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Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

robkhenderson.substack.com

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Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#171

Post by papandada »

steveBK123 wrote: post #143
trasz2 wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Technically a Rolex, however expensive, will always be much worse as a watch than a 20$ Casio. But recently there's another aspect to this: there are now watches that are technically (mechanically) identical to rolexes. Same design, same mechanics, virtually impossible to tell the difference when you tear it apart. Rolex has always been more about marketing (artificial scarcity, waiting list etc) than mechanics, but…

Correct, a G-shock would get the job done better. I always viewed watches as the only mainstream sociable acceptable form of male jewelry. And regardless of which model, generally no more expensive than a woman's engagement or wedding ring, and actually usually cheaper. Plus it does something other than look pretty - tells time & date!

Watches, pens, pocket knives, flashlights, seem to be a cluster of male jewelry. Fidget spinners too, at one time.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#172

Post by steveBK123 »

AussieWog93 wrote: post #165
steveBK123 wrote: post #47

"An example from Ogilvy Vice Chairman Rory Sutherland: If you’re a top executive, turning up to work on a bicycle is a high-status activity because it was a choice and not a necessity. But if you work at Pizza Hut, turning up on a bike means you can’t afford a car." This tidbit reminds me of a similar anecdote (that my experience aligns with) re: the modern upper class that wearing a $2k Rolex or driving a $70k BMW i…

>inclusive of "needing" $10k viking stove/range, and $10k subzero fridge/freezer in your kitchen because you are a "foodie" Haha, don't forget the classic combo of the $10k Caesarstone countertop plus half a dozen blunt knives.

LOL yes, thank you. People might argue somehow the appliance makes them cook better but the countertops and cabinetry is a pretty tough sell.

Every time I look at my 30 year old kitchen & bathrooms, and tally up what it would cost to update them, I can't help but think I'd rather just retire a bit earlier.

Yes things need to be replaced as they break, and ultimately some renovation will be needed.. but I know people gutting 10-15 year old kitchens & baths purely for aesthetics every time they move. Full employment for tradesmen.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#173

Post by 082349872349872 »

swayvil wrote: post #88
matwood wrote: post #44

The one that always bugs me is when rich, successful people tell others to follow their heart or passion. It's easy to follow your heart once you're already rich. The other one is that rich people don't think about money, which is bullshit. It's all they think about, even if they don't show it.

Rich people are more dependent on their wealth than poor people. It's funny to think about. A poor person depends on a diverse array of skills, relationships and resources. A rich person depends on their account balance. They focus on that, basically in exclusion of all else. It makes the way they see and behave really different. It explains "wealthy miser" syndrome.

A rich person has people who focus on their account balance.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#174

Post by yodsanklai »

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #145

> In contrast, children will copy every single action, including the unnecessary ones. The example that immediately springs to mind, in the tech industry, is the "Steve Jobs Asshole" archetype. Steve Jobs was a notorious manager, in that he made heavy-duty demands, did not suffer fools, and was blunt to the point of abusive. But he was also able to filter for talent, cultivate it, and encourage excellence. He wasn't…

There's no excuse to tolerate bad behavior. It's like an abusive relationship. When such a situation happens, you should start thinking of an exit plan ASAP.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#176

Post by i0null »

tetris11 wrote: post #137
cracrecry wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>the modern upper class that wearing a $2k Rolex or driving a $70k BMW is frowned upon. There was a time, not that long time ago in which good clocks were expensive and expending 2ks on a good clock was similar to expending 2k on a laptop today, a functional, reasonable decision. My uncle earned a much more expensive Rolex than 2k in a Golf tournament and wearing it nobody believed it was genuine, even a watchmaker c…

Is it envy, or disgust? If someone tells me they live in a castle, my initial instinct isn't "wow I wish in a castle too", but "wow what a wasteful needless thing to brag about".

Be cautious, the word "envy" is typically thrown around by folks that want to justify "greed". OC, there are reasonable scales between the two but equating success to having nicer material things is really a subjective value judgement.

In all honesty the salient points in the OP about judging instead of thinking, is a commonly attributed aphorism to Carl Jung yet there is no reference to it. The point about tardiness and drawbacks this apparently has on socialising and career progression comes across as utilitarian to the point of sounding sociopathic.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#177

Post by AlbertCory »

cracrecry wrote: post #120
steveBK123 wrote: post #47

"An example from Ogilvy Vice Chairman Rory Sutherland: If you’re a top executive, turning up to work on a bicycle is a high-status activity because it was a choice and not a necessity. But if you work at Pizza Hut, turning up on a bike means you can’t afford a car." This tidbit reminds me of a similar anecdote (that my experience aligns with) re: the modern upper class that wearing a $2k Rolex or driving a $70k BMW i…

>the modern upper class that wearing a $2k Rolex or driving a $70k BMW is frowned upon. There was a time, not that long time ago in which good clocks were expensive and expending 2ks on a good clock was similar to expending 2k on a laptop today, a functional, reasonable decision. My uncle earned a much more expensive Rolex than 2k in a Golf tournament and wearing it nobody believed it was genuine, even a watchmaker c…

I bought a fake "Rolex" in Thailand, for $10.

It actually didn't work very well. I guess there's a hierarchy even among the fake.

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#178

Post by Scoundreller »

browningstreet wrote: post #164
steveBK123 wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I think my point is that they simply signal differently by for example regaling you about how they spent $5000 on custom designed esoteric tiles from a local artisan for their shower. Personally I don't think things that are 90% purchase/consumption (housing/renovations/appliances) are hobbies in the same way as photography/kitesurfing/gardening/cycling which may be expensive but have some sort of skill/learning/…

I worked for a wealthy man. I remember two stories among many: He once told me he was upgrading the doorknobs and hinges in this house. The bill just for those items came to $45K. We were both getting coffee in the office once, and he looked towards me and ask, “My socks cost more than everything you’re wearing.” And he liked me.

Nono, the price of his socks were more than everything you’re wearing. They probably cost the same as your socks :)

Re: Be wary of imitating high-status people who can afford to countersignal

#180

Post by aix1 »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #154
nradov wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Toyota Land Cruiser has been a popular car in certain upper-class circles. At $87k it's fairly expensive, but it doesn't look expensive.

However, the Land Cruiser will be passed down for many generations, so the amortized cost of a Land Cruiser is not expensive. Also, Land Cruiser has apparently been discontinued.

> the Land Cruiser will be passed down for many generations

Wait, what sort of longevity are we taking about? 15 years? 20?

I don't think we humans can reproduce quickly enough for that to span "many generations". :-)

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