why that was nice

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Because that was 20 years ago. Cable has a lot more to offer now, hence the increased price. You may want to look into a package deal of some sort to lower your costs.
Since you are comparing your cable bill to that of 20 years ago...care to compare your energy costs too?

What about the price of gas? The benefits of those have not changed in 20 years, yet you pay more for them.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/*******.gif.a649d21efc0d1fd4890a6428166586c1.gif

You will lose that fight about gasoline. I am sorry. If you want, I can prove you wrong.

To be fair, we will use % of income devoted to the purchase of gasoline, or we can do a inflation indexed comparison. Either you will lose.

The price of gasoline has not increased with a similar pace to that of cable television.

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

You will lose that fight about gasoline. I am sorry. If you want, I can prove you wrong.
To be fair, we will use % of income devoted to the purchase of gasoline, or we can do a inflation indexed comparison. Either you will lose.

The price of gasoline has not increased with a similar pace to that of cable television.

flip, I think he is probably racist; you cant argue with those types.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

flip, I think he is probably racist; you cant argue with those types.

I was called racist in a PM. I lol'd. I kindly explained that oftentimes I just take the opposite position of the OP.

Unless some fool comes up with the idea that the price of gasoline has outpaced the price of gasoline in the past 20 years. In my opinion, the quality of gasoline has increased far greater than the quality of cable television.

Cable = waste of money.

 

[faulkton 5,000+ posts]

I'm sure he is racist though, and probably is cruel to animals as well.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Actually they have a marketing team. I'm just a tech.
And where are you getting your statistics from? Read my other post in which I said that the technology is also moving at an increased rate. How do you think you are supposed to pay for your convenience? Our American barter system generally uses money.

Again, I lol.

The term barter implies there is no currency. Maybe you should chose a better word. I am sure they do not teach you the subtleties of the English language in cable installer school.

There is the reason we moved away from the barter system. A system of currency allows well… never mind, I just give up.

barter: to trade by exchange of commodities rather than by the use of money.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/barter

 

[atoz350 10+ year member]

Again, I lol.
The term barter implies there is no currency. Maybe you should chose a better word. I am sure they do not teach you the subtleties of the English language in cable installer school.

There is the reason we moved away from the barter system. A system of currency allows well… never mind, I just give up.

barter: to trade by exchange of commodities rather than by the use of money.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/barter

I think you need to read to understand. My statement was that "our American barter system uses money." implying that there is no other way to compensate for the increase in technology and convenience. They charge MONEY for those technological advances. And where did I say that the increased price of gasoline outpaced the increased price of cable? Again you don't understand. I said that the price of gas increased, but the quality has stayed the same. For cable that is not the case. And if you think cable is such a waste of money, then don't get it. Plain and simple. The communications business is not going to hurt because one idiot doesn't want cable service. Cable installer school? Pfft... How about Communications Engineer? It would really help if you actually knew what you are talking about before you spew your wrong information.

Faulkton: I'm not a racist...but the cable companies base their channel lineups on consumer statistics. They can see what customers are watching at the headend and pick the channels accordingly. Someone out there must like the channels that you don't. They have to accomodate all people in your demographic. There are some areas that don't have BET, some that do. Some areas that don't have the Speed channel, some that do. Its all about accomodating your customers. I agree though that they should have each customer pick their own channel lineup and pay for only those. That would be nice and maybe in the near future as the technology advances.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I think you need to read to understand. My statement was that "our American barter system uses money." implying that there is no other way to compensate for the increase in technology and convenience. They charge MONEY for those technological advances. And where did I say that the increased price of gasoline outpaced the increased price of cable? Again you don't understand. I said that the price of gas increased, but the quality has stayed the same. For cable that is not the case. And if you think cable is such a waste of money, then don't get it. Plain and simple. The communications business is not going to hurt because one idiot doesn't want cable service. Cable installer school? Pfft... How about Communications Engineer? It would really help if you actually knew what you are talking about before you spew your wrong information.

1. You cannot simultaneously have barter and currency within a given transaction. I have a problem with the use of the word "barter" becase we do not have a barter system. By using currency as a means of exchange, we do not have a barter system, as a barter system implies a lack of currency as a means of exchange.

For instance: I build you a garage and you install cable in my home (or whatever it is you do; I poke fun at anyone who does not study economics and financial systems //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif ). That transaction would be barter as we are exchanging goods and services.

However, my example shows what is problematic about barter. Since building a garage is more valuable than cable installation, and since I only need one instance of such a service, then I am getting ripped off.

Introduce currency as a means of "slicing" up those services. Say an installation is worth 1/10 of the value of the installation of a garage. We use currency as a means of exchange.

Like I said before, I knew what you meant. But I wanted to clarify that we do not use currency in our American barter system.

 

[atoz350 10+ year member]

Double post.

 

[atoz350 10+ year member]

1. You cannot simultaneously have barter and currency within a given transaction. I have a problem with the use of the word "barter" becase we do not have a barter system. By using currency as a means of exchange, we do not have a barter system, as a barter system implies a lack of currency as a means of exchange.
For instance: I build you a garage and you install cable in my home (or whatever it is you do; I poke fun at anyone who does not study economics and financial systems //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif ). That transaction would be barter as we are exchanging goods and services.

However, my example shows what is problematic about barter. Since building a garage is more valuable than cable installation, and since I only need one instance of such a service, then I am getting ripped off.

Introduce currency as a means of "slicing" up those services. Say an installation is worth 1/10 of the value of the installation of a garage. We use currency as a means of exchange.

Like I said before, I knew what you meant. But I wanted to clarify that we do not use currency in our American barter system.

I understand. Thanks for the correction.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/graduate.gif.d982460be9f153bb54e5d4cb744f6ae8.gif

 

[DykeOfTulsa]

FTA FTW

 

[jimmclrk1 10+ year member]

However, my example shows what is problematic about barter. Since building a garage is more valuable than cable installation, and since I only need one instance of such a service, then I am getting ripped off.

But if cable is worth it to you, you will give up your time to someone else in order to have it. That's called oppurtunity cost.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

Because that was 20 years ago. Cable has a lot more to offer now, hence the increased price. You may want to look into a package deal of some sort to lower your costs.
Since you are comparing your cable bill to that of 20 years ago...care to compare your energy costs too?

What about the price of gas? The benefits of those have not changed in 20 years, yet you pay more for them.:*******:

Here is where I am getting that you implied that the costs of gas is increacing.

How so? How would you like to define increase? Since energy is a commodity it's price changes based on supply and demand in an open market, where you or I can influence the price of energy. No matter how large of cable package I buy, I cannot influence the price of cable.

Also, are you suggesting that new formulations of gasoline, coal processing, and renewable resources have not changed?

First, we must define the benefit of energy. Is it simply to power homes, cars, etc.

If so, the gasoline we use now is more effective and cleaner burning than gasoline of the past due to reformulations and refining effeciencies.

Do you have other suggestions as what a benefit is and can explain how benefits of energy are not the same. It is possible that we have different definitions. I always try to gain the other person's point of view, and then discuss the issue from there.

As for the benefits of cable television. I am assuming that the benefit of subscribing to cable television is entertainment. If you agree, are you saying that the entertainment is better, then that is too subjective.

If you say the benefit of cable is communication. Then I would agree. In the past 20 years, cable TV has done quite a bit in creating a network of "informed" peoples. The introduction of cable and internet to rural areas is a great benefit to society.

As for "reformulations" of cable such as HDTV and digital cable. What are the metrics for defining improvement. If we reformulate gasoline, we can see if a car increases its MPG. If you use picture quality as a metric, then it is problematic. I cannot tell the difference between over-the-air TV and HDTV in 1080. I have a form of color-blindness where like colors mix together. A real benefit cable could offer me is an option to present its channels in black and white so I could see them better.

Just let me know your definitions.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

But if cable is worth it to you, you will give up your time to someone else in order to have it. That's called oppurtunity cost.

In economics, we typically assume a rational person. We assume that society has placed a given "price" on goods and services and we would not pay more for those services than their price.

Where this gets tricky is terms of conveinance (such as corner markets)...people also place a value on their time (or else they would shop for the lowest price). However, from my studies, it seems as though the most common people to use a corner market are not executives stress for time, but the poor with the least valueable time (and the most available time)

 

[elementxero 10+ year member]

see the funny thing is, the only way cable companies make their money these days is almost forcing you to go with the bundle because they are raping you so hard on basic.
basic cable here is like $53\mo. basic cable interweb here is like $49\mo. thats 100 ucking dowwrahs. and i chose only to get ***** with the internet because i can t afford cable myself. its regoddamndiclious.

imo- the only TRUE way to survey cable, is to go with the basic cable, the cheapest one they offer, and use that as their price. i could give a shit less if "most people have digital" because all that that ****ing is, is a D->A switch that they turn off. not like they dont film in digital. not like every piece of equipment they edit with is not a COMPUTER using DIGITAL signals now adays. and that excuse about bundling is bullshit. because even though we are getting 'more stuff' not everyone wants all that shit. and what, its like 150~250 a month isnt it?

how about that shit.

http://www.connectmycable.com/cox/cable.html

and does that seriously say 768kbps? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/eyebrow.gif.fe2c18d8720fe8c7eaed347b21ea05a5.gif

http://www.cox.com/hr/highspeedinternet/internet-pricing.asp

cable companies are fucking bullshit.

Let me take this opportunity to once again point out both obnoxiously and irrelevantly that tittyloaf > kittyloaf.

Thanks.

 

[atoz350 10+ year member]

Here is where I am getting that you implied that the costs of gas is increacing.
How so? How would you like to define increase? Since energy is a commodity it's price changes based on supply and demand in an open market, where you or I can influence the price of energy. No matter how large of cable package I buy, I cannot influence the price of cable.

Also, are you suggesting that new formulations of gasoline, coal processing, and renewable resources have not changed?

First, we must define the benefit of energy. Is it simply to power homes, cars, etc.

If so, the gasoline we use now is more effective and cleaner burning than gasoline of the past due to reformulations and refining effeciencies.

Do you have other suggestions as what a benefit is and can explain how benefits of energy are not the same. It is possible that we have different definitions. I always try to gain the other person's point of view, and then discuss the issue from there.

As for the benefits of cable television. I am assuming that the benefit of subscribing to cable television is entertainment. If you agree, are you saying that the entertainment is better, then that is too subjective.

If you say the benefit of cable is communication. Then I would agree. In the past 20 years, cable TV has done quite a bit in creating a network of "informed" peoples. The introduction of cable and internet to rural areas is a great benefit to society.

As for "reformulations" of cable such as HDTV and digital cable. What are the metrics for defining improvement. If we reformulate gasoline, we can see if a car increases its MPG. If you use picture quality as a metric, then it is problematic. I cannot tell the difference between over-the-air TV and HDTV in 1080. I have a form of color-blindness where like colors mix together. A real benefit cable could offer me is an option to present it's channels in black and white so I could see them better.

Just let me know your definitions.

Well first of all, picture quality is of direct relation to signal to noise ratio. HD channels (1080i) are actually the same clarity as a regular digital channel. The difference is in resolution (screen size) and noise floor. HD channels offer a substantially lower SNR to achieve its clarity. There is also less compression of the digital carrier.

As for the gasoline comment? There have been reformulations of gas used today as opposed to say 30 years ago...but not so much 20 years. The increase of ethanol in our gas as well as using oxygenated gas in the winter has decreased our fuel economy in order to reduce emmissions. There has been less carbon build up in current engines as a result. It still does not justify the 3x cost increase.

Cable on the other hand has introduced many new ways of communicating in the last 11 years.Their price increase matches the increase in services and technology. My mother pays Comcast $140.00/month. She has HDTV, all premium channels, phone and internet. And that's the regular cost. I think that is a deal. If you were to split those services up, it would cost much more. Look at the bigger picture. You are not paying for cable service. You are paying for communications services.