This phenomena isn't as novel and modern as the article seems to imply. We see it in technology all the time -- pocket watches and car phones were both seen at

This phenomena isn't as novel and modern as the article seems to imply. We see it in technology all the time -- pocket watches and car phones were both seen at one point as signs of wealth and exclusivity, but as they became more affordable that status was lost and other signals take their place. Of course, it seems unlikely that the human race will all of a sudden lose all desire to show off how much more we have than others. We'll just collectively find a new, more exclusive way of expressing it. :) Dr. Suess's book "The Starbelly Sneeches"[0] comes to mind. [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sneetches_and_Other_Stories#.22The_Sneetches.22 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sneetches_and_Other_Stories...