Relative Value, relative Happiness

[WishYouWereHere]

When dealing with perceived value, its all about viewing the incremental cost in relation to perceived happiness. Its amazing how some clever shrinks and economists have managed to put metrics around such subjective concepts.

From other posts (approx)

"How can an SP that costs twice as much be WORTH twice as much?"

The same question can be posed about cars, food, clothes, hotels, and EVERY other aspect of human consumption and values from the basics of life to the most extravagant luxuries.

Lets start with cars.
Some people place NO value on cars:. If you gave them a Maybach (and they CANNOT sell it), it would just make them annoyed or worse.
But, if you have NO car and would like or NEED one- does a free 20 year old Yugo increase your happiness? Perhaps a LOT.
You up-grade (at your own expense- which has a 'happiness' cost), to a brand new Civic. Lets assume it DOUBLES your net happiness- great.
Then you DOUBLE that cost to a Grand Cherokee SRT8.

Are you twice as happy? I would suggest- NO. Your 'quantity' of happiness with the Yugo (from nil) likely jumped MUCH more than your move from the Civic to the SRT8. You might be 50% happier, or 20% happier.

If I had the $ would I get a Maybach at 10X the cost of my SRT8? You bet your bippy! Incremental happiness? for me maybe 10-20%.

Actually one sad aspect of the human condition is how many folks OVER anticipate their incremental happiness. If you can afford more (of anything) good for you. But its best to keep your emotional expectations modest.

SPs
Consider the above, and toss in other human foibles like pride, convenience, love, lust, variety and the fact that SPs are human.

So it may be utterly silly to expect the $500 SP to make you twice as happy as the $250 gal. Or if she has something you want WHEN you want it- maybe she makes you 300% as happy.

When I take my lotto $ and book Nina Hartley for three hours, I will be delighted if she makes me AS happy as the best of my local ATFs.:great:

As a last thought- some people really enjoy bargain hunting. More power to them.
Some people THINK they enjoy bargain (value) hunting, but just delay, complicate and fuck up their range of happiness. Others do the opposite- spend with no thought for value and get disappointed a lot.

As the wise men say-

Know thyself
In the long run, we are all deadarty:

 

[blitzisbest]

You really have too much time on your hands,: Just kidding I am enjoying your posts.

Having driven a beat up old Volkswagen and also having driven a 2009 Maserati Quattroporte, the value is visual and quantifiable. The thousands of dollars difference in cost is easily weighed against the look, the handling, the power, the luxury.

Can the same be said about an expensive SP?

Is the expensive SP also much better looking, better service, better attitude, better sex appeal than the $200.00 sp?

In other words , most of us can see why the Maserati is $100,000 and the beat up old bug is only $3000.00 can the same be said about the over priced sp?

 

[Baconfat]

Great post, Bear. It IS all relative! Especially happiness.

Yesterday I missed a connecting flight and was stuck in Toronto overnight. (I thought about all you board members!). I met up with a group of guys outside at the hotel, and we chatted about my missed flight. They told me to come out with them to Jack Astors and bought me a drink. I think that made me happier than I was during my entire trip.

The trip was fantastic, but missing that flight was such a shitty situation that it was like heaven to meet up with kind strangers who bought me a pint. Had I not been in a shitty situation, that pint, although graciously accepted, would not have meant as much to me. All relative.


Also:
Disappointments are ALWAYS in proportion to expectations. It is best to check expectations at the door in all aspects of life.

In the end, no matter what, live without regret.

 

[Nit R]

I stay at The Four Seasons instead of The Holidan Inn because of better service and food. I can afford it and makes me happier because I feel more comfortable.

I can afford higher SP but choose not to because the service and looks are relatively the same. Trust me on this one have tried it all. No I am happier :666:

 

[Ac jasmine]

In recent years I stayed at the Toronto 4 Seasons a couple of times, but vastly prefer the Park Plaza.

As a GFE/GWE Lap Bear, who usually has booked long visits, travel etc. I (and MANY others) am very sensitive to subtle variations in the entire experience with women individually and in groups!arty:

By your comments above, you clearly are not a connoiseur, and that is NOT an insult.

Perhaps you are a wine fanatic? Your happiness may be MUCH enhanced by esoteric vintages and you are prepared to PAY. Me? I toss soda water and ice into almost everything.:shock:

 

[J3SS]

Actually one sad aspect of the human condition is how many folks OVER anticipate their incremental happiness. If you can afford more (of anything) good for you. But its best to keep your emotional expectations modest.


You aced this one Bear. :great:

 

[uhh...]

Nina Hartley :great:, now you are talking Bear. Will pay whatever she wants and will be happy boy for weeks.

 

[TheDeathMessage]

First, there is no such thing as an 'over priced' (honest) SP unless she is failing to get the booking volume SHE wants.

As far as the cars- seems to me you are confusing input costs vs personal satisfaction or happiness.

Yes, we can examine the cost of the Maserati and show WHY the value of the materials, engineering, design (and 'brand name') total $100,000. Fact remains, I still do NOT want one. If I cant sell it, I do not want it for $50,000 or $10,000
As noted above my target was a Maybach, and if my Lotto winning were more modest I would be settling for a top sedan: S Mercedes, 7xx BMW or Audi.

Point a) As noted above PERSONAL preference has a huge amount to do with happiness.

b) Even if you are a car FANATIC, are you implying that the M :love:makes you 33.3 X happier than the V?

c) If we get into detailed comparison of your metaphor (old V vs new M) and how it would relate to the world of SPs, I shudder to think about the LOW:gasp: end. What do YOU visualize to complete your comparison?

 

[Pompal 09.]

I agree, he did ace this one. And what you say is true, that many people over anticipate their "incremental happiness". That is where the "know thyself" that Bear was talking about comes in. The more you expect, the more disappointing things are when they fail to live up to your expectations.

That includes everything in life, too; from cars to SPs. And to other people's behavior. Have you ever been disappointed in someone? You are not disappointed in THEM, you are disappointed because your expectations of how they should be were not met.

 

[Lincoln6]

p.s. I drive a compact car, and I love her! She makes me happy, gets me where I need to be, is terribly easy on gas, roomy enough for me to sleep in and has never left me stranded...Mazarati-shmazarati.

 

[William T]

Never expect anything and never assume and you will be fine.

 

[The Lollypops]

Hmmm, things that would make me happy that are a luxury and not a necessity.

Maserati/shmazarati :, a Ferrari, a ZR1 Corvette, an Acura ZDX, Audi Q5, a gorgeous blonde, brunette, redhead that all have the roundest peach booties, and a sexy rack and can bbbj like a Hoover vacuum system, the list could go on forever.

As long as I can afford it and sleep well at night knowing my bills are being paid, YEAH the items above would have me doing a happy dance every morning.

OK back to reality.

Isabel where's my eggs dammit? Hurry I have to go start the Pinto and warm it up.

 

[diamondflower]

What is wrong with Harleys' Olayda, had bad experiences with them.