How Is Getting Cosmetic Surgery Different From Buying a New Car?

[Syringer]

Fascinating article here, which I agree with for the most part:

http://freakonomics.blogs.nyti...from-buying-a-new-car/

Why is one greatly shunned more than the other as being a vain, shallow thing?

No one "needs" anything more than a $25k car to drive to work in, anything else is mostly excess, and done for the sake of their ego..I'm certainly no exception.

So how is a guy spending $40-50k+ on a "cool" car to improve one's image (let's face it, most people aren't spending extra money on safety features, or performance/horsepower/handling, a majority are doing it for the image) different than say enhancing his jawline or fixing his nose.

Is it because the latter is reserved strictly toward the ultrawealthy, since you can't really finance a tummy tuck as you can a car? Or because it's seen as "misrepresenting" yourself by getting your appearance brushed up?

Do ugly, successful people not have a right to look good or improve themselves--just as they have a right to drive around in a chic car to impress some girls?

 

[Tiamat]

...because some people actually buy a 30k+$ car because of the performance, comfort, safety features that cannot be had under 30k$ new? I don't know where you are getting your "most people..." opinion from. 😕

If you want to maximize all of the standard objective and subjective characteristics of any one thing, especially cars, the price is going to be higher; and this case, higher than 30k$ and typically into the 40-50k$ region.

Additionally, Cars can be a hobby for many people. I've never heard of getting cosmetic surgery just for the reasons of fulfilling a hobby.

 

[Colt45]

Hahaha, you're joking right?

Sure a lot of people use a car as a status symbol, but they're fun and they do have wheels and move as well. A new set of tits doesn't.

 

[Newbian]

Tits > car....

 

[sdifox]

being willing to go under the knife is a lot more serious than spending money.

 

[jagec]

You can sell a car if you get sick of it, and recoup at least some of your investment back.

A new car doesn't have the same chances of killing or permanently disfiguring you, and won't be physically painful or involve a healing period.

If you keep buying new cars to maintain your image, you won't get to the point where the next car you buy will end up being an image-destroying Yugo. With cosmetic surgery, you always run the risk of looking like Michael Jackson after too many of them.

 

[olds]

Is it just me or does it seem that the OP gets dumber with each post?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Is it just me or does it seem that the OP gets dumber with each post?

Does not compute. There is a bottom and he hit it long time ago 😀

 

[polarmystery]

I'd rather fix my physical features I don't like vs. spending a lot of money on a car. Your physical attractiveness (I.E. Fixing/improving facial and body symmetry) will take you farther in life with people than a high dollar material purchase of any kind.

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Is it just me or does it seem that the OP gets dumber with each post?

Does not compute. There is a bottom and he hit it long time ago 😀

Touché

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Syringer
let's face it, most people aren't spending extra money on safety features, or performance/horsepower/handling, a majority are doing it for the image

This premise is unsupported. While I agree with the contention that most expensive cars are wants rather than needs (there are exceptions for things like F-350 duallys for towing or E-350s for work vans, etc), there is little other than personal prejudice to support the idea that "most" people choose a new car based on image concerns.

The article itself has its own faulty logic:

If you delay the purchase of a new car, your current car gets older and more rundown until you finally have no choice but to purchase a new one. Your body also gets older and more rundown, but unlike with a car, when things get too far gone, you just give up and never have the cosmetic fix-ups done.

Purchasing a new car also carries with it a functional benefit; the new car offers a verifiable performance improvement over the old in some way (better mileage, more reliable, etc) in addition to any aesthetic benefits. Cosmetic surgery offers no such functional benefits, only aesthetic ones. Or, to use automotive terms, a new paint job doesn't mean a damn thing if the engine is sucking down a quart of oil every 100 miles.

ZV

 

[DnetMHZ]

Usually 1 in 10,000 car buyers don't die from complications of anesthesia.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Is it just me or does it seem that the OP gets dumber with each post?

Does not compute. There is a bottom and he hit it long time ago 😀

Touché

I'm reposting the same question that was brought up on the Freakonomics blog on the New York Times, Perhaps you have something to say to the author who posed the question as well?

 

[compman25]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Is it just me or does it seem that the OP gets dumber with each post?

Does not compute. There is a bottom and he hit it long time ago 😀

Touché

I'm reposting the same question that was brought up on the Freakonomics blog on the New York Times, Perhaps you have something to say to the author who posed the question as well?

Do you really want him telling them you're getting dumber?

 

[dullard]

The average cosmetic surgery isn't that high (a few thousand dollars which is far less than $28k for the average new car). But, that is just about the only plus on the cosmetic surgery side of the comparison.

[*]Cosmetic surgery is rarely a necessity. A vehicle often is a necessity. Sure, you don't need a new vehicle, but many older vehicles are more costly (in terms of money and lost time) than new ones due to numerous part failures.
[*]Cosmetic surgery rarely makes you happier or truely solves a problem. Vehicles usually do both.
[*]Like Jagec said, you get lots of your money back when you sell the car. Try selling the facelift.
[*]Cosmetic surgery is dangerous. A new car is probably less dangerous than your old car.
[*]Cosmetic surgery is basically a lie. Suppose you want to have children. How happy will you be when you find out that what you thought was your attractive mate is actually an ugly disfigured cow and so will be your children?
[*]Plus, I just don't like sitting for 5000 hours in a seat soaked to the core with someone else's vomit. At $15k, a cheap but good new car is well worth the cost.

 

[BudAshes]

Most cosmetic surgery makes people look like freaks. I also despise people who waste money on expensive cars for no reason other than their shallow self image. So I guess if you mean that they are both similar in that they are pretty pathetic acts, then I agree.

 

[WelshBloke]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Is it just me or does it seem that the OP gets dumber with each post?

Does not compute. There is a bottom and he hit it long time ago 😀

Someone appears to have handed him a shovel.

 

[BoomerD]

A more appropriate comparison would be the new status-car with getting divorced and marrying a trophy wife.

Cosmetic surgery would be more appropriately compared with sending your junker to the paint & body shop.

Doesn't actually improve the overall vehicle, just makes it look better...the ride is still gonna be the same. 😀

 

[dakels]

Originally posted by: DnetMHZ
Usually 1 in 10,000 car buyers don't die from complications of anesthesia.

Higher then 1 in 10,000 will die from speeding related accidents.

While I am a car buff and semi against plastic surgery, I wouldn't look down on anyone getting cosmetic surgery within reasonable limits. Someone fixing a badly shaped nose, stretch marks, even going from an A to a C. I can understand those desires and even support their choices depending on the emotional conditions. Someone chick trying to be the Cat Lady is something entirely different.

 

[knawlejj]

I live on a farm. My 2001 Mercury Cougar cannot tow or carry heavy amounts of weight needed to do certain tasks. Thus my family buys a new truck to handle all the tasks that needed to be done.

About 10 years ago my mother had plastic surgery done on her nose, was it necessary? No, but it made her feel (and in her opinion; look) better.

Those are the differences imo. You can't really compare the two on all levels

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: BoomerD
A more appropriate comparison would be the new status-car with getting divorced and marrying a trophy wife.

Cosmetic surgery would be more appropriately compared with sending your junker to the paint & body shop.

Doesn't actually improve the overall vehicle, just makes it look better...the ride is still gonna be the same. 😀

unless she opts for the err, birth canal reduction...

 

[BoberFett]

You can finance plastic surgery, you just have to look in the right places. My wife got a loan for her breast implants.

 

[Billyzeke]

Originally posted by: Colt45
Hahaha, you're joking right?

Sure a lot of people use a car as a status symbol, but they're fun and they do have wheels and move as well. A new set of tits doesn't.

I don't know......... a new set of tits could be fun - especially if I'm the one makin'em move! 😉

 

[rh71]

Not everyone is a car person. Not everyone is satisfied with an Accord (we've had 3 and I'll be damned if I ever drive a boring @$$ Honda again). Get it? Fun <> ego. Cosmetics isn't necessarily ego either.

 

[vi edit]

The same trend is pretty similar for any type of elective surgery right now - non-essential back surgery, gastric bypass, laser eye, ect. When money is tight non-essential luxury items are the first to get cut. Our OR's right now are much less busy than they were a year ago. Our census is so low that entire units are being shut down.

I don't really get the point of the article other than he needed to fill a column for the day.