In a message dated 3/22/2001 5:27:34 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<< Much the same way that Ralph's imitation design knock-offs from the
 outlet mall bring him complete satisfation because he believes he found a
 bargin on the real deal. >>

The outlet malls (supposedly) aren't selling imitation knockoffs, they're
selling the real thing at a price which is reduced, or which we presume to
have been reduced, or they sell seconds (which may have authenticity but lack
integrity).  So am I not entitled to complete satisfaction if I got a bargain
on the real deal?

And what about the moron who sits next to me at work with his $3 imitation
Rolex watch that he bought from some West African which had run for years and
keeps perfect time?   He got a bargain on a fake piece of shit and is
perfectly happy. And what about the moron (me) who sits next to him, who paid
$1500 for a c. 1910 mechanical watch which has to be wound, otherwise I have
to disassemble the damn thing to reset it, and  has to be repaired (at $100 a
pop) by some authentic old Chasid on 47th Street who says he lived in the town
 of Auschwitz in the bad old days before they became the really bad old days
?  I paid through the nose, am inconvenienced, and am also happy (if not
perfectly so).

Maybe this authenticity and integrity stuff is more complicated than we
thought.  But I still think it's important, or I wouldn't fool around with my
goddam watch.  On the other hand, I knew a clockmaker for the Met Museum who
carried a digital watch in his pocket to set the clocks after he had restored
them.

Ralph