[mikeash]

Stones can be found just lying around on the ground all over the world. I don't care how cheap oil is, it's not cheaper than "you can bend down and pick some up."

Cheaper than bottled water? No it's not. You can find some bottled water that's more expensive, sure, but you can find bottled water that's cheaper too. I'm sure you can find some oil somewhere that's more expensive than good champagne, too.

Bottled water is a terrible comparison anyway, because most of what you're paying for is the "bottled." Oil is not cheaper than water in most places. Can you imagine paying 65 cents/gallon for your shower?

[dingaling]

The stones you can pick-up from the ground aren't much use in construction other than for rubble-fill, which requires quantities vastly greater than available in free [position] material.

To gather them in kilotonnes you'll need to remove and sift the regolith layer. A lot more expensive than 'pick some up'.

[mikeash]

I don't believe the Stone Age was primarily about stone construction.

[dragontamer]

> Bottled water is a terrible comparison anyway, because most of what you're paying for is the "bottled."

I was under the understanding that you're paying for a purified chemical compound with Bottled Water. Very similar to Gasoline actually. Its a purified chemical that matches specific specs.

One is a chemical that you drink, the other is a chemical your car drinks. Beyond that, the effect is the same.

If you don't think Bottled Water is a good example, then I'll change the analogy to Gatorade.

[mikeash]

Most bottled water is just tap water from whatever local service the bottling plant has. How much do you pay for water at your house? That's how much the "purified chemical compound" actually costs.

[DanBC]

> Cheaper than bottled water? No it's not.

http://www.businessinsider.com/bottled-water-costs-2000x-mor...

> > "The [bottled water] industry grossed a total of $11.8 billion on those 9.7 billion gallons in 2012, making bottled water about $1.22/gallon nationwide

Parent post says

> > > Crude Oil is roughly $0.65 per gallon.

[mikeash]

My point is that bottled water prices vary enormously, because it's pretty much a pure convenience and branding product. Looking at the average is meaningless, and comparing it with oil is silly. Look at the price of the underlying commodity (water) and see what that costs.

[DanBC]

So when you said "cheaper than bottled water? No it's not" you didn't mean cheaper, nor bottled, nor water?

[mikeash]

I meant: "You can find some bottled water that's more expensive, sure, but you can find bottled water that's cheaper too."