Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
robkhenderson.substack.com
Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
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Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#2An extreme example of affording to countersignal were the "smarter" british cavalry regiments, which purposefully set their mess dues significantly higher than the pay, thus keeping out the riffraff.
Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#3An extreme example of affording to countersignal were the "smarter" british cavalry regiments, which purposefully set their mess dues significantly higher than the pay, thus keeping out the riffraff.
That's signaling, like wearing expensive clothes. Countersignaling means dressing like a bum in high-class circles and getting accepted anyway.
Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#4An extreme example of affording to countersignal were the "smarter" british cavalry regiments, which purposefully set their mess dues significantly higher than the pay, thus keeping out the riffraff.
Interesting. I'm not sure I'd call that counter-signalling though. But it is similar to a lot of other practices that have the effect of erecting barriers to participation by working classes, but give the appearance of self-less-ness. For example, in many US states, legislators receive little or no pay and must be available for sessions of the legislature for weeks at a time.
Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#5Boss gives a dinner party at their home for their employees. All the guests show up in their best. Boss is in shorts, t-shirt and sandals.
Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#6> “Some writers are so well known that, despite having millions of followers, they literally don’t promote anything they write on social media. That is some strong countersignaling.”
This was every writer until about 13 years ago. That’s not a long time in a field where people can have 70 year long careers.
It’s interesting to consider how “doing the thing I’ve always done” can quickly become seen as countersignalling when society changes around you.
Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#7I’m not sure it’s a deliberate form of counter signaling, but… I see a lot of people emulate the antisocial or neurotic traits of the highly successful based on the faulty premise that these are causal for their success.
Will doing heroin make you a rock star?
Might it be that Steve Jobs and Elon Musk succeeded not because of but in spite of some of their antisocial traits? Maybe you should emulate their work ethic and skills instead.
Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#8Some interesting pearls in the article. Not sure I endorse non-nuanced extension of the idea to entire societies as the author does.
Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#9> “Some writers are so well known that, despite having millions of followers, they literally don’t promote anything they write on social media. That is some strong countersignaling.” This was every writer until about 13 years ago. That’s not a long time in a field where people can have 70 year long careers. It’s interesting to consider how “doing the thing I’ve always done” can quickly become seen as countersignallin…
Yeah, and I don't think its counter-signalling either. Successful authors are likely to have people actively promoting their work for them; the one thing others can't do for them is write (unless they're willing to have other people perform the work they are known for).
Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal
#10An extreme example of affording to countersignal were the "smarter" british cavalry regiments, which purposefully set their mess dues significantly higher than the pay, thus keeping out the riffraff.
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