Priorities, who makes the rules anyway?


I'm putting this on the table for two reasons, 1) I am tired of 'which amp for my speakers' threads, and 2) I am right.

Most everyone I know thinks I am a crazy-man. They refer to me as the one who has taken home entertainment to the "extreme." My question is, where'd they get that idea? Generally speaking: the average upper-middle-class yupster walks into a car dealer and plops down $???$ without thinking twice. Next they slice the price into monthly payments, add interest and insure it, all for the low, low, price of what...say, $35k (for arguments sake). Now throw another in for the wife. Where are we now, $70k in cars? The point. This sort of average behavior is thought of as completely reasonable and rational in most circumstances.

On the other hand, a guy like me (or we) who throw(s) down anything approaching (or even half) the total amount of the car, much less both cars, on home entertainment stuff, is a nutcase (or bunch of them if all of you are still on board) with out of whack priorities. What is with this? I enjoy my HT system way more than I enjoy my car. I spend more time at home with my HT system, or at least try to. All else equal I would rather drive a junker pick-up and come home to a plasma flatscreen, than any other, another way around. For me, this is true, even if it's just to watch the news. (The real point, as you may have guessed--I am talking myself into spending more). I NEED that flatscreen. I do.

When are we going to start thinking of home entertainment the same as we do cars? As it is for most, high dollar home entertainment is still thought of as a guilty pleasure.
j_thunders
I agree 100% and also am in need of a ronco 50" plasma screen. How this could be construe as anything less then a basic necessity boggles the mind. Food, clothes, shelter, plasma screen not necessarily in that order.
I agree with you, thunders. The analogy I often use is boats. Some people spend a ton on their boating hobbies.

The only problem is I also want that $35K car...
J thunder: I enjoy this one---Priorities---is the common word here. I whole heartidly agree with you though. It is where your priorities are. I am self employed, own three vehicles,90,93,& 95. All are in real good condition because I keep them up. My point is that my A/V system incl. acc's is way more in $$$ than all three vehicles combined. I sooo enjoy my system. If I am in the mood for music or movies I turn it on and I am in the clouds. So where we spend our money whether it be A/V or cars neither is wrong, we are both right it is what keeps us happy and sane. The waste of money is in excessive drinking, and drugs. I rest my case. Good post .
Ever since I came home from the New York show last month, I have been scheming to get a plasma screen. We need one in our bedroom. We can't live without it. I know all this, and my wife will know it too when I am ready to convince her she needs to know it.
Thunders, how come you and I always seem to be looking at the same thing? Is there a conspiracy going on here? The Runco 50" only costs the same as the Dodge van I bought my wife to ferry all the kids around in. So??????????????????
I paid more for my amp than I did for the used Hyandai I drive.I paid more for my preamp than I did for that car.I paid more for my speakers than I did for that car.I paid more for my TT/arm than I did for that car.My vinyl collection is worth much more than that car.My car is in good shape,awesome on gas,never strands me (knock on wood) gets me from point A to point B very well.Thats all I need! My stereo/music is my passion,my car transportation.