In the movie State and Main (by David Mamet) one character comments that a certain object is better, more special "... because it's got a story ...".

Likewise, sometimes two things are physically identical, in every respect — but I'm happy to pay a premium for one of them because of its history. When I buy a carton of eggs I want to know they come from chickens that have enough room to stretch their wings. When I go running I hope my shoes were made in a factory where workers are treated decently. When I choose software I like to support fair, honest, creative people.

I'm purchasing those special slivers of history because I want to be proud of my partners in the economy, not embarrassed by those with whom I share my money. It's worth the extra expense ...

(see also SufferTheAnimals (11 Jun 2000), PersonalPositivism (16 Nov 2002), ... )

TopicPersonalHistory - TopicSociety - 2004-02-03

(correlates: GiftForFiction, TheoreticallyKnown, FunVersusEntertainment, ...)