(*net) Money

"Whether they are aware of it or not, consumers dislike being reminded of money-so much that they will rebel against authority figures, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research. "When consumers are reminded of money, do they conform, shrug it off, or react against others' attempts to influence them?" ask authors Jia (Elke) Liu (University of Groningen), Dirk Smeesters (Erasmus University), and Kathleen D. Vohs (University of Minnesota). The researchers found that money reminders lead consumers to react against people who would normally influence their decisions. In three studies, participants were subtly reminded of money by either working on a computer with a hard currency screensaver or by formulating sentences using money-related words. "Because money reminders boost the importance of consumers' autonomy, those subtly reminded of money perceived the authority commands and off-handed peer opinions as threats to their autonomy, which did not occur among those not reminded of money," the authors write. Specifically, the participants who were reminded of money reacted in opposite ways from authority figures or peers when it came to evaluating products. Conversely, participants who were not reminded of money followed commands or suggestions of authorities and peers. "This reactance to social influences only occurs when money-reminded consumers made decisions for themselves," the authors write. "When these consumers were asked to make decisions for a relatively intimate other, they were indifferent to social influences (i.e., the unsolicited opinion of another consumer)." "This research highlights money's ability to stimulate a longing for freedom, and has potential implications for interpersonal communication, advertisers, and markets," the authors write. "Money cues are frequently present in the social environment (e.g., televisions spots mentioning savings or discounts, in-store signage with dollar signs, billboards advertising the state l

"One of the many ways I fail at being a proper woman is that I loathe shopping. Trailing in and out of sweaty changing rooms with friends, as they try on clothes which you are meant to oooh and aaah over, is my idea of hell. I am one of those blokes who sits outside looking bored saying: "Yeah, that looks alright. Buy that." If you can't buy something in 20 minutes, we have a problem, Houston. Supermarkets overwhelm me and Ikea produces such bizarre mood swings that I have calculated the psychic damage is not worth the money you "save". For a few fevered minutes I do believe that a "storage solution" is the answer to all existential worries but then I come to the till holding two dozen egg cups, some box files and a bargain bath mat and have to have be revived with a plastic hot dog."

"The 2009 F. A. Hayek Memorial Lecture, presented by George A. Selgin. Recorded at the annual Austrian Scholars Conference, Ludwig von Mises Institute, 14 March 2009. Includes an Introduction by Joseph T. Salerno."

"Only dimly aware of the structural problems in the eurozone and the looming insolvency of some of Europe's largest banks, EU leaders met up with some of the continent's richest and most powerful bankers last night. In the luxurious comfort of a Roman palace, they debated how the private sector could contribute to a 'real' solution for the crisis." That quote really says it all doesn't it?

another group considering the meaning of money - see also the film crowdfunding site http://moneyandlifemovie.com/wp/

LMAO, TOS with ban of sale of "anything who's purpose is to harm or defraud such as stolen credit cards, assassinations, and weapons of mass destruction" peace dude.. pass the joint