4 ms·

You're signaling spiritual wealth/enlightenment instead of economic wealth. This leads to you mimic the surface characteristics of the working class. Old car,

by slibhb 6y ago

You're signaling spiritual wealth/enlightenment instead of economic wealth. This leads to you mimic the surface characteristics of the working class. Old car, old clothes, fashionably unfashionable, hobbies that involve working with your hands, etc. I think this is admirable but I also think that people generally have to go through an immature phase where they buy dumb shit to signal their status before they get to the situation you were raised in. I don't like the article. It's just bourgeois-bashing and the people who get turned on by that old pastime tend to be somewhat venal themselves.

scsilver 6y ago
Buying dumb shit is the sort of experience the rich can afford that puts such a perspective on life that allows you to then shoot for more fufilling goals/works/community. All the fairy tales in the world arent going to teach you better than living the experience of excess.
- oblio 6y ago
  Not everyone outgrows this though. I'd argue that most don't, even. Case in point, Trump.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
- Damogran6 6y ago
  That's the things bout economics...there's dumb shit you can buy at EVERY LEVEL! My boys are experiencing they first stead incomes at 18 with their first non-home-chore jobs. They're spending some of that money on Hotwheels, and personally, I'm happy letting them experience that, they save a little, they spend a little, they get hooked on getting things they want...because it incentivizes them to be successful.
letsNotforget 6y ago
Let’s not pretend we live in a meritocracy when we can see via legislative acts a whole lot of wealth is owned due to political corruption. I don’t like the defense of the booj class by proles such as yourself when such kowtowing is effectively putting the boot on the necks of the masses. Best not upset them or you might not get paid yourself, right? Talk about venal. “Let the rich be! I need to make my paper!”
zemvpferreira 6y ago
You're right and I'm (to a point) aware that my values are a weird pastiche of an imagined working class. Before I turned 25 all I did was while away the day peacefully, now I don't feel ok if I'm not productive in some very immediate way like painting a door. I won't pretend that's not silly. What I hope to convey is that luxury is a trap if you're not already independently wealthy. And if you are financially free, you can still be sucked back into wage-slavery by wanting too much stuff. And even if you transcend that level of wealth, you can still find more fulfilment by spending your money on things that improve someone else's situation. Stop being fleeced by people exploiting your psychology for their enrichment. It makes me feel better to buy a burrito from a family restaurant than a Hermès bag. Could we status-signal in that direction? Will it make a difference?

by slibhb 6y ago

scsilver 6y ago

Buying dumb shit is the sort of experience the rich can afford that puts such a perspective on life that allows you to then shoot for more fufilling goals/works/community. All the fairy tales in the world arent going to teach you better than living the experience of excess.

oblio 6y ago
Not everyone outgrows this though. I'd argue that most don't, even. Case in point, Trump.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
Damogran6 6y ago
That's the things bout economics...there's dumb shit you can buy at EVERY LEVEL! My boys are experiencing they first stead incomes at 18 with their first non-home-chore jobs. They're spending some of that money on Hotwheels, and personally, I'm happy letting them experience that, they save a little, they spend a little, they get hooked on getting things they want...because it incentivizes them to be successful.

letsNotforget 6y ago

Let’s not pretend we live in a meritocracy when we can see via legislative acts a whole lot of wealth is owned due to political corruption. I don’t like the defense of the booj class by proles such as yourself when such kowtowing is effectively putting the boot on the necks of the masses. Best not upset them or you might not get paid yourself, right? Talk about venal. “Let the rich be! I need to make my paper!”

zemvpferreira 6y ago

You're right and I'm (to a point) aware that my values are a weird pastiche of an imagined working class. Before I turned 25 all I did was while away the day peacefully, now I don't feel ok if I'm not productive in some very immediate way like painting a door. I won't pretend that's not silly. What I hope to convey is that luxury is a trap if you're not already independently wealthy. And if you are financially free, you can still be sucked back into wage-slavery by wanting too much stuff. And even if you transcend that level of wealth, you can still find more fulfilment by spending your money on things that improve someone else's situation. Stop being fleeced by people exploiting your psychology for their enrichment. It makes me feel better to buy a burrito from a family restaurant than a Hermès bag. Could we status-signal in that direction? Will it make a difference?