The Pet Rock paradox

The weekly micro-decorating newsletter * Issue 8 of 13, W24 *
Subscribe free *

What makes us want? Collectors and connoisseurs aren't the only ones who understand the irrational pull of certain material things. We all have secret desires and could probably confess to at least one possession we acquired for no good reason at all. Perhaps many.

I got onto this train of thought while reading Why Are Pants So Big (Again)?, a breathtakingly thorough article in The New York Times Magazine about the recent shift in what counts as the "right" pants – from slim and tailored (so yesterday!) to wide and voluminous (so now!).

What I enjoyed most about the article is the slow build to the author's epiphany that he actually enjoys looking ridiculous:

As co-author of the style newsletter Blackbird Spyplane, Weiner knows the vicissitudes of what's of the moment and what isn't. It might be true that a touch of the absurd is key to igniting our sense of absolute currency.

Absurdity packaged in just the right way can make you rich. Back in 1975, Gary Dahl came up with the idea of selling an ordinary Mexican beach stone as a pet. The peripheral elements made the concept come alive – a cardboard carrying box with air holes, and an owner's manual with tricks like teaching the rock to "play dead." Dahl became a millionaire, and no doubt inspired the schemes of countless other entrepreneurs hoping to mimic his success:

Hard Sell: A History of the Pet Rock

The Pet Rock was the brainchild of copywriter Gary Dahl, who thought America needed a laugh during the largely humorless post-Vietnam and Watergate era.

Mental FlossJake Rossen

Turns out that "it's-stupid-but-I-love-it" is a powerful motivator – and I have to admit, underlies some of my passions. I've been collecting mid-century ashtrays for a while now, though as a non-smoker it's hard to explain why.

Here's the latest addition, acquired a few weeks ago at Stay Home Furnishings, hanging out with some fake lemons on my dining table. Its large notches owe to the fact that it's meant for cigars:

In an earlier article I tried to pin down the ashtray mystique, but in the end it might be the pursuit of something silly yet tenacious that creates its own reward.

Guy's buys

Occasional finds, selected for you

There's a series of ashtrays available on Etsy that I've had my eye on. They take the vibe-shifting effect of this unassuming object and crank it up to 11, by including cigarette butts and small discarded objects, all made of ceramic:

Each piece is handmade and evidently crafted with great care. They're speaking to us in code about the pleasures of the night before.

Over to you

Own something ridiculous you'd never part with? Is there something offbeat you're itching to acquire? Hit reply to make your confession. I'll keep your secret, promise.

If you'd like to go public with your statement, feel free to unburden yourself in the Comments section below.

Thank you for reading.