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> status symbol. This sort of thing was done at a time when everybody did it, and now that it's not done, nobody does it No kid ever said "did you see the swe

> status symbol. This sort of thing was done at a time when everybody did it, and now that it's not done, nobody does it No kid ever said "did you see the sweater that Timmy's grandma knitted for him? That kid is so cool! " Mostly because they all had grams sweaters as well. I don't know what term you were looking for, but a handmade present for someone dear is about the furthest thing from a "status symbol" that I can think of: - it can't be bought - it can't be transferred without losing almost all value (ie: it's only valuable to you, or at most your family, eBay doesn't want it) - it provides no improvement whatsoever in one's social standing

simonw 7mo ago
I don't care about the opinion of kids. I'm also completely unimpressed by someone wearing a Rolex though, so different mileage for different people.
- ghurtado 7mo ago
  You should be able to understand the definition of a common term such as "status symbol" though. Understanding words does not require being impressed by anything, nor caring about the opinion of kids.
  - daveguy 7mo ago
    If most people are thinking "whoopdedoo... you clearly have more money than sense" when they see your status symbol, is it still a status symbol?
    - Avicebron 7mo ago
      It depends, if someone fundamentally believes that having more money than someone else means that person is of higher status, then it is. If people don't consider that someone with more money is of a higher status then symbols of that wealth aren't meaningful. I think a lot of people have an ingrained belief that "more money == more status"
    - fluidcruft 7mo ago
      Status symbols signal different status in different contexts. Some contexts (mostly lower middle class and below) are impressed by Rolex watches because they are expensive and the struggle for money forms a collective experience. The old rich doesn't give a shit about Rolex watches beyond noticing the newb rich using them to tell on themselves.
      - daveguy 7mo ago
        And some people just don't give a shit about a fancy watch no matter how much money they have or don't have.
  - simonw 7mo ago
    Different mileage for different people.
NiloCK 7mo ago
What are you referring to with the phrase "status symbol"? I can't connect it at all to your listed points. An Olympic medal is about obvious a status symbol as I can imagine but it can't (meaningfully) be bought or transferred. The status signified with a knit sweater is membership (and good standing!) in a caring family with elders not yet fully subsumed into their phones. People, acquaintances and strangers alike, frequently comment on the knit socks I often wear, ask after who made them, and all of a sudden we're on "how's your mom" terms.
- ghurtado 7mo ago
  > it can't (meaningfully) be bought or transferred. https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop=16&mag=1&rt=nc https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop=... > People, acquaintances and strangers alike, frequently comment on the knit socks I often wear, Ok, that explains pretty much everything about your line of thought. Thanks.
  - NiloCK 7mo ago
    (edited for clarity) > https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop= https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop=... Of course you can buy an Olympic medal. You can't buy the status conferred by the medal (of Olympic champion / nth runner up). > Ok, that explains pretty much everything about your line of thought. I don't understand this either. Are you insulting me?
  - bluecheese452 7mo ago
    Buying someone else’s medal is not a status symbol. That is why they included the word meaningfully.
  - johnnyanmac 7mo ago
    You're the kind of person that would try to buy a Nobel peace prize off a recipient, aren't you?
xyzzy123 7mo ago
Very often kids are un-knowing participants in status signalling by adults. Parents want to signal "this child is looked after and we have a lot of capacity". Clothes, lunches, a lot of things are quietly like this. A good hand-made gift demonstrates the status of the giver and provides proof-of-work for their regard of the recipient.

simonw 7mo ago

I don't care about the opinion of kids. I'm also completely unimpressed by someone wearing a Rolex though, so different mileage for different people.

ghurtado 7mo ago
You should be able to understand the definition of a common term such as "status symbol" though. Understanding words does not require being impressed by anything, nor caring about the opinion of kids.
- daveguy 7mo ago
  If most people are thinking "whoopdedoo... you clearly have more money than sense" when they see your status symbol, is it still a status symbol?
  - Avicebron 7mo ago
    It depends, if someone fundamentally believes that having more money than someone else means that person is of higher status, then it is. If people don't consider that someone with more money is of a higher status then symbols of that wealth aren't meaningful. I think a lot of people have an ingrained belief that "more money == more status"
  - fluidcruft 7mo ago
    Status symbols signal different status in different contexts. Some contexts (mostly lower middle class and below) are impressed by Rolex watches because they are expensive and the struggle for money forms a collective experience. The old rich doesn't give a shit about Rolex watches beyond noticing the newb rich using them to tell on themselves.
    - daveguy 7mo ago
      And some people just don't give a shit about a fancy watch no matter how much money they have or don't have.
- simonw 7mo ago
  Different mileage for different people.

NiloCK 7mo ago

What are you referring to with the phrase "status symbol"? I can't connect it at all to your listed points. An Olympic medal is about obvious a status symbol as I can imagine but it can't (meaningfully) be bought or transferred. The status signified with a knit sweater is membership (and good standing!) in a caring family with elders not yet fully subsumed into their phones. People, acquaintances and strangers alike, frequently comment on the knit socks I often wear, ask after who made them, and all of a sudden we're on "how's your mom" terms.

ghurtado 7mo ago
> it can't (meaningfully) be bought or transferred. https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop=16&mag=1&rt=nc https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop=... > People, acquaintances and strangers alike, frequently comment on the knit socks I often wear, Ok, that explains pretty much everything about your line of thought. Thanks.
- NiloCK 7mo ago
  (edited for clarity) > https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop= https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop=... Of course you can buy an Olympic medal. You can't buy the status conferred by the medal (of Olympic champion / nth runner up). > Ok, that explains pretty much everything about your line of thought. I don't understand this either. Are you insulting me?
- bluecheese452 7mo ago
  Buying someone else’s medal is not a status symbol. That is why they included the word meaningfully.
- johnnyanmac 7mo ago
  You're the kind of person that would try to buy a Nobel peace prize off a recipient, aren't you?

xyzzy123 7mo ago

Very often kids are un-knowing participants in status signalling by adults. Parents want to signal "this child is looked after and we have a lot of capacity". Clothes, lunches, a lot of things are quietly like this. A good hand-made gift demonstrates the status of the giver and provides proof-of-work for their regard of the recipient.