deserving of the diamonds you proudly wear.

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 28 2009, 04:39 PM

What other thread "last time" are you talking about? No, seriously. Is this some case of mistaken identity here?


You sir, do not sound like an investor.

All view points in discussions of the matter must sound the same to you, so your wilful ignorance is understandable.

Oh my screaming monkey god!! That whole wikipedia article is so full of un-referenced points.

Where are its sources???

Wow Bishop, how far will you bend over to justify and defend Moorish's ignorant talk?

That IS what you're saying, isn't it? That she doesn't know what she's talking about? That although it doesn't make much sense and cannot be called an investment by ANY real standard, to her "simple" ways of thinking it does, and thus she can make that misrepresentation without being called out on it?

And oh my gosh, look, Silverhawk is trying to FORCE his views down her throat?
Last I looked, only WORMS twisted and turned themselves around like that.

Do you think I live on forums or something, or that this debate is even remotely important enough for me to check on often?

Btw, you sir, need to call me MISTER Poon.

---

Added on April 29, 2009, 4:22 pmYou are not putting forth a neutral viewpoint. You are speaking from a position of MORAL PUSILLANIMITY.

When you buy goods from people who play their trade through horrifying means of human exploitation and terrorism, what you are doing is FINANCING the same activities.

All of this just so you can give your girlfriend or wife feelings of "romance", "special" and "pretty"?

How f***ing ridiculous. You sir, are a truly disgusting person.

This post has been edited by Dickson Poon: Apr 29 2009, 04:25 PM