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That makes me think about "luddite fallacy". The common understanding is that we can survive increasing productivity because people will always want more stuff.

That makes me think about "luddite fallacy". The common understanding is that we can survive increasing productivity because people will always want more stuff. However, the implicit assumption there is that once we get beyond satisfying basic needs the demand will be driven up by conspicuous consumption. Yet, the logic of conspicuous consumption may as well work the other way round: Where being fat was seen as a sign on high social status once today it's a sign of low social status. One can signal status be consuming less rather than more.

icebraining 9y ago
One can signal status be consuming less rather than more. Being thin doesn't mean necessarily consuming less; see the millions spent on diet books, courses, coaches, etc.
- Grustaf 9y ago
  Yes, it's not about eating less, and definitely not about spending less on food. It's about showing that you have the leisure to worry about such things.
Broken_Hippo 9y ago
Yet, the logic of conspicuous consumption may as well work the other way round: Where being fat was seen as a sign on high social status once today it's a sign of low social status. One can signal status be consuming less rather than more. Actually, this doesn't mean that the fat person is consuming more - in fact, they might be consuming less in bulk. The contents of their consumption differ greatly though. While the well-to-do person might be eating a lot of fresh vegetables, lean meats, and plenty of whole grains, the poor person might dine entirely on cheap boxed food, TV dinners, and dollar-menu fast food while spending less per month on food.
p0nce 9y ago
> One can signal status be consuming less rather than more. Is anyone seeing this happening?
ashark 9y ago
> Yet, the logic of conspicuous consumption may as well work the other way round: Where being fat was seen as a sign on high social status once today it's a sign of low social status. One can signal status be consuming less rather than more. The things on which the middle- and lower-classes spend conspicuously, usually intending to signal higher class, have long been markers of their less-than-upper-class standing. See: Fussell's early 1980s Class. His Middle class especially could be summed up in one sentence as, "those who spend to signal higher class, while entirely missing the point with every purchasing decision they make and instead signaling how very middle they are".

icebraining 9y ago

One can signal status be consuming less rather than more. Being thin doesn't mean necessarily consuming less; see the millions spent on diet books, courses, coaches, etc.

Grustaf 9y ago
Yes, it's not about eating less, and definitely not about spending less on food. It's about showing that you have the leisure to worry about such things.

Broken_Hippo 9y ago

Yet, the logic of conspicuous consumption may as well work the other way round: Where being fat was seen as a sign on high social status once today it's a sign of low social status. One can signal status be consuming less rather than more. Actually, this doesn't mean that the fat person is consuming more - in fact, they might be consuming less in bulk. The contents of their consumption differ greatly though. While the well-to-do person might be eating a lot of fresh vegetables, lean meats, and plenty of whole grains, the poor person might dine entirely on cheap boxed food, TV dinners, and dollar-menu fast food while spending less per month on food.

p0nce 9y ago

> One can signal status be consuming less rather than more. Is anyone seeing this happening?

ashark 9y ago

> Yet, the logic of conspicuous consumption may as well work the other way round: Where being fat was seen as a sign on high social status once today it's a sign of low social status. One can signal status be consuming less rather than more. The things on which the middle- and lower-classes spend conspicuously, usually intending to signal higher class, have long been markers of their less-than-upper-class standing. See: Fussell's early 1980s Class. His Middle class especially could be summed up in one sentence as, "those who spend to signal higher class, while entirely missing the point with every purchasing decision they make and instead signaling how very middle they are".