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Most of the consumption in the western world, is done to increase status in some form or another. Conspicuous consumption of clothing, hand bags, housing, cars
by thomasfl 3y ago
Most of the consumption in the western world, is done to increase status in some form or another. Conspicuous consumption of clothing, hand bags, housing, cars and travel, is literally destroying our planet. Increasing the number of dimensions people can use to seek social status, is of vital importance to reduce damaging conspicuous consumption. Research in the field of social status and happiness, is just as important in order to reduce co2 emissions, as research in green tech.
- sokoloff 3y agoWhen my family travels, I don't believe we do it at all with status in mind. In fact, from a safety/opsec standpoint, I try to keep my travel entirely a secret until after it's completed. If you look at the cars we drive (a 2005 Honda CR-V and a 2015 Nissan LEAF), I doubt any significant status is accruing to us from those choices. [I am much more often asked "why do you still drive cars like this?!" than "Oooh, nice car!"] My ideal condition would be to have assets that would be able to provide a fully secure income stream in retirement but for no stranger to be able to reasonably guess that we have that.
- frutiger 3y agoThis entire comment is actually signalling status.
- sokoloff 3y agoYes, making sure to fill up the oil before loading two kids into the rusty, 19 year old, 235K mile CR-V to drive 750 miles to see their grandparents, while trying to not have someone break in and steal their stuff. High status, conspicuous consumption, gram-worthy life, indeed.
- riehwvfbk 3y agoYeah actually. The key is the phrase "why do you still drive cars like this?" It's not because you have to, but because you are signaling that a car as a status signal is irrelevant to you. That's actually the next level status signal :)
- sokoloff 3y agoIt's probably driven much more from being an optimizing engineer (alternatively phrased: a cheapskate) and wanting to spend as little as feasible on reliable transport in order to funnel more money into retirement savings/financial independence. https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-simple-math-behind-early-retirement/ https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/01/13/the-shockingly-si...
- dri_ft 3y agoNot taking a side, but to understand the comment you are replying to, you would do well to look up the concept of countersignalling.
- sokoloff 3y agoDoes counter-signaling require intent or only action? A. If I care what people think, but work to communicate that I don't, that's pretty obviously counter-signaling. B. If I genuinely don't care what people think, but my actions are outwardly indistinguishable from those in A, is that counter-signaling?
- lukas099 3y agoIt might be signalling status, but I don't think it's fair to assume that was the motive of its author.
- npilk 3y agoOf course, so is your comment here :-) (and mine, too)
- francisofascii 3y agoYes, but. If you find yourself in a more eco-friendly community or social circle, then status is measured in the opposite way. That person who doesn't own a car, bikes to work, buys used clothing and books, gardens, lives in a small house, etc. achieves a higher status.
- thomasfl 3y agoMaking social status depend on eco friendly choices, would help reduce co2 emissions.