h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

definitely related - in my experience it's the small men with big egos who are the most worried about keeping up with the joneses too.

span

In my case, it's the small computer geek with no girlfriend who has nothing better to spend his money on.

But also in my case, I don't just go out and blow my money on the latest piece of techno-jiggery. I research every piece of equipment before I decide what to buy, and I usually have to budget for it. It's a hobby, not an obsession (although hobbies can sometimes attain obssessive levels).

I don't buy home theatre equipment to 'keep up with the Jones''. I get a lot of enjoyment out of it. I can watch movies at home with a system approaching movie theatre performance, and there are no drunken people sitting behind me, and there are no people crinkling plastic bags. Plus, I can pause the movie if I have to go to the bathroom.

Anyway, my point is that, for many, home theatre is a hobby and it's not restricted to those with high incomes - you do your research and you try to get the best you can afford. Were I to make a lot more money than I currently do, I would have a much more expensive setup. Conversely, my setup would be smaller and cheaper if I earned less.

The kind of people you're talking about are those people who buy things without doing any research or even thinking twice about the purchase (and I know some people like that). Those types of people are not home theatre enthusiasts. They typically fall into two categories:

a) They have lots of money and they feel a need to get rid of it in a way they're certain will impress others.
b) They are obssessed (with technology in this case).

A lot of home theatre enthusiasts (myself included) do not fall into either of those two categories. Anyway, that's my two cents on the subject. Have a great day, folks.

i agree with you about the keeping up with the jones' thing, ie that it shuld attach to those who don't bother researching or budgeting - just blow it all asap as large as possible

sorry but i'm suffering from a highly defective keybd, so i'm ging to leave it at that, but i will try to come back and discuss this mre later

sorry
span

Say, there, Span (I can call you Span, can I?), you are a member of the Church of the True Weevil but you haven't chosen a title yet. Is there a title you'd like to have?

Check out the new Church of the True Weevil page (if you haven't done so yet). It's at http://www.h2g2.com/A226450

(when your keyboard is feeling better, of course).