3 ms·

> When I see product priced just for being status symbol my first reaction is - fuck off, go find yourself some suckers. This phenomenon is (or must be) so fun

• TeMPOraL 2y ago
  > There clearly is a utility in a social setting to showing off the fact that you have sufficient resources to waste quite a few of them just visibly showing that you can. That's the whole deal with engagement rings, and more generally with romance.
• lotsofpulp 2y ago
  > There clearly is a utility in a social setting to showing off the fact that you have sufficient resources to waste quite a few of them just visibly showing that you can. The modern world has much better ways to show this than relatively low cost jewelry/clothes/accessories. Real estate, employer, board seats, private jet flights, yachts, and the simplest, vacationing often to destinations you have to fly to.
  • TeMPOraL 2y ago
    > Real estate, employer, board seats, private jet flights, yachts Those are all way too expensive for regular folks. > and the simplest, vacationing often to destinations you have to fly to. That's too cheap to work as a status symbol for regular folks, plus provides all kinds of value (entertainment, relaxation, etc.) so it's not even a good way to burn money. Regular folks show off by e.g. buying engagement rings that are multiple of the fiance's salary, or making other purchases whose defining characteristic is that others know it's expensive. Jewelry, clothes and accessories are good for showing off because the more expensive ones aren't more useful or pretty at the margin. You're not buying utility for spending extra, other than that conferred by status games.
  • kaibee 2y ago
    Yeah, but you can't carry those with you.
• crote 2y ago
  Why not waste your money on literally anything else? Build a museum, fund a public library, get your name plastered on a university by giving tuition to some poor kids!