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submitted 4 months ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to c/world@lemmy.world
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[-] rbos@lemmy.ca 47 points 4 months ago

What value? Can't eat it, makes shitty tools. It's shiny, but I'm not going to trade ny potatoes for shiny in a survival situation.

You can starve sitting on a pile of gold.

For gold to be valuable you still need social stability.

[-] icelimit@lemmy.ml 8 points 4 months ago

Bottle caps are where it's at.

[-] Danquebec@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 months ago

It's more for when things have settled down a bit. Imagine you're leading a group of people who secured a good territory and you're growing more potatoes than you need. You may want jewelry made of gold to show how powerful and prosperous you are, both to your followers and to those outside. And you can give gold to particularily important followers, and to other leaders, in a very public ceremony, to show everyone that those leaders are beneath you.

[-] rbos@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 months ago

Totally. I was more commenting on the theory of gold having this magical inherent objective value. Which it doesn't, it's a commodity like any other.

Honestly as a value store, land is probably better.

[-] QuoVadisHomines@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

Land isn’t portable. Gold is durable, portable and compact.

[-] anzo@programming.dev 2 points 4 months ago

Not a chemist myself but Gold has lots of industrial applications because it doesn't react to many other atoms or molecules. For example, it doesn't rust at all. Similar thing goes for platinum. Maybe we should buy the latter..

[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 3 points 4 months ago

I don't think you understand what value means, and that's okay.

[-] rbos@lemmy.ca 43 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Value is what you can get for something. If you can't trade it for something, with anyone, it has zero value.

A dollar has value because you can trade it for a potato. In an apocalypse, you cannot trade gold for a potato if nobody wants it.

Value is a subjective thing.

[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 4 points 4 months ago

And people value gold because it's rare and inert.

[-] rbos@lemmy.ca 33 points 4 months ago

Lots of things are rare. Doesn't mean I'll give you my potatoes for em.

At best gold becomes something desirable once there's enough security for me to value having pretty things.

[-] 0tan0d@lemmy.world 16 points 4 months ago

Instructions heard: Invest in seed potoatos for the spring planting.

[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 3 points 4 months ago

Like I said, you don't understand value and that's okay.

I'm going to ignore you now because you're annoying me with your below-average intelligence.

[-] midribbon_action 29 points 4 months ago

That's such a psychopathic response. It is not acceptable behavior, and you won't win any arguments that way.

[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Cool.

I don't have to argue with you people.

[-] queermunist@lemmy.ml 17 points 4 months ago
[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 2 points 4 months ago

I'll just send you to the shadow realm.

Bye.

[-] prole 5 points 4 months ago
[-] athatet@lemmy.zip 18 points 4 months ago

Oh I get it. You’re also a coward.

[-] gnomesaiyan@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago
[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 2 points 4 months ago

I guess you don't know what projecting means, either.

You can join the other ones.

[-] gnomesaiyan@lemmy.world 17 points 4 months ago

Oh, so you can't come up with a decent argument and instead block people? There there, poor baby!

[-] athatet@lemmy.zip 12 points 4 months ago

Block me too. I’m just gonna keep making fun of you.

[-] innermachine@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

I think people forget that gold is incredibly useful especially as a conductor. It's not just for making pretty rings, our modern world as we know it would not exist without gold!

[-] prole 4 points 4 months ago

Lots of things are conductors. That gives gold some inherent value, yes, but there are probably dozens of materials that are more useful and thus more valuable.

[-] fishpen0@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Yes, the issue with that though is it is used in very advanced conductors. The kind of conductors that can only be produced in advanced factories by advanced large societies. If a collapse actually happened how do you fancy that factory works exactly? You gonna run a conductor factory to sell those conductors to who exactly? The potato farmer you are trying to convince to give you potatoes for that very same gold?

Low grade electronics that would be valuable in even a simpler smaller community like basic generators and light bulbs use exactly zero gold. Copper on the other hand is needed for almost all of that

[-] innermachine@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

Actually I work with electronics just about daily, and I can tell you lots of connectors get gold plating for corrosion resistance that doesn't effect continuity. But yes in a post apocalypse setting I'm sure it wouldn't be of much value.... In the apocalypse I suspect if any metal holds a high value it would be copper for its usefulness in making tools and electronics. Making bronze tools and weapons is easier than steel so I suspect it would be in very high demand. Hopefully we never have to find out!

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 24 points 4 months ago

If that were true people would value me

[-] OpenStars@piefed.social 2 points 4 months ago

You have value. Thank you for existing.

[-] dickalan@lemmy.world 22 points 4 months ago

What uses gold when you're buying/selling potatoes, nobody will think gold is worth anything if society has collapsed it's just a useless hunk of metal

[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 2 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

It's really sad seeing how collectively-stupid you people are.

I'm just glad I can see it for myself.

Lots of easy blocks tonight.

[-] skisnow@lemmy.ca 19 points 4 months ago

Lots of easy blocks tonight.

Good idea

[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 1 points 4 months ago
[-] valek879@sh.itjust.works 16 points 4 months ago

Don't forget me dork

[-] dickalan@lemmy.world 19 points 4 months ago

At least I can communicate with people without resorting to petty insults

[-] kreskin@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago
[-] towerful@programming.dev 6 points 4 months ago

I'll trade you your gold for my petty insults

[-] dickalan@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I don't think I can eat gold, no deal

[-] athatet@lemmy.zip 13 points 4 months ago

Well now I’m not giving you my potatoes for your gold just out of spite.

[-] prole 6 points 4 months ago

Why don't you explain it then instead of just calling people stupid?

[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 1 points 4 months ago

Arguing with you people is a waste of time and energy.

[-] Bassman27@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

When you don’t know how to win an argument so you just call everyone stupid 🤡

[-] dubyakay@lemmy.ca 3 points 4 months ago

"Everyone is an idiot! The only real helicopter is me."

[-] athatet@lemmy.zip 6 points 4 months ago
[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 1 points 4 months ago

More than the average lemmyer, yeah.

[-] athatet@lemmy.zip 11 points 4 months ago

X to doubt meme

[-] prole 2 points 4 months ago

Seems like maybe you don't

[-] theluckyone@discuss.online 1 points 4 months ago

I don't think you understand the concept of civilization collapsing. Hoard all the gold you want. I'd value non-perishable food and ammo much more than gold. If I've enough of both and you don't... Your gold won't be yours, given enough time, on account of you not being around to own it.

[-] thepompe@ttrpg.network 1 points 4 months ago

Keep being stupid 👍

this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2025
438 points (100.0% liked)

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