How do you feel about diamonds?

[JanMichael]

Poll question: How do you feel about diamonds?

Just curious how we all feel about hyper exploitive, shiny, record playing, over priced (Subjectively of course), garbage:-)

I am intentionally not posting links to the racist killing industry that puts that shiny pice of shit on your body.

PS! This poll is not scientific!!!!!!!

[LynzM]

1. It's a love/hate relationship

I LOVE how sparkly they are, because I love sparkly things (to look at mainly, not so much to wear). After learning more about the diamond industry, it's not likely I'll buy any more until they start mass-producing them in labs. Or, I'll just buy cubic, it's awfully sparkly, too :)

[derby378]

2. Well...

Diamonds have no soul or consciousness; they can't choose who digs them out of the earth. But that doesn't mean I have to support the South African fucks who drive their workers to an early grave just to find these things.

Besides, Arkansas is a lot closer to my home than South Africa - and they've got a kimberlite, too.

[Nevernose]

6. Murfreesboro, right?

Or something like that? Near Hope, home of the Big Dog? I used to go there when I was a kid with my family or on school field trips.

[LSdemocrat]

3. Quite possibly one of the biggest wastes of money in history

And also an evil one since the diamond industry is one of the world most powerful and ruthless monopolies in the world today.

[WI_DEM]

4. They are a girl's best friend

[imenja]

5. Blood diamonds

The diamond trade is incredibly deadly. It's very difficult to know if you're buying a diamond that was not mined and traded at the cost of multiple lives. My opinion: don't go there. Buy a lovely garnet or Brazilian amethyst instead. They are more colorful anyway. Diamonds are so common. Try something more unique.

[JanMichael]

8. It's nice to agree on something.

Stephanie and I refuse to buy that crap for any reason.

[Rambis]

29. Agree 100%

One I don't like the way they look-
Two can't afford one-
Three they are covered in human blood see any diamond mine story-

My wife and I bought our wedding rings at "The Peaceful Fool" for 26$ and when mine broke the guy fixed it for free. If somebody asks me if it is white gold I make it a point to say no and explain the no blood on my hands policy of jewelry to them.

[lenidog]

7. Talk about one of the worlds largest legalized scams and most

successful disinformation campaigns ever. If DeBeers were to open their vaults and open the floodgates we would probably be buying one carat diamonds for a hundred bucks. Hell if you go down to Arkansas you can go to a national park where for ten bucks you can dig for diamonds to your hearts content. That is how scarce they really are.:sarcasm:

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

9. I love fakes... screw the vile industry, I will never contribute

to those rapacious bastards. Give me "austrian crystals," or cubic zirconia anyday. It looks pretty, that's what I care about.

As long as its glittery and fabulously fake, sweetie dah-ling!

Fuck the diamond industry.

[hfojvt]

24. don't get all emotional about it

How do you feel about pineapples?

[derby378]

10. Yukon diamonds?

Is there even such a thing? Seems like I heard about a diamond find somewhere in northwestern Canada a few days ago. I could be wrong, though.

[derby378]

11. Here's a story I found

about those Yukon diamonds:

http://north.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=no19yukdiam11192002

[Magrittes Pipe]

12. They're nicer when paired with large, colorful, less-expensive stones.

As far as the industry? I drive a car. The car runs on gasoline. DeBeers is dreadful, but they're no worse than Halliburton.

[El Fuego]

13. People will always be greedy and evil.

And I love diamonds!

[liberalitch]

14. Great..... in my record player....

used by glass etchers......
But they are cold, colorless stones that harbor no resemblance to my likes or personality.... and they are often harvested in places where people suffer greatly..... not that the stones that I do like don't come from those places, but when was the last time you heard of a "blood" lapis-lazuli or topaz?


I like garnets (birthstone), pearls, topaz, lapis, hematite, tiger's eye, jade, turquoise, emeralds and rubies (although often the people who mine the last two are often made to suffer like the diamond people)

[RebelOne]

15. Fakes look like the real thing.

And no one need know they are fake unless you tell.

[Love Bug]

16. This is why I like CZs

They look like diamonds, are cheap, and have no blood karma attached to them.

[crispini]

17. I think it's possible to buy / own heirloom diamonds

that are not "conflict" diamond and don't support the diamond industry.

The middle way, folks! I'm wearing a pair of diamond earrings which my grandmother gave me, and they have a lot of sentimental value, but they're the only diamonds I own.

[JanMichael]

21. I am sure that your earrings are pretty....and this is Stephanie

not Michael--

However, you should probably be aware that any heirloom or old diamonds came from mines where the working conditions were even more heinous than they are today.

There is even more blood dripping from those antiques--and there is no such thing as a "clean" diamond.

It's intensely sad---my mother gave me an old diamond in a necklace...I despise it, and only wore it once to make her happy. There will come the day when I will get rid of it---I just don't know how.

Stephanie

[bridgit]

18. like'em...

with little, feathery pinks & yellows too. some will say they are flawed but i do not care...

[cmf]

19. Other

I'm not going to get rid of the diamonds I own, but I definitely won't be buying any in the future.

[GOPisEvil]

20. If I ever have the urge to purchase a shiny bauble for someone,

I would prefer either a stone that is NOT a diamond or an heirloom diamond. I would prefer not to support the diamond industry.

I don't like diamonds myself, and would never purchase one for my use, heirloom or not.

Spelling edit

[JanMichael]

23. You are going to make some woman very happy!

I married the first and only man that didn't give a damn about jewelry--

Michael rocks, and doesn't need to see a freaking rock on my finger as a "symbol" of how we feel about each other.

[GOPisEvil]

26. The only jewelry I wear is a watch.

If I ever get married, a simple hand-made silver band would be fine for me.

Edit - thanks for the compliment. :-)

[jswordy]

22. Ambivalent. They are a type of rock. *shrugs* So is limestone. n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

25. I have one on my engagement ring. A few little ones on two necklaces

that MrG has given me. But the true invaluable items in my life are MrG, for making my stomach flip flop everytime he walks in the room, and my children, for the smiles they give me that are so big it almost hurts. :hi:

[Hell Hath No Fury]

27. I would never purchase...

diamonds because of the issues you mention. Additionally, I am seriously considering not purchasing any type of gemstone after seeing several specials on how they are mined. Mining for emeralds (my favorite) are especially destructive to the environment -- it can take blowing up a mile of ridge just to extract a few carats.

In the future, should I decided I want to wear jewelry with gemstones, I will be buying estate/used pieces.

[Lilith Velkor]

28. Here's my thing:

If a guy's so crazy about me he wants to blow 6 month's salary, I'd rather he pay my rent for 6 months, and I get some pretty things with the money saved on it.

And if he considers that too unromantic, it's fairly safe to say he ain't the one for me.