Gyrogami Blog - Precious Metals, Jewelry, Artwork

And the Exceptions Are?

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Categories: Rants; Commerce and business; Ethics and laws

Word count/read time: 491 words; 2 minutes

It is no longer vogue to express concern for the environment or people harmed by the indiscriminate and immoral acquisition of resources. Yet I find myself reading about manufacturers' (changing, non-existent, ambiguous, wishy-washy) commitments to sustainability, conflict-free resources, fair business practices, and other previously just causes.

Their websites and literature are peppered with such references. Are they trying to convince themselves because they know it's a sham? Meaningless words are everywhere: Try=no. Usually=no. If=no. Basically, everything=NO across the board.

There are always myriad exclusions and exceptions buried in the small print or carefully concealed elsewhere. Every item on some websites is an exclusion, go figure. It's similar to websites proclaiming how they don't value your privacy yet sell your information and tracking history, load your browsers with cookies and tracking software, and steal whatever data they can. Liken it to drug ads with a laundry list of side effects, usually more harmful than good.

Does the truth ever come out? "Whenever" "possible," I assume. Yet sellers still demand a premium for the non-existent labor, processes, or materials they purport are part of their product. How about applying that same energy to being ethical?

Companies hope the empty message, not the truth, will endure. Conceptually they are all in; in practice they fail. Buzzwords, spewed like gospel, encourage us to forget, ignore, or not qualify the exclusions. Those who actually do what they say are disadvantaged since it requires more time, energy, and costlier materials.

Sometimes people embrace bullshit completely. Quoted from one seller, he makes "Humbly, the best chainmaille on earth." I would be embarrassed if any of his products appeared in my reject pile and they're proudly featured in his $10,000 chains?! Talk about the Dunning-Kruger effect, see this picture. With 25+ years of experience, this defines a new paradigm of pathetic.

He also "developed welded-link chainmaille," a blatant lie! People have been welding chainmaille before his great-great-great-great-grandfather was wearing diapers. I was doing it long, long before he even knew what a welder was.

And no one, especially him, "developed cutting edge welding techniques for chainmaille" with a crappy $150 tabletop wannabe welder, one he is clearly incapable of using properly anyway. Unless he means cutting edge like a razor blade, as his chains are so deplorable they'll slice and dice your flesh and clothes. Interesting interpretation of the facts.

Unfortunately, I participate in a craft ubiquitous with lies and low-quality goods that attract scheisters and shifty characters by the droves: chainmail. Such behavior is insulting and despicable though it's normal in the industry. It is the rarest exception - there we go, more exceptions - when literature isn't flooded with falsehoods and fraud.

It does no good to call out these jokesters since they only answer to themselves. Deceit, delusions, and denial are their modus operandi. Integrity is the exception for them. Therefore, I will be crystal clear regarding my materials, processes, or manufacturing techniques: There are no exceptions.

Posted by M: June 3, 2025

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