3 ms·

‘Luxury beliefs’ are the latest status symbol for rich Americans

8 points by okasaki 6y ago

sigmaprimus 6y ago
This article is pretty much blatant classist propaganda, but then so are the "Luxury beliefs" described within it, so IDK, maybe there is a grain of truth to it.
- rayiner 6y ago
  There is more than a “grain” of truth to it. My family is fairly privileged—in my cohort, mid 30s, everyone is married with kids and college or graduate degrees. But we’re immigrants, so saying something like “monogamy is outdated” would not be socially acceptable. My wife’s family, by contrast, has suffered the brunt of 1960s liberal attitudes. Divorces are more common than marriage, raising kids outside of wedlock is the norm, drug use is a problem. My wife explained to me the concept of being frustrated that wealthy liberals won’t “preach what they practice.” My dad, a dyed in the wool liberal, agrees. “Luxury beliefs” are really the perfect term for it. My aunt and uncle immigrated from Bangladesh to Canada. My uncle left his job as an engineer and never managed to get a similar job in Canada. He tutors kids in math. My aunt, who had a masters degree, works a retail job. My aunt and uncle were not people who could afford “luxury beliefs.” My cousin, their son, got an engineering degree and then an MBA. He recently just married a Bangladeshi woman, who is also an engineer. God willing, some nieces or nephews are on the way. I’ve been a bit luckier—I grew up middle class, and fortunately we have the luxury of raising our kids very comfortably. But I’m not so far removed from the village my dad grew up in that I’m going to teach any of these luxury beliefs to my kids.
  - sigmaprimus 6y ago
    Lol, "I’ve been a bit luckier—I grew up middle class, and fortunately....." Again IDK if you're trying to make a point with that statement or just didn't read the article. In any case it should come as no surprise that strong family and strong communities tied together with hard work, not luck results in upward mobility in the western class wealth/system. To call the opposite of that "Luxury beliefs" is a stretch and to propose that the non wealthy are being fooled by those that have wealth, well that is pure classism plain and simple. You could possibly think these untruths could fool the uneducated but it is far more likely a trap set out by those looking to bring down the affluent through their arrogance with this propaganda, eg. The sterotypical "Black Sheeps" of the family lose their families wealth through believing and acting upon these "Foolish, self indulging beliefs". Misery loves company, when you want to do something right there is nary an angel lifting you up and saying good job, but when you want to do wrong there are a thousand devils cheering you on and dragging you down to their level.
quattrofan 6y ago
"Evidence is clear that families with two married parents are the most beneficial for young children. " stopped at that nonsense
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
kstenerud 6y ago
> In the past, upper-class Americans used to display their social status with luxury goods. And they still do, even moreso today. The greater the inequality in a society, the greater the drive to public displays identifying onesself with the upper class. > The upper classes have found a clever solution to this problem: luxury beliefs. These are ideas and opinions that confer status on the rich at very little cost The whole point of luxury signaling is the cost. If it's not costing you, it's not a luxury signal. > One example of luxury belief is that all family structures are equal. No, that's an example of liberal social progress in action. It's a result of decades of championing those who were being discriminated against due to their nonstandard family arrangements (single mothers, in particular). It's not even a definitive belief of the rich; you have plenty rich folk with conservative family beliefs. > Another luxury belief is that religion is irrational or harmful. Members of the upper class are most likely to be atheists or non-religious. Religion is something we will have to get over eventually. Unfortunately it's complicated in America due to their massive inequality (1/5 of Americans don't even have enough food). So yeah, religious centers fill the gap for social cohesion that poverty exacerbates, and so in America it is still a net benefit (that's not a compliment). This doesn't change the fact that religion is something the world is better off on the whole without. > Then there’s the luxury belief that individual decisions don’t matter much compared to random social forces, including luck. This is a result of another attempt to level the playing field, by making the rich understand that their riches are largely due to luck (usually from being born to affluence). As inequality rises, the chances of transcending strata diminishes severely. Of course, the rich completely missed the point because they don't understand what it's like to struggle. > In other words, upper-class whites gain status by talking about their high status. How is this any different from the time of Marie Antoinette? And yet even during those times you had outward symbols of affluence that were pushed at every opportunity.
aaron695 6y ago
That's a really interesting concept. ‘Luxury beliefs’. I find it similar to the 'victim blaming' call by Woke people. The same people will protect their children, teach them what to wear and were to go and everything good parents should do. Basic Situational Awareness. But if a protective member of the public service warns those who don't come from safe environments, it's victim blaming. The Woke are the real 1%, very disgusting, appearances are more important than the health of the less fortunate. But I think the upper class always end up where they begin. You are poor you live on wood. You are rich you live on carpet. You are really rich (A current Westerner) you once again live on wood. Wealth becomes showing you don't have to show it. I don't know how that fits in with ‘Luxury beliefs’.
isabelc 6y ago
-Then there’s the luxury belief that individual decisions don’t matter much compared to random social forces, including luck. I know enough working class and poor people who hold this belief that I wouldn't call this a "luxury belief."

8 points by okasaki 6y ago

This article is pretty much blatant classist propaganda, but then so are the "Luxury beliefs" described within it, so IDK, maybe there is a grain of truth to it.

rayiner 6y ago
There is more than a “grain” of truth to it. My family is fairly privileged—in my cohort, mid 30s, everyone is married with kids and college or graduate degrees. But we’re immigrants, so saying something like “monogamy is outdated” would not be socially acceptable. My wife’s family, by contrast, has suffered the brunt of 1960s liberal attitudes. Divorces are more common than marriage, raising kids outside of wedlock is the norm, drug use is a problem. My wife explained to me the concept of being frustrated that wealthy liberals won’t “preach what they practice.” My dad, a dyed in the wool liberal, agrees. “Luxury beliefs” are really the perfect term for it. My aunt and uncle immigrated from Bangladesh to Canada. My uncle left his job as an engineer and never managed to get a similar job in Canada. He tutors kids in math. My aunt, who had a masters degree, works a retail job. My aunt and uncle were not people who could afford “luxury beliefs.” My cousin, their son, got an engineering degree and then an MBA. He recently just married a Bangladeshi woman, who is also an engineer. God willing, some nieces or nephews are on the way. I’ve been a bit luckier—I grew up middle class, and fortunately we have the luxury of raising our kids very comfortably. But I’m not so far removed from the village my dad grew up in that I’m going to teach any of these luxury beliefs to my kids.
- sigmaprimus 6y ago
  Lol, "I’ve been a bit luckier—I grew up middle class, and fortunately....." Again IDK if you're trying to make a point with that statement or just didn't read the article. In any case it should come as no surprise that strong family and strong communities tied together with hard work, not luck results in upward mobility in the western class wealth/system. To call the opposite of that "Luxury beliefs" is a stretch and to propose that the non wealthy are being fooled by those that have wealth, well that is pure classism plain and simple. You could possibly think these untruths could fool the uneducated but it is far more likely a trap set out by those looking to bring down the affluent through their arrogance with this propaganda, eg. The sterotypical "Black Sheeps" of the family lose their families wealth through believing and acting upon these "Foolish, self indulging beliefs". Misery loves company, when you want to do something right there is nary an angel lifting you up and saying good job, but when you want to do wrong there are a thousand devils cheering you on and dragging you down to their level.

quattrofan 6y ago

"Evidence is clear that families with two married parents are the most beneficial for young children. " stopped at that nonsense

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

kstenerud 6y ago

> In the past, upper-class Americans used to display their social status with luxury goods. And they still do, even moreso today. The greater the inequality in a society, the greater the drive to public displays identifying onesself with the upper class. > The upper classes have found a clever solution to this problem: luxury beliefs. These are ideas and opinions that confer status on the rich at very little cost The whole point of luxury signaling is the cost. If it's not costing you, it's not a luxury signal. > One example of luxury belief is that all family structures are equal. No, that's an example of liberal social progress in action. It's a result of decades of championing those who were being discriminated against due to their nonstandard family arrangements (single mothers, in particular). It's not even a definitive belief of the rich; you have plenty rich folk with conservative family beliefs. > Another luxury belief is that religion is irrational or harmful. Members of the upper class are most likely to be atheists or non-religious. Religion is something we will have to get over eventually. Unfortunately it's complicated in America due to their massive inequality (1/5 of Americans don't even have enough food). So yeah, religious centers fill the gap for social cohesion that poverty exacerbates, and so in America it is still a net benefit (that's not a compliment). This doesn't change the fact that religion is something the world is better off on the whole without. > Then there’s the luxury belief that individual decisions don’t matter much compared to random social forces, including luck. This is a result of another attempt to level the playing field, by making the rich understand that their riches are largely due to luck (usually from being born to affluence). As inequality rises, the chances of transcending strata diminishes severely. Of course, the rich completely missed the point because they don't understand what it's like to struggle. > In other words, upper-class whites gain status by talking about their high status. How is this any different from the time of Marie Antoinette? And yet even during those times you had outward symbols of affluence that were pushed at every opportunity.

aaron695 6y ago

That's a really interesting concept. ‘Luxury beliefs’. I find it similar to the 'victim blaming' call by Woke people. The same people will protect their children, teach them what to wear and were to go and everything good parents should do. Basic Situational Awareness. But if a protective member of the public service warns those who don't come from safe environments, it's victim blaming. The Woke are the real 1%, very disgusting, appearances are more important than the health of the less fortunate. But I think the upper class always end up where they begin. You are poor you live on wood. You are rich you live on carpet. You are really rich (A current Westerner) you once again live on wood. Wealth becomes showing you don't have to show it. I don't know how that fits in with ‘Luxury beliefs’.

isabelc 6y ago

-Then there’s the luxury belief that individual decisions don’t matter much compared to random social forces, including luck. I know enough working class and poor people who hold this belief that I wouldn't call this a "luxury belief."