Why is "heavier" generally associated with being more valuable and well made?

[Olumin]

We naturally associate things that a heavier and made of heavy metals instead of plastic or other lighter materials to be more valuable, more solid and more well made. Where does this behaviour originate from? That appears to be a mindset shared among vast majority of people, independently from culture and society. My attempt to explain this would be the historic meaning in human culture of precious metals like gold and silver, which are very heavy. The importance of these metals goes way back in our history. It could be the reason why we associate "heavier" with "more valuable".

What do you think? Did you ever thought about that?

[Air tree]

I think we associate heavy = good, is because that when we pick up or feel something it has some weight we think of sturdiness, lots of items in daily life that we associate with cheap are thin and light.


Lots of cheap products = thin and light, so heaviness to us = More probability of it being sturdy and of quality.

[Epic]

This is something that I notice is more prominent in the 90s. Back then, I remember they made everything heavy (staplers, fax machines, early cell phones etc) because heavy was often associated with quality. I am not sure if the general public still feels the same way, but it definitely seems like we're shifting away from that mentality.

[fohat.digs]

If physical strength is important, heavier probably means stronger.

Gold, in particular, and silver were easy to find (even if rare), easy to work, and extremely attractive.
And gold does not tarnish, so those were all excellent qualities in olden days.

[chyros]

Most materials that are sturdier are also heavier.

[xondat]

It's why we put weights in keyboards right?

[chyros]

It's why we put weights in keyboards right?

You're probably making a joke, but it HAS been done before by some manufacturers .

[Findecanor]

Some people have modded their keyboards by putting weights in them. Some claim that it makes the keyboard feel sturdier and/or have better sound.
Weights would prevent the keyboard from moving around, but better feet or use of a desk mat would help even better.

[SpAmRaY]

I like big butts, I cannot lie.

[27]

Weight can indicate thickness... and I like thick things ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[xondat]

It's why we put weights in keyboards right?

You're probably making a joke, but it HAS been done before by some manufacturers .

It's in most Kustoms )

[noisyturtle]

weight = thickness/sturdiness

shoddy material is usually thin and light.   

[fohat.digs]

Some people have modded their keyboards by putting weights in them.

Weights would prevent the keyboard from moving around, but better feet or use of a desk mat would help even better.

You have probably been around long enough to remember Ripster's lead-smelting keyboard weight process on the backyard grill.

[appleonama]

We naturally associate things that a heavier and made of heavy metals instead of plastic or other lighter materials to be more valuable, more solid and more well made. Where does this behaviour originate from? That appears to be a mindset shared among vast majority of people, independently from culture and society. My attempt to explain this would be the historic meaning in human culture of precious metals like gold and silver, which are very heavy. The importance of these metals goes way back in our history. It could be the reason why we associate "heavier" with "more valuable".

What do you think? Did you ever thought about that?

I like them thick just like my girls

[27]

We naturally associate things that a heavier and made of heavy metals instead of plastic or other lighter materials to be more valuable, more solid and more well made. Where does this behaviour originate from? That appears to be a mindset shared among vast majority of people, independently from culture and society. My attempt to explain this would be the historic meaning in human culture of precious metals like gold and silver, which are very heavy. The importance of these metals goes way back in our history. It could be the reason why we associate "heavier" with "more valuable".

What do you think? Did you ever thought about that?

I like them thick just like my girls

This guy knows what's up.

[iri]

Come back to me when you know the difference in density between gold and silver.

[Olumin]

Come back to me when you know the difference in density between gold and silver.

Apart from this not having anything to do with my question, I never wrote they weigh even remotely the same in the first place. Also there are two different ways to measure weight, per density (which is mass per unit volume) and the actual atomic mass of that element. But if it makes you feel better.

[fohat.digs]

Come back to me when you know the difference in density between gold and silver.

Silver is approximately 17X more abundant than gold on the earth, and that was the approximate relationship between their value, all through history, until recent decades. Suddenly gold became 50X-100X more expensive for reasons that are not so logical.

It is much more interesting to consider the relationship between gold and platinum.

[chyros]

Come back to me when you know the difference in density between gold and silver.

8.81 gcm^-3 . It's almost twice as dense!

[Blackehart]

^_^

[ideus]

Threads on philosophical or abstract questions like this tend to be derailed after one or two posts, as this is already.

[tp4tissue]

If you're really smart..

You'd start stocking WATER..

[Olumin]

If you're really smart..

You'd start stocking WATER..

wat

[tp4tissue]

If you're really smart..

You'd start stocking WATER..

wat

Look at it this way..

Water itself is plentiful,  however the ability to accrue sizable containers is NOT..

Therefore stocking water is actually an extremely difficult endeavor..


WHICH MEANS, almost no one will have it when we run out..  be it poisoned oceans, radiation, etc etc...


Gold / Diamonds / precious metals, will all be useless come that time..

[27]

If you're really smart..

You'd start stocking WATER..

wat

Look at it this way..

Water itself is plentiful,  however the ability to accrue sizable containers is NOT..

Therefore stocking water is actually an extremely difficult endeavor..


WHICH MEANS, almost no one will have it when we run out..  be it poisoned oceans, radiation, etc etc...


Gold / Diamonds / precious metals, will all be useless come that time..

What are you talking about tp?  I thought this thread was "Why is "heavier" generally associated with being more valuable and well made?"

[tp4tissue]

If you're really smart..

You'd start stocking WATER..

wat

Look at it this way..

Water itself is plentiful,  however the ability to accrue sizable containers is NOT..

Therefore stocking water is actually an extremely difficult endeavor..


WHICH MEANS, almost no one will have it when we run out..  be it poisoned oceans, radiation, etc etc...


Gold / Diamonds / precious metals, will all be useless come that time..

What are you talking about tp?  I thought this thread was "Why is "heavier" generally associated with being more valuable and well made?"

I thought we've moved onto talking about precious metals and currency reserves..

[ideus]

Why lead is not valuable if it is heavy?

[chyros]

Show Image

^_^

****, why didn't I think of that one? xD

[tp4tissue]

Why lead is not valuable if it is heavy?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_elements_in_Earth's_crust

[fohat.digs]

I thought this thread was "Why is "heavier" generally associated with being more valuable and well made?"

In the early days of atomic bombs "heavy water" was extremely hard to come by.

[Olumin]

If you're really smart..

You'd start stocking WATER..

wat

Look at it this way..

Water itself is plentiful,  however the ability to accrue sizable containers is NOT..

Therefore stocking water is actually an extremely difficult endeavor..


WHICH MEANS, almost no one will have it when we run out..  be it poisoned oceans, radiation, etc etc...


Gold / Diamonds / precious metals, will all be useless come that time..

What are you talking about tp?  I thought this thread was "Why is "heavier" generally associated with being more valuable and well made?"

Show Image

I thought we've moved onto talking about precious metals and currency reserves..

I don't stock any precious metals. 

Only a variety of crystals and fossils, as well as typewriters, mechanical calculators and analogue cameras.

[JaccoW]

Why lead is not valuable if it is heavy?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_elements_in_Earth's_crust

Titanium is a prime example of something being abundant... but hard to get a hold of since it's so reactive. Making it expensive.

[SBJ]

I think we associate heavy = good, is because that when we pick up or feel something it has some weight we think of sturdiness, lots of items in daily life that we associate with cheap are thin and light.


Lots of cheap products = thin and light, so heaviness to us = More probability of it being sturdy and of quality.

Yeah I'm pretty sure that's my thought process on it at least.
I friggin' love aluminum frames around my keyboards, and I can't explain why. It's just a preference.

[jacobolus]

With keyboards, it prevents them from sliding around. You could get a similar effect from putting some kind of anti-slip pads on the bottom, but where’s the fun in that?

Using thicker pieces of denser material for the case also definitely changes the sound. Which sound you prefer is down to taste. Some people like the loud medium-high-pitched sound of ringing ABS plastic. Other people think that sounds cheap, and want a deeper thud sound. Some really like a metallic clang or ping sound. YMMV.

[MOZ]

I think it's a lot in the head as well.

Acrylic cases can be quite heavy because of the added material in comparison to aluminum, but aren't as durable.

I remember discussing with a friend a couple of years back about how the Samsung flagships used "cheap" plastic vs iPhone's glass. In a drop test, the Samsung is almost always going to survive where as the iPhone glass cracks. Glass is heavier and feels more sturdier than the plastic, but really isn't as durable (at least when your phone falls out of your hands/pocket).

[Belfong]

Don't forget that HHKB is light and yet it is often associated with quality and well made

[Air tree]

Don't forget that HHKB is light and yet it is often associated with quality and well made

People sometimes complain at how light it is too, it often sliding around on their desk or something of that nature.


Some people even end up putting weights in the bottom of their case to get it more weight.

[fanpeople]

Heavier the women, the sturdier she is. 

[Purp]

Probably because prior to the chinese/asian global market takeover stuff used to feel heavier, studier and everything was overall better made. Nowadays everything is manufactured in Asia or China. The industry changed from metals and alloys to plastics, or different lighter/thinner types of plastics (chemically speaking) to reduce manufacturing costs. Not only that but because cheaper and lighter materials got developed in the last couple of decades. Nowadays heavier stuff normally gets associated with good quality, maybe even vintage depending on what specific object/appliance you're talking about. For example I've got a metal fan that's incredibly reliable and works like a charm even though it is 60 years old. On the other hand, I guarantee you that a chinese plastic fan won't last 15 years. Heavy and sturdy things tend to hold pretty well to the everyday use, plastic stuff breaks and bends too easily, they don't handle pressure very well and will eventually fall apart.

[Coreda]

I think it's more an indication of number of internal components, or perhaps the materials used than necessarily being the opposite of commonly cheap goods. Personally I don't immediately assume an item is higher quality just due to its weight but there is a 'feel good' factor which is I think is one of the things the OP is right about.

If we look at keyboards with heft for instance it's notable as it's excellent for keeping the board firmly on the table, which is a positive attribute. So another reason is when weight is beneficial by itself.

[tp4tissue]

Heavier the women, the sturdier she is. 

This is certainly true,  up until the 165lb mark..