“Why do you find it a vulgarity in refering to someone’s 60 inch TV?”

Homophbia has ruined the old standard for “manliness” which was to compare penis sizes. Now we compare T.V. sizes so it constitutes the new vulgarity, full of envy. BTW my TV is not nearly 60 inches but I have fathered 3 children,all boys I might add, so I feel O.K. about it. Oh yeah my T.V is not flat either. I mean how manly is a flat TV?

I think it has to do with the fact that 60″ plasma were (and some still are) obscenely expensive. Aka $10k. The point was, you walk down the street at Escala and see for-sale signs everywhere, and all the homes have plasma screens that you know were bought with Home Equity Loans.

It’s not that 60″ plasmas are bad by themselves. But in most of the ones I’ve seen placed in homes, it doesn’t belong there. Why? Way too short of a viewing distance.

I regularly see these 60″ plasmas in newer tract attached homes…The way these newer track homes are built, it appears there’s about 7-8 feet from the TV to where you’re sitting. Putting a 60″ plasma tv at this distance is ridiculous. Folks that are into A/V know this, while the bigger is better mentalily is another story. The same would be said about buying a high end surround sound system when your room is just not “right”.

As far as range rovers. Nice ,but not the most reliable. Personally don’t have any issues with folks that drive them….At least it’s not a escalade with the bling bling wheels or an H2. I hate those things.
Speaking of which. I decided to buy a larger car/SUV. Not that I really want to, it seems everyone is buying bigger and bigger cars, and I feel know with a kid, driving a sedan isn’t the safest thing anymore. Probably get something decent like a toyota or honda.

fat_lazy_union, is your last name Jones or are you just trying to keep up?

As to plasma TV’s, they are a set piece like granite counter tops. I suppose people pick on them because thats the biggest size that is widely available. Plasma TV’s came on the market en masse at just about the time the RE bubble really started blowing up. Its no suprise that people associate them with excess. I sincerely doubt its envy.

Josh

I think it’s the mentality of it. People bought homes they could not afford over the last few years. From that they pulled money to buy big mini-vans (they’re not SUVs unless they have 4WD and 90% do not) and plasma TVs that they don’t need because everyone else did. Funny thing is that with the expected lifespan of Plasma and American made big mini-vans they will probably go out about the same time their mortgages reset and they lose their home. The irony of, want everything and in the end have nothing, will come to pass for a lot of people who were just trying to keep up with society’s view of a desirable life.

FLU: We bought a mini-van for the family. Maybe it doesn’t have the safety you are looking for but the design makes perfect sense, the large sliding doors on both sides especially. Maybe there is an SUV with sliding doors? I imagine we would have dinged 50 cars if it were not for the sliding doors. 3 kids can sit on one bench so we have room for grammy an pop pop. We remove one bench for trips and have lots of room for stuff.
Disclaimer: Mine is not for sale.

Conspicuous mindless consumption sponsored by home equity.

That’s the assumption. Some can afford them, but in general, one of two things is likely true for the majority:

1. they’re living beyond their means and we all get to pay the price.

2. there is a massive amount of lying about income going on and we all get to pay the price since they aren’t paying their fair share of taxes.