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I skimmed through the review, it seems it's skewering this book and the arguments it's trying to make. But curious, if other people see expensive cars as statu

I skimmed through the review, it seems it's skewering this book and the arguments it's trying to make. But curious, if other people see expensive cars as status, me showing up in a fancy car means me showing up with status. If I'm female and I show up with a Louis Vuitton bag, that also means showing up with status, but with a Michael Kors bag? As a female friend told me a few years ago "Ewww, everyone buys that brand, it's now 'cheap'."... Interesting long-ass documentary about status: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1MqJPHxy6g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1MqJPHxy6g, but also about the "meritocracy" and the US' idea of "If you work hard you'll be successful" which imply the flip of it: "If you're poor, that means you're lazy".

benj111 4y ago
People buy things that they feel says something about them. That is human nature. We want to fit in. In certain groups that Louis Vuitton bag is the thing. Other groups may still feel that the Michael Kors bag is the thing. Others may feel that a plastic bag signifies their rejection of status symbols. Your choice of bag will be informed by the group that you want to fit into. Many people want to be successful. Money is a proxy for success. Expensive things indicates you have money. I'd like to think I'm immune to all this but I'm not. I can identify when I want to spend money just to fit in a group, I can then pause and think, and my wallets much healthier for it.