What are the items you refuse to own on principle?

[Dave2002]

Pre-tied bow tie

Why not any bow tie? At least the pre-tied ones are quick to put on in an "emergency".

Some would question the need for the wretched ties at all.

[oddoneout]

many charity shops tend not to be interested in books that don't have popular "value"

That's true, but Oxfam takes 'real' books; they have online as well as high street activity. I was a volunteer in my hometown branch 10 years ago. We checked books online if we thought they were of value or specialist interest and posted them for sale. Academic text books etc, were sent to the city branch for access to potential university, art college, training hospital customers.
However getting back OT and following on from RB's #24 I came to the conclusion that for me the place of principle with regard to to ownership(or not) of things doesn't really apply to any great extent, and certainly not in the same way as principles have a bearing on the way I live my life. 'It's the latest thing', 'everyone's got one', 'you must get' are all phrases that I can ignore quite happily. I think the questions 'Do I need(as opposed to want) it, and can I justify buying it', will have already gone through some sort of roughly principle based pre-selection process before they even get to the stage of being asked.

[Dave2002]

I think the questions 'Do I need(as opposed to want) it, and can I justify buying it', ....

These questions have prompted me to start a new thread - slightly related - http://www.for3.org/forums/showthrea...984#post695984

it is possible that satisfying a "desire" or for some people "a need" might be better than abstaining. Over demand, or "pointless" demand may be a bad thing, but low demand might have (in some people's view) very undesirable effects.

[Old Grumpy]

Why not any bow tie? At least the pre-tied ones are quick to put on in an "emergency".

Some would question the need for the wretched ties at all.

[Serial_Apologist]

I was brought up in a world where men usually went out wearing ties, even when in "casual" unless wearing a polo neck or Fred Perry-style shirt, but certainly when in a suit. It was OK to remove tie on a hot day, but the present fashion for suit over plain shirt without tie looks shabby and lacking to me, especially on TV interviewers, and this is a standard I've kept to ever since my "Mod" days in the early 1960s, despite the awful design of ties that are mostly on sale today in the chain stores. People, sometimes strangers, ask me, "Where did you find that tie?" To which I might reply "The Victoria & Albert Boutique off Gloucester Road back in 1966". Just take a critical look at the limited colour range in male attire that's been on offer for longer than one wishes to remember - so depressing, so stereotyping. Mao suits in China in the 1960s were subject to western criticism citing lack of choice under "socialism". Cease wondering why the shopping centres are closing down and people turning to ordering on-line.

[muzzer]

Sky tv, The Times, anything Murdoch.

[MrGongGong]

Why not any bow tie? At least the pre-tied ones are quick to put on in an "emergency".

Some would question the need for the wretched ties at all.

Avoid the neck-noose at all costs
that and recordings of Elgar's Oratorios

that's where madness lies (or is it Corals ? or am I thinking of Scallops ?)

[Dave2002]

It was OK to remove tie on a hot day

This suggests social pressure, but one does not have to bow to that - particularly nowadays when it seems anything goes

but the present fashion for suit over plain shirt without tie looks shabby and lacking to me

That's an aesthetic/fashion judgement. I don't necessarily disagree, though I'm not against anyone not wearing a tie almost ever.

[Keraulophone]

Bet ya bought Beta-Max too

My Sony Betamax still works. It was the first home video recorder to record the sound in ‘hifi’ stereo. Remember simultaneous broadcasts on BBC2 and Radio3, eg the Chereau/Boulez centenary Ring from Bayreuth? This rather pricey machine worked beautifully for those, and I held out against investing in the inferior VHS format until Sony themselves eventually started to make those recorders.

Dogs shut indoors in an urban environment, howling for attention and not exercised by lazy owners.

[MrGongGong]

My Sony Betamax still works. It was the first home video recorder to record the sound in ‘hifi’ stereo. Remember simultaneous broadcasts on BBC2 and Radio3, eg the Chereau/Boulez centenary Ring from Bayreuth? This rather pricey machine worked beautifully for those, and I held out against investing in the inferior VHS format until Sony themselves eventually started to make those recorders.

Beta was (and still is) a "cut down" version of the professional format
the folks who know about quality etc would always go Beta over the inferior VHS system

[Dave2002]

My Sony Betamax still works. It was the first home video recorder to record the sound in ‘hifi’ stereo. Remember simultaneous broadcasts on BBC2 and Radio3, eg the Chereau/Boulez centenary Ring from Bayreuth? This rather pricey machine worked beautifully for those, and I held out against investing in the inferior VHS format until Sony themselves eventually started to make those recorders.

I think we've still got two Betamax recorders in the garage - should we dump them, keep them? I found some tapes yesterday too.

Not sure if we've got the remotes, and one of them weighs a ton!

[Lat-Literal]

I was brought up in a world where men usually went out wearing ties, even when in "casual" unless wearing a polo neck or Fred Perry-style shirt, but certainly when in a suit. It was OK to remove tie on a hot day, but the present fashion for suit over plain shirt without tie looks shabby and lacking to me, especially on TV interviewers, and this is a standard I've kept to ever since my "Mod" days in the early 1960s, despite the awful design of ties that are mostly on sale today in the chain stores. People, sometimes strangers, ask me, "Where did you find that tie?" To which I might reply "The Victoria & Albert Boutique off Gloucester Road back in 1966". Just take a critical look at the limited colour range in male attire that's been on offer for longer than one wishes to remember - so depressing, so stereotyping. Mao suits in China in the 1960s were subject to western criticism citing lack of choice under "socialism". Cease wondering why the shopping centres are closing down and people turning to ordering on-line.

In Geneva, the ones from the Med did not wear a tie and looked casually stylish. It doesn't translate to here - it just looks slovenly. One bloke last night who was interviewing on BBC London news had the suit jacket, tieless, with jeans and it wasn't Jeremy Clarkson. There is actually nothing for the older man to wear these days as everything is made in sweat shops in Thailand. The new size, XXX-tra large is about a 36 waist to maintain slave labour abroad and tackle obesity here insidiously. Jeans appear to be back in but only for the anorexics. I am not exactly hugely overweight myself but it is all getting ridiculous, hence I generally default to track suit bottoms, t-shirt, and when the winter comes a dark coloured beanie hat.

[Pabmusic]

I was brought up in a world where men usually went out wearing ties, even when in "casual" unless wearing a polo neck or Fred Perry-style shirt, but certainly when in a suit. It was OK to remove tie on a hot day, but the present fashion for suit over plain shirt without tie looks shabby and lacking to me, especially on TV interviewers, and this is a standard I've kept to ever since my "Mod" days in the early 1960s, despite the awful design of ties that are mostly on sale today in the chain stores. People, sometimes strangers, ask me, "Where did you find that tie?" To which I might reply "The Victoria & Albert Boutique off Gloucester Road back in 1966". Just take a critical look at the limited colour range in male attire that's been on offer for longer than one wishes to remember - so depressing, so stereotyping. Mao suits in China in the 1960s were subject to western criticism citing lack of choice under "socialism". Cease wondering why the shopping centres are closing down and people turning to ordering on-line.

Years ago when I joined the Prison Service, officers had to wear ties and jackets (and caps come to think of it) all the time. But in the hotter weather permission could be granted to remove these. I recall that from 1985, when I became Deputy Governor at a small prison, it was my decision to make! Such sartorial power!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Years ago when I joined the Prison Service, officers had to wear ties and jackets (and caps come to think of it) all the time. But in the hotter weather permission could be granted to remove these.

Perhaps - but that was the start of a slippery slope in a decline in standards that led to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlwLcULWLNQ

[cloughie]

I was brought up in a world where men usually went out wearing ties, even when in "casual" unless wearing a polo neck or Fred Perry-style shirt, but certainly when in a suit. It was OK to remove tie on a hot day, but the present fashion for suit over plain shirt without tie looks shabby and lacking to me, especially on TV interviewers, and this is a standard I've kept to ever since my "Mod" days in the early 1960s, despite the awful design of ties that are mostly on sale today in the chain stores. People, sometimes strangers, ask me, "Where did you find that tie?" To which I might reply "The Victoria & Albert Boutique off Gloucester Road back in 1966". Just take a critical look at the limited colour range in male attire that's been on offer for longer than one wishes to remember - so depressing, so stereotyping. Mao suits in China in the 1960s were subject to western criticism citing lack of choice under "socialism". Cease wondering why the shopping centres are closing down and people turning to ordering on-line.

Definitely agree about the suit with no tie. Casual jacket or sports jacket yes and I quite like a collarless snirt in that scenario. The other fashion I really detest whether on men or women is the jeans with ragged knees, What is the point it just looks tatty and awful!