Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => Famous Scientists, Doctors and Inventors => Topic started by: jolly on 25/06/2007 23:11:37

Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: jolly on 25/06/2007 23:11:37
Would like to know who it was that invented shopping?
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: kdlynn on 26/06/2007 01:34:05
do you mean modern shopping or the earliest form of shopping. trading was sort of like shopping
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: another_someone on 26/06/2007 02:15:28
I suppose one could argue that shopping must have been invented at the same time as the first shop was invented, although clearly the idea of buying must pre-date that.

If one allows market stalls, or other temporary market locations, to be regarded as a primitive shop, then one is certainly talking about well into prehistoric times.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 26/06/2007 06:45:40
I think my ex-wife invented shopping for useless-but-ridiculously-expensive things & spent countless hours perfecting her technique  [:(!]
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: dentstudent on 26/06/2007 08:16:17
I suppose one could argue that shopping must have been invented at the same time as the first shop was invented, although clearly the idea of buying must pre-date that.

If one allows market stalls, or other temporary market locations, to be regarded as a primitive shop, then one is certainly talking about well into prehistoric times.

I'm sure I recall a BBC program where there was a "meeting" of 2 forms of hominids (near the Med?), and tentative communication was made through the exchange of "jewelery" and so forth. Of course, there is a certain degree of license in the actual exchanges made, but it was thought that there were these kinds of exchange 10s of thousands of years ago. I can't quote sources I'm afraid - maybe someone can recollect? however, I'm certain that this exchange led within only 2 or 3 weeks to some form of loyalty card, credit, debt, and reposession. This is the real reason that Homo erectus won out, and not Neanderthals - they defaulted on a payment and had their cave repo'ed.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 26/06/2007 08:25:36
I have it on good authority that the first word ever spoken was "Amex"
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: dentstudent on 26/06/2007 08:34:57
Amex to that, brother.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 26/06/2007 08:59:53
This is total Barclays Bank
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Ashtari on 26/06/2007 09:23:23
Love the aswers chaps... especially doctor Beavers!  [;D]

Hunting and gathering were the rudiments of shopping - elementary shopping..... Sortof communism.  The planet was created with everything that each person or creature needed to survive.

Then some bright spark decided, "Hang on a minute..."  I took the trouble to go out there at sparrow f... - and shot that deer and my wife collected those robins eggs and delicious roots and you chaps just slept in and woke up asking where the coffee is?  so, I am going to exact a sort of reward for my sense of provision and social responsibility and I am going to swap this proviande for pretty little beads and moccasins and things for my wife and daughter would like - and even I wouldn't mind a smart comb or two for my lovely long manly main ... I mean look at those pretty shells the Owl family found the other evening!~(This all assuming I was a male of course, which I am not.....So I am talking about the fact that it was a husband who initiated the barter system because women are by their very nature 'giving' ...  [::)] now aren't they ?)

Thus....  The earliest form of shopping was called barter, mainly for survival purposes.....   then... that horrible thing called 'keeping up with the Jones'' krept in  [^] aka ego and status and power trips and the likes y'know  [xx(]

I, currently, personally am still at the surpvival level..  [:I]  To me shopping is done whenever possible, mostly for things 'needed'... However, there will be much debate about how much and what is needed for survival.....

You see, if I was a Gypsy or a Nomad... Bare necessities would be allowed by the family/group, to keep travelling light and practical.  Then one goes to upper class suburbia and one finds that two cars, large house with underfloor heating, TV in each room, a room for each person with bathroom en-suite, at least three dogs and a holiday house, caravan and a fishing boat and one needs to relax and go to the pub now and then and take the whole family to a restaurant at 'least' once a month and pay what any other family would pay for a whole months groceries for one meal (not to mention - junior NEVER finishes what you paid huge $$$$$ for and wife is on diet.... so also leaves huge 'doggy bag' deposits on her plate but is too proud to ask for a doggy bag......) Now, these are all considered necessities..... 

So, who's to tell?

The government in South Africa reckons that bread, milk, vegetables and meat are bare necessities.  Anything else is slammed with wealth taxes and stuff!

Yet... In spite of all of the aforegoing ramblings, Secretly I believe the Reptillians invented shopping.....

More later  [:P]

Ashtari
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 26/06/2007 11:47:19
I'm not sure whether it's still the case, but when I lived in Uganda a lot of their foreign trade was done by barter as there was a shortage of foreign exchange & inflation was running quite high.

The main problem with the foreign exchange was that people could get a better price for sterling, dollars etc on the black market than in the government-run bureaux de change.

To combat that a system was introduced whereby any foreign currency taken into the country but not taken out when you left had to be accounted for. The customs officer would issue you with a card on entry that stated how much you were taking in. The bureaux de change stamped the card every time you change foreign currency into Ugandan shillings and it all had to tie up when you left. That only led to people smuggling money into the country.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: ukmicky on 27/06/2007 00:24:13
Would like to know who it was that invented shopping?
She went to bed 20 minutes ago.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Ashtari on 27/06/2007 09:24:12
ukmickey -  [:X]


DrBeaver - They STILL use shillings in Uganda??? [???] - My oh my!  Are they still under the crown?  [:o)]

Anyway,  This shopper signing over and out on this conversation.  I thoroughly enjoy your sense of humour.

 [8D]
Ashtari
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 27/06/2007 15:07:56
Uganda is still in the Commonwealth.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Bored chemist on 27/06/2007 19:27:47
"They STILL use shillings in Uganda???  - My oh my!  Are they still under the crown?" 
The Roman emprire's crown?
IIRC Austria used the shilling up until they joined the Euro.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 27/06/2007 21:54:55
BC - you are indeed correct about Austria except that it was spelt "schilling" there.

On the subject of currency, dollars are not an American invention (although there is undoubtedly a Hollywood movie that claims otherwise). "Dollar" is the Anglicised form of the word "thaler" (pronounced "taler - long A). These coins were first made in Bohemia in the early 16th century. Their area of origin is now part of the Czech Republic.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Ashtari on 28/06/2007 15:15:14
No, Bored Chemist - The British Crown.

England, now called the Commonwealth, as we were informed by Doctor Beaver, was rapidly becoming a 'World Power'(Most of Africa and the Far East were under British rule) around the time I was a toddler.  But that was SO long ago, perhaps many folk do not remember that.  [:I]

 [;D]

Ashtari

Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: dentstudent on 28/06/2007 15:21:34

England, now called the Commonwealth, as we were informed by Doctor Beaver


 
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fthinking%2F6.gif&hash=f522c5ddb84416835f65b187ce215e4e)
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 28/06/2007 15:26:25

England, now called the Commonwealth, as we were informed by Doctor Beaver


 
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fthinking%2F6.gif&hash=f522c5ddb84416835f65b187ce215e4e)

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fthinking%2F6.gif&hash=f522c5ddb84416835f65b187ce215e4e) indeed.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Ashtari on 28/06/2007 15:50:06
Yes, The British Common Wealth  -  forming part of the European Union aka EU - est ce que vous ne comprinez pas?

 [::)]
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: paul.fr on 28/06/2007 15:58:00
shopping is not the problem, it's the endless hours spent trailing around for that perfect dress she saw in the first shop 5 hours ago. The constant, "does this look nice".."how about this one" and ending up saying even a black bin liner looks good so you can just get the heck out.

why do they do it?
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: dentstudent on 28/06/2007 16:06:12
Oui, je comprend - but there is a small problem. England has never been called the Commonwealth. There was the British Empire (on which the sun never set), which went through a period of collapse in the 19th Century. From this a voluntary association called the Commonwealth of Nations arose, formally known as the British Commonwealth. This has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with the EU.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: kdlynn on 28/06/2007 16:33:01
paul, i don't do that... really.... where do you find these women?
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: another_someone on 28/06/2007 18:14:56
Oui, je comprend - but there is a small problem. England has never been called the Commonwealth. There was the British Empire (on which the sun never set), which went through a period of collapse in the 19th Century. From this a voluntary association called the Commonwealth of Nations arose, formally known as the British Commonwealth. This has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with the EU.

Partly true.  The English Commonwealth was the period when England was ruled by Oliver Cromwell (1649 to 1653 or 1649 to 1660 if one takes a looser definition).  Still nothing to do with the EU.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 28/06/2007 19:35:30
Oui, je comprend - but there is a small problem. England has never been called the Commonwealth. There was the British Empire (on which the sun never set), which went through a period of collapse in the 19th Century. From this a voluntary association called the Commonwealth of Nations arose, formally known as the British Commonwealth. This has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with the EU.

Partly true.  The English Commonwealth was the period when England was ruled by Oliver Cromwell (1649 to 1653 or 1649 to 1660 if one takes a looser definition).  Still nothing to do with the EU.

The only time, apart from under our present government, that Britain has been a dictatorship.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Karen W. on 29/06/2007 07:58:04
shopping is not the problem, it's the endless hours spent trailing around for that perfect dress she saw in the first shop 5 hours ago. The constant, "does this look nice".."how about this one" and ending up saying even a black bin liner looks good so you can just get the heck out.

why do they do it?

WOW ! I would hate shopping with her.. I would have given up the first hour.. LOL I am not that keen on shopping , but it's ok Kadie said she would do the shopping for me! LOL LOL

That seems pretty extreme Paul!
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: kdlynn on 29/06/2007 08:10:39
i like shopping, but i can put together an outfit in ten minutes. my goal is in and out of the store as fast as possible
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Karen W. on 29/06/2007 09:00:34
that's good.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 29/06/2007 16:22:15
i like shopping, but i can put together an outfit in ten minutes. my goal is in and out of the store as fast as possible

Oops, sorry. I thought you were female  [???]
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: paul.fr on 29/06/2007 16:25:03
.... where do you find these women?

Just lucky  [:0] i guess!  [:P]
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Karen W. on 29/06/2007 19:11:04
We are all complicated people..LOL I can shop but I go find what I want and leave.. once in a while I will wonder just to look..thats fun sometimes!
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: jolly on 29/06/2007 21:46:30
Oui, je comprend - but there is a small problem. England has never been called the Commonwealth. There was the British Empire (on which the sun never set), which went through a period of collapse in the 19th Century. From this a voluntary association called the Commonwealth of Nations arose, formally known as the British Commonwealth. This has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with the EU.

Partly true.  The English Commonwealth was the period when England was ruled by Oliver Cromwell (1649 to 1653 or 1649 to 1660 if one takes a looser definition).  Still nothing to do with the EU.

The only time, apart from under our present government, that Britain has been a dictatorship.

Was´nt it a republic?
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 29/06/2007 22:33:44
Oui, je comprend - but there is a small problem. England has never been called the Commonwealth. There was the British Empire (on which the sun never set), which went through a period of collapse in the 19th Century. From this a voluntary association called the Commonwealth of Nations arose, formally known as the British Commonwealth. This has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with the EU.

Partly true.  The English Commonwealth was the period when England was ruled by Oliver Cromwell (1649 to 1653 or 1649 to 1660 if one takes a looser definition).  Still nothing to do with the EU.

The only time, apart from under our present government, that Britain has been a dictatorship.

Was´nt it a republic?

So who voted Cromwell into power?
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: kdlynn on 30/06/2007 01:28:15
i am female. lol. i like new stuff, i just like it immediately, not three hours later
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: jolly on 30/06/2007 20:58:16
Oui, je comprend - but there is a small problem. England has never been called the Commonwealth. There was the British Empire (on which the sun never set), which went through a period of collapse in the 19th Century. From this a voluntary association called the Commonwealth of Nations arose, formally known as the British Commonwealth. This has absolutely nothing to do whatsoever with the EU.

Partly true.  The English Commonwealth was the period when England was ruled by Oliver Cromwell (1649 to 1653 or 1649 to 1660 if one takes a looser definition).  Still nothing to do with the EU.

The only time, apart from under our present government, that Britain has been a dictatorship.

Was´nt it a republic?

So who voted Cromwell into power?

He did....lol

he had a council with him dont forget he didnt do it alone fairfax etc.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: jolly on 01/07/2007 00:03:04
shopping is not the problem, it's the endless hours spent trailing around for that perfect dress she saw in the first shop 5 hours ago. The constant, "does this look nice".."how about this one" and ending up saying even a black bin liner looks good so you can just get the heck out.

why do they do it?

WOW ! I would hate shopping with her.. I would have given up the first hour.. LOL I am not that keen on shopping , but it's ok Kadie said she would do the shopping for me! LOL LOL

That seems pretty extreme Paul!

I have to say that actually I used to feel that way, I used to hate shopping.

Oneday went out shopping with a lady and loved every minute of it, watching her try on hats and stuff. It was great didnt care about the shops, I was just happy being with her.

Not sure, I know what pauls saying, but at the same time have seen another side to shopping!
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: paul.fr on 01/07/2007 07:43:28
Oneday went out shopping with a lady and loved every minute of it, watching her try on hats and stuff. It was great didnt care about the shops, I was just happy being with her.

Not sure, I know what pauls saying, but at the same time have seen another side to shopping!

The difference there jolly, is you were with someone who's company you enjoyed. I suspect you could have been anywhere with her and just enjoyed being there in her company.

i detest any form of shopping, if i shop for myself i know the exact shop i am going in and it's straight in and out. I also hate crowds, i find them frustrating and get very angry and agitated in crowded shopping areas.
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: kdlynn on 01/07/2007 07:47:15
i hate getting stuck in line behind the little old lady who has to dig three pennies out of her purse at snail speed even though she has already given the cashier enough money, she just doesn't want any more pennies and it does up taking 4 years because to find the pennies she had to take everything out of her purse and then she has to put it back in...
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Karen W. on 01/07/2007 17:08:09
OOPS I have been that little old lady! LOL LOL... dear me.. I best watch that! LOL LOL! I am with paul.. I want to know what I want go get it and leave.. once in a while I hve to look cause I am not sure exactly what I want! LOL
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: jolly on 02/07/2007 11:08:18
Oneday went out shopping with a lady and loved every minute of it, watching her try on hats and stuff. It was great didn't care about the shops, I was just happy being with her.

Not sure, I know what Paul's saying, but at the same time have seen another side to shopping!

The difference there jolly, is you were with someone who's company you enjoyed. I suspect you could have been anywhere with her and just enjoyed being there in her company.

i detest any form of shopping, if i shop for myself i know the exact shop i am going in and it's straight in and out. I also hate crowds, i find them frustrating and get very angry and agitated in crowded shopping areas.

I don't think thats just you, all men take the same shopping line I think; theres the shop, thats what I want, and I do not intend to spend more time, than the time it takes to get it and pay for it. Anything that interferes with that set of requirements will annoy me!

There's the problem women say lets go shopping.
Man thinks yes I would like.... but wait.... there will be a long list of annoying things, before I even get the thing I want, which I will put up with, but then after that I will have another two hours of following you all over the place to look at doilies and the list will get bigger and bigger.
Eventually I will have no choice but to go sit in the car, and mutter to myself about which ever thing it was that annoyed me most! 
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/07/2007 11:33:04
HEE HEE.. That sounds pretty accurate.. LOL I have had a couple times where I was guilty and hubby went to the car muttering.. he was mad not just muttering! LOL
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: paul.fr on 02/07/2007 14:53:08
There's the problem women say lets go shopping.
Man thinks yes I would like.... but wait.... there will be a long list of annoying things, before I even get the thing I want, which I will put up with, but then after that I will have another two hours of following you all over the place to look at doilies and the list will get bigger and bigger.
Eventually I will have no choice but to go sit in the car, and mutter to myself about which ever thing it was that annoyed me most! 

Jolly, are you an ex-girlfriend who is stalking me? Oh, hold on, none of them were jolly!
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: Karen W. on 02/07/2007 15:37:29
LOL LOL!
Title: Who invented shopping?
Post by: jolly on 02/07/2007 16:23:01
There's the problem women say lets go shopping.
Man thinks yes I would like.... but wait.... there will be a long list of annoying things, before I even get the thing I want, which I will put up with, but then after that I will have another two hours of following you all over the place to look at doilies and the list will get bigger and bigger.
Eventually I will have no choice but to go sit in the car, and mutter to myself about which ever thing it was that annoyed me most! 

Jolly, are you an ex-girlfriend who is stalking me? Oh, hold on, none of them were jolly!

No paul, for my name would be jollet, if that were the case!