Ikea is Everyday People
The Times’ “Critical Shopper” columnist has concluded that it’s time to “make lemonade” when it comes to how Ikea’s presence in Red Hook is viewed: Sure, it furthers Red Hook’s transformation into the Paramus Park shopping mall in New Jersey. Yes, it may bring traffic and inauthenticity to the area. But walking through the maze…
The Times’ “Critical Shopper” columnist has concluded that it’s time to “make lemonade” when it comes to how Ikea’s presence in Red Hook is viewed:
Sure, it furthers Red Hook’s transformation into the Paramus Park shopping mall in New Jersey. Yes, it may bring traffic and inauthenticity to the area. But walking through the maze of home furnishings, I saw what I love about Brooklyn: everyone. A middle-aged woman was buying bathroom slippers; a gay couple was deciding on a kitchen countertop; two Muslim women in beautifully printed silk head-scarves were inspecting the sliding walls of a bedroom closet; a Latino family was deciding on bunk beds for their excited daughters. This store is for everyday Brooklynites needing something cheap and relatively well designed, even if the stuff is of dicey quality and doesn’t last forever. When you see Ikea furniture on curbs around town, at least you’ll know that these everyday Brooklynites can still afford to live in Brooklyn.
How does the columnist know the gay couple, Muslim duo and Latino family are all Brooklynites? Eh, let’s not sour the lemonade—think he’s got a decent point?
A Diverse Brooklyn, With Meatballs [NY Times]
Photo by madaes
Forgot to sign in- as if you had any doubt that post from about 6:00 was me.
Jeremy- if you were actually reading the thread you would see that I never stated that, I was using it in my response to “guest”.
And if you have such a dislike of Americans, why not return to the country from which you came? If you were born here, well, you’re obviously a product of your generation and family. I am rotflmao after reading your response- you address the wrong person, are asking the wrong questions and have about as much of a moral compass as the bush Administration. which is to say- none.Perhaps if you and your ilk worried more about your own shortcomings (and I can see that cellulite is the least of your problems) you would not only do a better job of finding solutions, but be a better human being and maybe even a better American. Wow- what a concept.
I’m not going to apologize for thinking the richest society in the world can afford to show compassion for those who have less than I do or are struggling. without compassion you’ve got nothing and you are nothing.
Way! I have a fan! Cool. Hey, 10:02 I bet you’re one of those Internet monitors from the ä¸å¤®æ”¿åºœ. Sitting up in Beijing, scanning the internets for insults to the Glorious Motherland. Breathe deeply, comrade. Ah! How we love the smell of burnt 99 cent plastic dish scrubbers in the morning!
bxgrl: a huge company using hyperefficient manufacturing and sourcing to deliver inexpensive products all around the world is proof that socialism works? rotflmao, indeed.
The Scandinavian countries are huge engines of business, megacapitalist hoardes of knowledge and wealth — that is why they live so well. They’re only socialist where people pay attention — little meaningless perks like free health care and subsidized dildos. Americans are fat and irresponsible enough as it is — can you imagine if the doctor was free? I shudder to think how decrepit and cellulite-ridden you’d all be with even more moral hazard tossed into our fucked-up regulatory soup.
Hey 7:35, saving money and being financially responsible IS being socially conscious and responsible. The debt Americans are under is a problem for all of us. Getting Americans to be more frugal is a very good thing. Also, shopping at large stores sometimes is also more ecologically responsible. The impact of numerous small stores vs. one big store in an area is huge. It means many many more separate trucks making more frequent deliveries to stores.
In these ways NIMBY’s beliefs are absurdly inconsistent. Don’t follow them blindly. Question the issue, examine it, and make your own decision. And don’t feel badly if you buy your bunk bed at Ikea, please.
How kind of idiot would name oneself WonTon? Oh I get it, another secretly-I-wish-I-was-white banana/twinkie who acts liberal because that makes him/her feel whiter. His/her put down of Chinese workers and goods is a big give-away. You know what? These “underpaid ex-peasants” upon whom you bestow your condescending compassion are actually happy to escape the extreme poverty of rural inland and proud to be able to support their families.
And thank you for pointing out the .99 pair of Ikea brushes are cheaply made (because they are from China they must be bad!) and don’t last long. I really appreciate that information otherwise I could never figure that out myself by looking at the .99 price tag. Next time I’ll remember to pay $2.99 for just one brush in a local store. Although it’s also plastic and made in China but somehow it must be a better product because the mom-n-pop owners and someone called WonTon told me so.
I’m encouraged to read that there are many small stores in Brooklyn where one can buy things of comparable quality and price with a little knowledge. I happen to be in the market for a bunk bed, and wonder if anyone could point me to one of those stores so I don’t have to support IKEA. The MYDAL bunkbed costs $159 at IKEA, but I haven’t found anything comparable for less than $300. Thanks in advance!
6:30- You should be ashamed of posting such nonsensical garbage. Aren’t you even capable of seeing the illogic in your post? If my family has rented for 4 generations, doesn’t it seem logical to you that my family is working class? How you could construe anything I’ve said as being against the working class only serves to point out that you really can’t mentally function on any level.
Family of renters- yep. Proud of it too. Worked hard, obeyed the laws, raised kids who got good educations and careers- From what I can see, you little trolls didn’t do so well with your folks. But that’s what happens when your mother is also your aunt.
You’re still fish, you’re still in a barrel. 🙂
5:29- if you were all that you say you are, why spend so much time bothering about me? Why do you even care who I rent from or anything else about me, but you seem to be fixated on me. Not very healthy of you- but if it’s fun for you well, that’s what it’s all about. (Seems you also spend quite a bit of time on here following me around- I guess you live on your trust fund check? Or at your mother’s.)
fyi- I have a floor through, no roomies, thanks, 2 fireplaces and gorgeous bay windows in a landmarked house)And also for the record they asked me to take the apartment- I can’t imagine you having any friends, let alone one who would trust you enough to rent to you.
As far as your job, your equity, your lack of roommates – well, you can say anything but the fact that you don’t have the guts to register is obviously because you’re afraid to give an email address to Mr. B to verify. so why would anyone believe what you post? But once again you’re reduced to jumping up and down like a petulant child calling me a liar- So obvious. Trust me -you aren’t man enough to keep me or anyone else honest.