5 ms·

I also fail to see how driving a minivan makes you a better person. I don't understand why we fetishize the rich who live like they aren't. I get not overconsu

I also fail to see how driving a minivan makes you a better person. I don't understand why we fetishize the rich who live like they aren't. I get not overconsuming, but if you're gonna buy a car might as well make it a nice one - the impact is basically the same.

chadash 8y ago
The environmental impact, sure, but there's also a "keeping up with the Joneses" factor. If people don't flaunt their status, other people won't feel as pressured to either. I once heard a very wealthy guy complain that "everyone these days wears a Rolex", so he needs to buy something fancier. Well, once every super wealthy person goes out and buys something fancier, then the less wealthy people will want that and the effect trickles down. The fact is that conspicuous consumption is a problem for our society in that it leads people to buy things that they can't afford. By driving a minivan, Brian Acton isn't contributing to that problem as much and I commend him for it.
- roywiggins 8y ago
  It's a Red Queen effect, I guess.
megaremote 8y ago
Exactly, anyone who buys a car as bad as any other.
- SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
  I know, right? Fuck them for wanting to get to work or take their kids to school. Selfish assholes.
jedberg 8y ago
To be honest, no matter how much money I had, I'd still buy my Odyssey again. I looked at the Tesla X. They even let me drive one for a day. It was great for me, the driver. It was terrible for my passengers. It's uncomfortable and has no amenities. I checked with Mercedes and BMW and Lexus too. All nice cars, but none as nice as the Honda. If you regularly haul around 2 kids and 4 adults like I do, honestly, the Odyssey is the best thing you can get.
retsibsi 8y ago
Luxury goods cost money that could otherwise be used to help the vulnerable and suffering. Of course there's no point foregoing the fancy car if you're going to spend 100% of your money on yourself anyway. But even when it's not a clear, direct tradeoff -- 'hmm, should I buy the Ferrari or give $100k to charity?' -- I think most people give some of their money away, and the proportion depends on how financially comfortable they feel. So stretching your budget to buy the best attainable toy/status symbol probably has a real negative effect, relative to buying one of the (perfectly good) cheaper options, or keeping your existing car for a few more years.
- scns 8y ago
  this is not true, counterintuitively the less well-off donate more. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/dec/21/voluntarysector.fundraising https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/dec/21/voluntarysec...

chadash 8y ago

The environmental impact, sure, but there's also a "keeping up with the Joneses" factor. If people don't flaunt their status, other people won't feel as pressured to either. I once heard a very wealthy guy complain that "everyone these days wears a Rolex", so he needs to buy something fancier. Well, once every super wealthy person goes out and buys something fancier, then the less wealthy people will want that and the effect trickles down. The fact is that conspicuous consumption is a problem for our society in that it leads people to buy things that they can't afford. By driving a minivan, Brian Acton isn't contributing to that problem as much and I commend him for it.

roywiggins 8y ago
It's a Red Queen effect, I guess.

megaremote 8y ago

Exactly, anyone who buys a car as bad as any other.

SmellyGeekBoy 8y ago
I know, right? Fuck them for wanting to get to work or take their kids to school. Selfish assholes.

jedberg 8y ago

To be honest, no matter how much money I had, I'd still buy my Odyssey again. I looked at the Tesla X. They even let me drive one for a day. It was great for me, the driver. It was terrible for my passengers. It's uncomfortable and has no amenities. I checked with Mercedes and BMW and Lexus too. All nice cars, but none as nice as the Honda. If you regularly haul around 2 kids and 4 adults like I do, honestly, the Odyssey is the best thing you can get.

retsibsi 8y ago

Luxury goods cost money that could otherwise be used to help the vulnerable and suffering. Of course there's no point foregoing the fancy car if you're going to spend 100% of your money on yourself anyway. But even when it's not a clear, direct tradeoff -- 'hmm, should I buy the Ferrari or give $100k to charity?' -- I think most people give some of their money away, and the proportion depends on how financially comfortable they feel. So stretching your budget to buy the best attainable toy/status symbol probably has a real negative effect, relative to buying one of the (perfectly good) cheaper options, or keeping your existing car for a few more years.

scns 8y ago
this is not true, counterintuitively the less well-off donate more. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/dec/21/voluntarysector.fundraising https://www.theguardian.com/society/2001/dec/21/voluntarysec...