I think what Sean is trying to say is that economics is much more emo than government or law, and can trash its hotel room way faster. (Or, presumably, make a hotel room out of nothing way faster, although I think still slower than it can trash one.)

All abstractions can be metaphorized into rock stars, didn't you know that??

but sometimes it's only because we stopped believing.

Don't make me pull out Journey here, people!!

Trade you that Journey album for a bushel of wheat.

I think I like Nutty's description best.

And Jesse near killed me.

I don't see the implication that the effect of money or the economy isn't discoverable. It seems to me that you have an issue with the term semi-imaginary.

Right. Economies are not the same thing as things that are fictional, and I continue to find the idea that some parts of economics (i.e., currency) depend on certain shared beliefs (the value of currency) non-profound.

Jessica is right here:

But I don't know of any human society that does not exist on some level because people agree to trade things for other things -- economies develop because it is better to specialize and trade than to be self-sufficient.

The changing values of tulips, typewriters and AOL are interesting but not imagined; economies develop as Jessica notes and the valuing process is just a small part of it that doesn't impact the reality of economics as a part of society.

Journey is not worth a bushel of wheat. However, if you would like to take any (imaginary) Journey albums off my hands, I will graciously allow you to pay me in Beatles.

Ha. Beatles for Journey is like trading heavy dark Swiss chocolate for a picture of pooh.

I don't know of any human society that does not exist on some level because people agree to trade things for other things

I am so terribly lost. I don't know who implied otherwise.

In more-easy-for-me-to-follow news, I watched the last two episodes of the new British Robin Hood and it was stupid crap. I guess I was watching it to feel something about Robin of Sherwood--either to get me excited about the legend again, or to miss the "original" sharply.

Wow. I so got the latter.

Now I'm trying Terry Pratchett's Hogfather. Hmm. Perhaps I should stop this and convert it to iPod format for my travels.

I want to place a put on Nutty's Journey collection.

Next up: a Buffista discussion of the illusion of pari-mutuel betting!

(N.b. I don't actually know what pari-mutuel betting is, just that it's a point of debate among style guides and anyway kind of a cool word, like passerine or igneous .)