Amen. There's something deeply worrisome about all this fear-mongering that we've been seeing in the media as of late. I feel terrible for those who are hurting but most of us are doing relatively fine. I appreciate your posts on this subject, Jamie: a voice of calm amid many calls to panic.
Jamie, I love your blog, but trying to dig yourself out of this hole is only making it worse. Many of your readers, myself included, HAVE lost our jobs. Even if we were responsible, frugal, etc., we are now in trouble - even if we followed the rules and kept the six months of emergency funds fluid, that's obviously not going to be enough. "Can't buy everything we want"?? Try "can no longer support families", in some cases, "can no longer help support disabled mother" in my case.
I see what you were trying to do with that post, but speaking with such obvious disrespect and flippancy towards the millions of people who are newly in dire straits - not "can't buy new stuff", not "can't redecorate" but are in true dire straits - was not the right way to go. Please let this lie and let us have our escapism of wit and pretty stuff that you usually supply so well.
I want to second the Curmudgeon. I am new to your blog, but you seem just way over your head with your comments in relation to the actual economic situation of the US. I think you should stick with the cute stuff. Not because that's all you can handle, but because it's the reason why I bookmarked you.
I don't see Jamie making this personal, as some commenters seem to feel. Speaking in macro terms, she's right: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/more-to-spend-but-less-spent/
Americans IN GENERAL are spending less and saving more. Whether or not you think this is a good thing, or true for you as an individual, isn't the point. The point is that many Americans have curtailed spending, which is HARMING the economy further, leading to more job losses and declining stock values.
Frankly, those of us who have been personally affected by the downturn should be supporting the "Keep Calm, Carry On" (heh) message. If Americans don't stop panicking and start buying, it's only going to get worse for everyone.
For the record, I acknowledge the unsustainability of the high-consumption economic model. I'm ambivalent about whether I should be spending and supporting the economy, or saving to make sure my family is insulated from the worsening economy. I'm just pointing out the trends and what they seem to mean.
not to drag this discussion out further than it already is, but... what is worse/more offensive? jamie posting what she thinks, with respect to a subject about which she is entitled to her opinion, and on the blog she authors, or people leaving comments that she should stick to "cute" and "pretty" and that she's "in over her head"?
i don't know jamie, nor have i been a reader for very long, but i am way less offended by the former.
if you don't like it, don't read it, but there's really no reason to be so rude.
Meg - Jamie writes a design blog about beautiful furniture, with occasional pictures of an adorable dog. How on earth are "pretty" and "cute" insults, under those circumstances? They are descriptive of the usual subject matter of the blog.
That second article disturbs me a bit. Reminds me of all of those people from New Jersey and Long Island who moved down here to North Carolina sight-unseen because all of their friends told them it was the Land of Milk & Honey. Why on earth would any sane person move to a place they've never been, where they have no friends or family, & where they have no source of income waiting for them? And are Argentina's immigration policies so lax that they'll let anyone move there for as long as they want? Sounds suspicious and dangerous.
My heart goes out to those who are suffering right now. Luckily my husband and I fall into the 90% of the population that is not looking for employment right now, but it looks like that could change in the next year. Fingers crossed.
By the by, I didn't see anything on the main page of this site that says this blog is about design-&-nothing-but-design. Jaimie, I think this is your blog & you have the right to talk about whatever you damn well please.
Jamie - this is your blog and I think you should feel free to write about whatever you choose. I think discussion of the economy is healthy and interesting. I may think of your blog as a design blog, but as a longtime reader, I know that is not all it is. It is not just about furniture and a dog. Jamie has posted about her college, her family, her friends, her husband, vacations, her cats, recipes (soem of which I have tried), etc. It's truly a LIFESTYLE blog, and that includes discussion of the economy - it does affect all of us. Keep up the good work.
I hope and pray every day that the people who are still employed and who can afford to do so, will start shopping! I own a small shop and am holding on by a thread! It just *has* to get better, right?! p.s. I'd love to move to Argentina - it sounds divine!
Written by Jamie Meares, Founder + Creative Director of retailer Furbish Studio.
I Suwannee is a daily chronicle of her wants and whims, her interior design and styling work, her goings and doings, and a place to share her never-ending discoveries and inspirations.
I Suwannee is a southern saying used to express bewilderment, discovery, and fascination.
17 comments
Absolutely - and real-live economists would agree with you. Wikipediate (word? maybe) the "paradox of thrift".
ReplyDeleteAmen. There's something deeply worrisome about all this fear-mongering that we've been seeing in the media as of late. I feel terrible for those who are hurting but most of us are doing relatively fine. I appreciate your posts on this subject, Jamie: a voice of calm amid many calls to panic.
ReplyDeleteJamie, I love your blog, but trying to dig yourself out of this hole is only making it worse. Many of your readers, myself included, HAVE lost our jobs. Even if we were responsible, frugal, etc., we are now in trouble - even if we followed the rules and kept the six months of emergency funds fluid, that's obviously not going to be enough. "Can't buy everything we want"?? Try "can no longer support families", in some cases, "can no longer help support disabled mother" in my case.
ReplyDeleteI see what you were trying to do with that post, but speaking with such obvious disrespect and flippancy towards the millions of people who are newly in dire straits - not "can't buy new stuff", not "can't redecorate" but are in true dire straits - was not the right way to go. Please let this lie and let us have our escapism of wit and pretty stuff that you usually supply so well.
The Curmudgeon,
ReplyDeleteAmen.
I want to second the Curmudgeon. I am new to your blog, but you seem just way over your head with your comments in relation to the actual economic situation of the US. I think you should stick with the cute stuff. Not because that's all you can handle, but because it's the reason why I bookmarked you.
ReplyDeleteI don't see Jamie making this personal, as some commenters seem to feel. Speaking in macro terms, she's right: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/more-to-spend-but-less-spent/
ReplyDeleteAmericans IN GENERAL are spending less and saving more. Whether or not you think this is a good thing, or true for you as an individual, isn't the point. The point is that many Americans have curtailed spending, which is HARMING the economy further, leading to more job losses and declining stock values.
Frankly, those of us who have been personally affected by the downturn should be supporting the "Keep Calm, Carry On" (heh) message. If Americans don't stop panicking and start buying, it's only going to get worse for everyone.
For the record, I acknowledge the unsustainability of the high-consumption economic model. I'm ambivalent about whether I should be spending and supporting the economy, or saving to make sure my family is insulated from the worsening economy. I'm just pointing out the trends and what they seem to mean.
not to drag this discussion out further than it already is, but... what is worse/more offensive? jamie posting what she thinks, with respect to a subject about which she is entitled to her opinion, and on the blog she authors, or people leaving comments that she should stick to "cute" and "pretty" and that she's "in over her head"?
ReplyDeletei don't know jamie, nor have i been a reader for very long, but i am way less offended by the former.
if you don't like it, don't read it, but there's really no reason to be so rude.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMeg - Jamie writes a design blog about beautiful furniture, with occasional pictures of an adorable dog. How on earth are "pretty" and "cute" insults, under those circumstances? They are descriptive of the usual subject matter of the blog.
ReplyDeleteThat second article disturbs me a bit. Reminds me of all of those people from New Jersey and Long Island who moved down here to North Carolina sight-unseen because all of their friends told them it was the Land of Milk & Honey. Why on earth would any sane person move to a place they've never been, where they have no friends or family, & where they have no source of income waiting for them? And are Argentina's immigration policies so lax that they'll let anyone move there for as long as they want? Sounds suspicious and dangerous.
ReplyDeleteMy heart goes out to those who are suffering right now. Luckily my husband and I fall into the 90% of the population that is not looking for employment right now, but it looks like that could change in the next year. Fingers crossed.
By the by, I didn't see anything on the main page of this site that says this blog is about design-&-nothing-but-design. Jaimie, I think this is your blog & you have the right to talk about whatever you damn well please.
ReplyDeleteWell put, Curmudgeon.
ReplyDeleteJamie - this is your blog and I think you should feel free to write about whatever you choose. I think discussion of the economy is healthy and interesting. I may think of your blog as a design blog, but as a longtime reader, I know that is not all it is. It is not just about furniture and a dog. Jamie has posted about her college, her family, her friends, her husband, vacations, her cats, recipes (soem of which I have tried), etc. It's truly a LIFESTYLE blog, and that includes discussion of the economy - it does affect all of us. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI hope and pray every day that the people who are still employed and who can afford to do so, will start shopping! I own a small shop and am holding on by a thread! It just *has* to get better, right?!
ReplyDeletep.s. I'd love to move to Argentina - it sounds divine!
I have to agree with Mary...
ReplyDeleteJamie's choice to write... our choice to read...
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ReplyDelete