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

robkhenderson.substack.com

551–560 of 651 posts

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

#551

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Wearing a suit to a tech company will probably get you ostracized even if you just like wearing suits. Not true. If you are a menswear enthusiast who is genuinely into fine tailoring, then people will respect it and even show interest. Generally, having hobbies and interests adds to one’s character. Now wearing a suit because you think it will make people take you more seriously will get you some side eye.

maybe. I'd like to think that is true but was not in my experience but I wish I had experimented more before everything went remote so maybe take what I am saying with a grain of salt on this matter. I definitely took shit for it although some people were fascinated. I think the exception is if you have long hair or are a steampunk enthusiast. I am not really kidding. Even then you might come off as odd. I sometimes…

> You have to explain yourself and there is the implication that wearing a suit is somehow inappropriate.

If you're the only one wearing a suit, you look overdressed. It's as simple as that.

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

#552

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Japanese suits/uniforms are often pretty cheap (and look that way) - thus the low end “recruit suit”. They are tailored, but the level of body-fitting they are would be actively unacceptable in the US. By which I mean, everyone would think you’re gay. On the other hand, Japan is the home of expensive high end recreations of American casual clothes - look up Take Ivy, BEAMS, nice selvedge jeans, etc.

But the point is everyone looks like they’re trying to conform to the dress code. Much better than America, where just when you think it’s hit bottom, people plumb the depths further. (Most recently, by way of hair, tattoos, earrings on men, etc.)

I have rings in both my ears and sleeve tattoos on both arms. What does that say about me?

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

#553

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the actually rich people are dressing down-to-earth, why would you dress fancily to appear rich? Surely you want to also dress down-to-earth so you appear like the rich people do.

because you and the actually rich people are not appearing to the same audience.

"Higher EV in that play allowing increased chances to mingle with rich class" means that your intended audience is the actually rich people because you want to mingle with them.

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

#554

Not going to university or dropping out of it is the most expensive countersignal of all, and it also knocks away the ladder for people who might try to follow you into your chosen endeavour. I've been articulating this dynamic for a long time and tell anyone who thinks I am an example that it's a terrible example to follow - mostly because the countersignals become the signal, as really, if you really want to prove…

> Not going to university or dropping out of it is the most expensive countersignal of all I think this was the worst mistake I’ve made to date.

It's not a foregone conclusion. Presumably you'll want something to do in retirement.

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

#555

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Japanese suits/uniforms are often pretty cheap (and look that way) - thus the low end “recruit suit”. They are tailored, but the level of body-fitting they are would be actively unacceptable in the US. By which I mean, everyone would think you’re gay. On the other hand, Japan is the home of expensive high end recreations of American casual clothes - look up Take Ivy, BEAMS, nice selvedge jeans, etc.

But the point is everyone looks like they’re trying to conform to the dress code. Much better than America, where just when you think it’s hit bottom, people plumb the depths further. (Most recently, by way of hair, tattoos, earrings on men, etc.)

I was a little surprised to see some lawyers at a recent medium-sized company who had tattoos. And not just small butterflies.

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

#556
post #513

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, if you want a 911 and have a little more money to spend, then there are more expensive variants of the 911 that Porsche will be happy to sell you. And they’re generally very good cars. Would get a Carrera GT over a Maserati any time.

LOL, Carrera GT is in a different league (~$1.5mm). 911 is kind of like a Speedmaster, it's a classic, and even a basic one is "acceptable" for most car folks. The S, GTS, GT3, etc would be the more premium. Countersignalling might be to buy older versions, as most folks won't expect the prices, and they're "classics" (e.g. 993s, 964s).

yes, my bad, I was thinking of the 911 Carrera GTS and forgot about the Carrera GT, lol

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

#557
post #443

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or maybe by their 40s-60s they have lost all interest in what 25yos, tee-shirted or not, think about their attire. They have seen the fashion wheel spin more than once, and are no longer compelled by it. (Source: upper 60s, go into the office mostly because a) it's not far, b) my office setup is a bit better, c) I don't want to wake my wife with Zoom calls. I do have some tailored shirts but seldom wear them.)

> maybe by their 40s-60s they have lost all interest in what 25yos Its not about the fashion, its about looking put together. Its signaling that you care. Of course, there's the article which says that people who made it can stop signaling, so maybe that's you.

Fashion is LITERALLY what you just defined.

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

#558

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But the point is everyone looks like they’re trying to conform to the dress code. Much better than America, where just when you think it’s hit bottom, people plumb the depths further. (Most recently, by way of hair, tattoos, earrings on men, etc.)

I have rings in both my ears and sleeve tattoos on both arms. What does that say about me?

I think it means you like teasing people.

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

#559
post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Exactly. To me, a $500k unnecessary renovation throws more money away than a $70k vs $40k car. At least with the car you are likely getting safety features and extensive sensor suites for driver assist for the money, that have tangible impact on your driving experience. Or Spending 5-10x on a $10k appliance where a $1-2k one would do. These people tend to get the whole set, so it's a good $30-40k worth of kitchen app…

500k or 500m in renovations will increase the value of the property. A car is worth 20% less the day you drive it off of the lot and keeps losing value. Having freezer space can save you thousands of dollars in food.

> A car is worth 20% less the day you drive it off of the lot and keeps losing value.

But so does a kitchen rennovation.

> Having freezer space can save you thousands of dollars in food.

It can, if you use it that way. How many of the people buying these expensive kitches do?

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

#560

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where is this place where showing up in a Porsche 911 outs you as a car dilettante because you didn't shell out an extra $90k for the Maserati? I think the status symbols there might be reversed.

If anything it's driving the Maserati that outs someone as a dilletante. Possibly the worst value for money of any luxury car brand.

Value isn't the consideration with those cars. There are plenty of high-end Maserati's.
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