"When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.
This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don’t give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money." -Ben Franklin
i’m not buying either, i allready have two whistles, one wife and…
and more whistles like:
-a burke low D EZ composite,
-a burke high D composite, -
-a one piece dixon flute,
please pm me if you’re intrested.
I especially loved the 3 second sound clip of the ‘Haggis Whistle’. Sounded like Middle Eastern music as played on a poorly made Native American flute.
Edited; I felt my opinions of haggis itself should be kept private.
What about the people who sell Feadog whistles on eBay, and put “guitar” in the subject line? What’s that about?
“Hey, Erle, d’you know what’d be cool? It’d be cool iffen I had me a guitar!”
“How you gonna afford a guitar? You only gots like ten bucks, and that’s spoke for!”
“I’m goan get it offa eBay. I can get maybe a Gipson for like three dollars down there. The Internets is stupid.”
“No way.”
“Yeah. Watch me.”
“Let’s see… maw!.. maw!”
“What is it dear?”
“Can you remember what’s the number for the Juno Internets?”
“I tole you not to be makin’ them long distance calls to the Internets! It shows up on the telyphone bill what yore paw sees in the pen, and then we don’t have no fun on our visitations.”
“Psst… Erle… I found the number. We can call it. Doan tell maw.”
“Okay, Eugene.”
“Lessee… aww… these stinkin’ popups… okay… dubye dubye dubye peerud e - b - a -y - peerud - calm. Here we are at the eBay. Erle, what’s a search cry-tear-ya?”
“Type in guitar.”
“Okay. G-E-I-T-A-W-R…”
“No, Eugene… that ain’t how you spell guitar. Here… let me write it… Okay here we are… hmm… only thang that come up is this here pennywhistle.”
I remember this quote coming up a couple of years ago on the forum.
I think it’s sad that people have to spoil other people’s fun. Maybe if Benjamin Frankin had been allowed to enjoy his little pleasure, he’d have been a happier man. Every Christmas my mother used to say to me, “Don’t be disappointed, you won’t have as many presents as last year”, and it wouldn’t matter if I had got a Penthouse Pet and complete set of Copelands, I was already feeling down, and basically Christmas was ruined every year throughout my boyhood by this little piece of homely parental advice.
An item is worth as much as you are prepared to pay for it. I have no use for diamond necklaces & gold rings, so I wouldn’t give you 5p for one (except to sell it on), but a small item that gives pleasure is worth as much as you are happy to spend on it.
I always take from this story the lesson - “don’t tread on other people’s dreams”, not “save money, you can always spend it later”
