The very many questions-not-worth-their-own-thread question thread XXVIII

[woody60707]

Hey, does anyone know where I can find a copy of the AMV - End of Evangelion - Everclear - The Swing?

It popped in my head, and for the life of me I can't find it.

 

[Borachio]

Link to video.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Can anyone tell me what in Cities: Skylines is unique compared to SimCity 4: Rush Hour? I'm wondering if I should watch the hours of videos in my YouTube subscriptions and eventually put the game in my wish list.

So judging from the lack of a response it's just SC4:RH with curved roads and a true 3D camera. Oh well, that's disappointing.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Are credit cards still a status thing in the US like it once was?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Not really. I'd say the majority of the population have access to either credit cards or debit cards and in most situations, we don't make a differentiation between the two. So if people only have the latter and not the former, no one is likely to notice.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

I think there's been less flashing 'gold'/'platinum' cards etc on TV/films the last few years. It's got untrendy to shop on loaned money perhaps? Kind of a shift in the US if that's the case.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I'm not really sure what the trend has been with regards to market penetration of gold/platinum cards.

But as for public perception, I don't think most people actually cared that much nor did they ever care that much.

There has been a lot of people paying down their credit cards in the aftermath of the great depression for purely practical reasons (who wants to carry a huge debt if they face the possibility of being laid off) but I don't think the relative trendiness of actually having/using a credit card has shifted much. People have just been paying them down, not necessarily using them less or viewing them differently.

Of course, you're asking one guy to speak for 300 million people so I'm bound to be wrong. Just offering an opinion.

 

[Gori the Grey]

I think there's been less flashing 'gold'/'platinum' cards etc on TV/films the last few years.

That's because "diamond" has replaced gold and platinum. Master Card sent me a "diamond" card. I think they've jumped the shark. They're trying desperately, but they can no longer make credit cards feel prestigious. hobbsyoyo may be right; people may be paying down credit cards; one would think the internet would have some info on Americans' level of revolving debt and whether it has gone down. But I share his view that Americans use credit cards pretty much as much as they have for the past twenty years or so. There's no sense of status associated with it; it's essentially just the standard way of paying for things.

 

[Zelig]

I think there's been less flashing 'gold'/'platinum' cards etc on TV/films the last few years.

I've never noticed this in any video media...

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Maybe it's more noticeable when you're not in it. Isn't it a common view about Americans in general? I think it stems from tv-shows and films. Where else would it have come from? It might not be true, but I think the perception about Americans, outside of the US mostly comes from tv.

 

[Cutlass]

I think there's been less flashing 'gold'/'platinum' cards etc on TV/films the last few years. It's got untrendy to shop on loaned money perhaps? Kind of a shift in the US if that's the case.

You don't need a gold or platinum card to have have over $24,000 in credit line sitting in your pocket. I do.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

If you had a platinum card though...

 

[Cutlass]

I can buy a freaking new car on my cards. What the hell do I need more for?

 

[Lohrenswald]

You would have PLATINUM, Cutlass.

Think about it. PLATINUM.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Maybe I should've added a smilie to the last post... Still, I'm not sure what your initial point was - is it still desirable in the US to have high credit limits? If so, platinum/gold cards would seem like a prestigious thing to have. Or is it that anyone can have a high credit ceiling? I don't see any reason to have $24000 in credit line. More of a risk.

 

[Cutlass]

It means anyone can have a stupidly large credit limit. There's just no reason for pretty much anyone to have the credit limit I have. But what happens is that once you have a card, the company just keeps raising your limit. Even if it's far beyond what you have any ability to afford.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

It means anyone can have a stupidly large credit limit. There's just no reason for pretty much anyone to have the credit limit I have. But what happens is that once you have a card, the company just keeps raising your limit. Even if it's far beyond what you have any ability to afford.

Can they do this without your consent? Not in Sweden. I'm not sure why they are so keen on raising the limit. I don't get that.

 

[Cutlass]

Can they do this without your consent? Not in Sweden. I'm not sure why they are so keen on raising the limit. I don't get that.

They're trying to encourage people to get ever deeper in debt. The fact is that they'll give credit cards to people who in no sense should have them at all. And then give them way too much credit, and then charge high interest. It's hugely profitable, and very few regulations exist to protect people.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

Okay, thanks. There's nothing more to it then. I've watched too many youtube-clips of banks creating money from loans, etc. Thought these loan companies perhaps could increase their value or create money by upping the credit limit on their customers or something.

 

[Cutlass]

No, they're just trying to lure the desperate and the ignorant into trouble.