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No value at all.: The Law Of Scarcity

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SomeSortOfTroper Since: Jan, 2001
#1: Oct 27th 2010 at 2:37:00 PM

The Law Of Scarcity + Perceived Value + Functional Value = Bullshit?

This is not a trope, this isn't even something to do with fiction, it's an economics concept, one I can't find any other evidence for being used elsewhere so it roughly holds the level of "proselytising through the wiki".

edited 27th Oct '10 2:37:16 PM by SomeSortOfTroper

suedenim Teutonic Tomboy T-Girl from Jet Dream HQ Since: Oct, 2009
Teutonic Tomboy T-Girl
#2: Oct 27th 2010 at 2:43:34 PM

It's not even a genuine economic law (in the sense that, say, The Law of Demand is.) If you google it, it seems to come up mostly as a "law of persuasion" - i.e., a sales and marketing thing.

But in any case, it certainly doesn't seem to be a trope, any more than The Law Of Demand is.

Oh. And there are more.... Looks like Useful Notes territory at best, but probably not all that useful, either.

edited 27th Oct '10 2:46:11 PM by suedenim

Jet-a-Reeno!
EternalSeptember Since: Sep, 2010
#3: Oct 27th 2010 at 3:00:48 PM

Because it's not a trope pag, it's an index.

Of tropes that are based on this concept.

I think it works.

SomeSortOfTroper Since: Jan, 2001
#4: Oct 27th 2010 at 3:22:46 PM

Seemingly, of tropes that are not based on this concept too i.e. not a great index.

Perhaps it is just badly explained. It feels like Perceived Value was made just to explain something in this page which doesn't seem really necessary for the phrase "perceived value".

edited 27th Oct '10 3:24:04 PM by SomeSortOfTroper

Camacan from Australiatown Since: Jan, 2001
#5: Oct 27th 2010 at 8:42:06 PM

It sure has a lot of text for an index. Here are my guesses for how the indexed tropes are intended to relate to this trope. Index. Trindex.

  • Artifact of Doom - In part, doomy artifacts are interesting because they are rare within a work.
  • Big Red Button - As well as being able to activate something powerful, big red buttons are interesting because they are rare within a work.
  • Forbidden Fruit - If something is forbidden, characters want it in part for the sheer novelty.
  • Functional Value - Related to the trope by being an alternative non-exclusive measure of value.
  • It's Popular, Now It Sucks! - Some fans find a small fanclub feels more important than a big one.
  • O.O.C. Is Serious Business - We notice departures from ordinary behaviour and value them because they are rare.
  • Perceived Value - Rarity value as a matter of pure perception.
  • Precision F-Strike - If there is little swearing in a work we sit and take notice when there is.
  • Reverse Psychology - I don't get this.
  • Social Engineering - Getting people to come to your birthday party by remarking how few people are going to make the cut, and so forth.
  • Uniqueness Value - The endpoint of The Law Of Scarcity.

edited 27th Oct '10 8:45:09 PM by Camacan

Twilightdusk Since: Jan, 2001
#6: Oct 27th 2010 at 9:18:43 PM

I think for Big Red Button it would be more accurate to put it in terms of "This console has many small, blue buttons, and one big red button. The fact that the red button is unique on the console draws our attention." Think about it, if there was a console with 8 big red buttons surrounding one small blue button, which would catch your attention? the big shiny ones, or the one that's unique?

SomeSortOfTroper Since: Jan, 2001
#7: Oct 29th 2010 at 12:19:25 PM

Thoughts: The description. The trope content, the amount that talks about fiction is near zero.

The tropes in the indices: if I turn my head to the side and squint and try not to think of the important points of the trope,then they fit.

Ghilz Perpetually Confused from Yeeted at Relativistic Velocities Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Perpetually Confused
#8: Oct 29th 2010 at 12:24:39 PM

[up][up][up] If that is what the index is about... It's terrible and not worth keeping. Seriously, that is a tenuous connection a best. And even then... If that is the most relevant we can make this then Cut it with fire

Xzenu Since: Apr, 2010
#9: Oct 31st 2010 at 2:01:02 PM

This can be a valid trope, about situations where the McGuffin is valuable only for it's rarity. Surely there are more then three straight examples out there somewhere.

In it's current form, it's useless.

So: Cut it, and if anyone bothers then reincarnate it on YKTTW.

Personally I'n not interested, but in case someone else care to write a real description and gather examples, here's one where the concept is debated:

Comic Books

  • In one Dilbert strip, Dilbert claims that value is based on rarity alone. Dogbert leave him speachless by asking if diamonds would have the same value if they looked like rasins.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
ExpiryBot Since: Dec, 1969
#11: Jan 12th 2011 at 11:04:09 AM

This thread expired after 60 days of inactivity.

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