NationStates Jolt Archive

This is an interesting one. You actually think this guy could barter his way to a house with this scheme?

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/internet/04/17/paper.clip.to.house.ap/index.html

Scheme, eh? If people want the paper clip and exchange it for things he wants, it's hardly a "scheme" in that sense. I know what you meant, but I just feel the need to throw in my two cents.

A house? Hey, he might just get it. And if he does, nice going.

Scheme, eh? If people want the paper clip and exchange it for things he wants, it's hardly a "scheme" in that sense. I know what you meant, but I just feel the need to throw in my two cents.

A house? Hey, he might just get it. And if he does, nice going.


I would call a publicity stunt to make a movie a scheme. But that is just me. He did however get shelter for a year.

it was just what I thought it was - it's just like what a group of friends did once (I didn't participate)

They started with pencils and went door to door asking if someone could trade them for something better. One guy ended up with an old Volkwagen Beetle before he gave up.

there is going to be a lot of people trying to trade paperclips now...:p

Oooh, I read about this a few weeks ago in the Guardian. He was up to...erm...a motorbike I think by that point. A year's rent on a house. That's not bad.

I would call a publicity stunt to make a movie a scheme. But that is just me. He did however get shelter for a year.

The article said he has been offered a movie deal for his story (pretty krappy sounding move if you ask me), but I don't think the article states that he started it all for movie promotion.

Thats fantastic! He's gonna have to trade the house fast though, the longer he holds on to it the less its worth. maybe he could get a nice car or something for it.

The article said he has been offered a movie deal for his story (pretty rappy sounding move if you ask me), but I don't think the article states that he started it all for movie promotion.

Your right this article doesnt state that. I have read about this in other news services where it was suggested that was his end goal. Maybe I will try and find that linky too.

The article said he has been offered a movie deal for his story (pretty krappy sounding move if you ask me), but I don't think the article states that he started it all for movie promotion.

i bet the movie would be a good idea if it was a comedy. somehting like "dude wheres my car"...

Thats fantastic! He's gonna have to trade the house fast though, the longer he holds on to it the less its worth. maybe he could get a nice car or something for it.
real estate increases in value, not decreases (in general)...

real estate increases in value, not decreases (in general)...

I think Zolworld means the rent free year - which would depreciate as time goes by (unless of course the year doesnt start until someone moves in).

i bet the movie would be a good idea if it was a comedy. somehting like "dude wheres my car"...

Perhaps... but it would take maximum comedic creativity :p

Some people are such nOObs. Meh, i guess people have got their reasons for exchanging something of value for a giant red paperclip:headbang:

Liasia']Some people are such nOObs. Meh, i guess people have got their reasons for exchanging something of value for a giant red paperclip:headbang:


it is often the case where one mans trash is another mans treasure.

it is often the case where one mans trash is another mans treasure.


That theory powers Ebay!

it is often the case where one mans trash is another mans treasure.

Well at the moment there is an empty milk bottle and a ginster's pasty wrapper in my trash. Any takers?

Actually, I'd say that the value he is creating is be proportional to the economic gain he is getting. Here's why:

Let's assume that everyone who agrees to trade with him acts intelligently and therefore gains from their trade. First he trades object A, a paperclip, for object B with person 1. Object B has a higher average value than object A in the overall marketplace, however, person 1 values object A more than object B. Next he trades object B for object C with person 2. Object C has a higher average value than object B in the overall marketplace, but person 2 values object B more than object C. He continues to make these sorts of trades until he finally receives object ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, a beautiful mansion in the rolling hills of Vermont, from person ∞. Yes, in the end he gets a mansion in exchange for a paperclip, but one also must take into account what he has done along the way. He has increased the happiness of persons 1,2,3... by making free agreements with them. Person A ended up getting the paperclip she/he needed, while the others also received something they wanted or needed in exchange for something they did not want as much. Why did those mutually beneficial agreements happen in the first place? Because this man took the initiative, the time and the effort to look for opportunities to make such agreements, thereby facilitating trade to such a degree as to have contributed value to society which is proportional to his extreme economic gain.

Actually, I'd say that the value he is creating is be proportional to the economic gain he is getting. Here's why:

*snip*.

yes, everyone knew that already.

Anyone up for setting up a trading post thread with the same idea?

I just saw the news story for it, 3 seconds after that, I found this thread about that VERY SUBJECT!!!!:eek:

On topic: That guy has made many zany trades before, which proves he's cra-z.

Anyone up for setting up a trading post thread with the same idea?

You're not getting my Rush records, you son of a bitch. :p

Liasia']yes, everyone knew that already.
True, the posters on this forum are easily intelligent enough to have realised that. I just thought I'd spell it out, not only for the other posters, but also for myself, as a way of explicitly expressing the reason why his contribution to society works out to be proportional to his economic gain and as a light excercize in economic thinking. Also, I figured it might be possible to get some stimulating debate on this topic from the socialists and communists on this forum. Of course, those ideologies express no problems with bartering, so I reallized from the beginning that the prospect of such debate was a long shot.

Well, capitalism can coexist with a barter system can it not. They aren't contradictory, I think, although economics isn't my strong suit. Of course, capitalist societies do tend to function on money.

Well, capitalism can coexist with a barter system can it not. They aren't contradictory, I think, although economics isn't my strong suit. Of course, capitalist societies do tend to function on money.

Yeah, they can coexist, but I don't think corporatists like that too much. :p

-snip-
Kudos for the Hitchhiker's reference. I didn't read the rest of your post.

i bet the movie would be a good idea if it was a comedy. somehting like "dude wheres my car"...
So a good idea but a shit film, you mean?

So a good idea but a shit film, you mean?

it had a few laughs in it. enough to be made into a film...

Well, capitalism can coexist with a barter system can it not. They aren't contradictory, I think, although economics isn't my strong suit. Of course, capitalist societies do tend to function on money.
Ideologically speaking, regulating the economic system to that barter is not allowed would be opposite to Capitalism on a very basic level. That said, most supporters of capitalism hold that the money system is so vastly superior to barter that it will be used to a much greater degree in a market where both systems are allowed. This, however, shows that barter can serve a very useful purpose, even in a money dominated market.

it had a few laughs in it. enough to be made into a film...
Yeah...a short film maybe.

Yeah...a short film maybe.

maybe the movie doesnt have to be all about this paperclip idea. maybe it could be just one part of the movie....

maybe the movie doesnt have to be all about this paperclip idea. maybe it could be just one part of the movie....
Hey! Maybe that would work. Let's throw in a love story with an action packed scifi adventure. To top it all off we need an evil villain who tries to take over the universe using the paperclip. :eek:

Hey! Maybe that would work. Let's throw in a love story with an action packed scifi adventure. To top it all off we need an evil villain who tries to take over the universe using the paperclip. :eek:
Oooh, oooh!!! Can I be the evil villain?!

Oooh, oooh!!! Can I be the evil villain?!

do you have a good evil villain laugh?

Oooh, oooh!!! Can I be the evil villain?!
Sure, but we need to think of a way for you to take over the Universe using a paperclip. I'm sure Martha Stewart has some insightful ideas regarding this problem.

Liasia']Some people are such nOObs. Meh, i guess people have got their reasons for exchanging something of value for a giant red paperclip:headbang:

exactly how valuable do you think fish-shaped pens are these days?

exactly how valuable do you think fish-shaped pens are these days?

i hear they are worth 75 cents easy. some maybe even pushing a dollar bill. insane stuff...

do you have a good evil villain laugh?
I've been practicing specially.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
*echoes bounce off surrounding walls for several minutes*

Sure, but we need to think of a way for you to take over the Universe using a paperclip. I'm sure Martha Stewart has some insightful ideas regarding this problem.
Universe with a paperclip? I'd threaten Czardas with it, and he'd be so amused by the idea he'd give up his place as ruler of the multi-omni-whatever-verse and retire to a nice little cottage with roses growing round the door.

I've been practicing specially.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
*echoes bounce off surrounding walls for several minutes*


nice. *applauds*


Universe with a paperclip? I'd threaten Czardas with it, and he'd be so amused by the idea he'd give up his place as ruler of the multi-omni-whatever-verse and retire to a nice little cottage with roses growing round the door.

but where does the love story come in. maybe Czardas falls in love and then realizes he wants to become the ruler again, spawning a mighty clash of good and evil?

but where does the love story come in. maybe Czardas falls in love and then realizes he wants to become the ruler again, spawning a mighty clash of good and evil?
I like it! Now we just need permission to use his name...

I like it! Now we just need permission to use his name...

he would probably make a list of demands, like a million dollars, or an easy-bake oven or something...

exactly how valuable do you think fish-shaped pens are these days?

A billion £s. And no crappy American billions either.

he would probably make a list of demands, like a million dollars, or an easy-bake oven or something...
He can have 2% of the royalties, plus exclusive use of Eutrusca's trout-slapping smiley.