Tangential a bit, but I grate at using “elite” as a synonym for “rich”. It adopts the framing favored by powerful people as if they have an inherent difference and aren’t just some people that society allows to have more resources. It promotes a false inevitability.
How the Elite See Rome
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Re: How the Elite See Rome
#42Isn't this the case globally and not just Rome? It's a business decision, if the rich person wants to pay and its more profitable than the alternative and/or may get massive press or social exposure than it may get a yes. If a mega-celebrity wants to visit the Louvre, the Louvre (and French police) don't want the headache of it getting leaked on social media and thousands of fanatical Stans turning up as a mob, so sa…
Or maybe we just ban celebrities from going to the Louvre, period. If you've decided that you need to be popular so badly that you ruin it for other people when you go to the public places, you should be banned from public places. Be happy with your fame and stay away from us peons. That's what you wanted.
Museums generally have to make rich people feel welcome because they require their patronage. The Louvre used to be an exception, operating as a sole project of the French government, but they've cut back substantially over the past few decades and the new endowment fund has filled the gap.
Re: How the Elite See Rome
#43Tangential a bit, but I grate at using “elite” as a synonym for “rich”. It adopts the framing favored by powerful people as if they have an inherent difference and aren’t just some people that society allows to have more resources. It promotes a false inevitability.
Well elite and rich are actually different categories. The guy down in my parents suburban neighborhood who started a carpentry business at 18 and is now 45 years old and a millionaire is in a very different category from someone who went to Harvard Law and became a partner at a massive firm in Manhattan, even if their net worth is similar.
Plenty of normal folks start businesses in various industries and get rich off of it. You can make tens of millions of dollars running a restaurant chain, a trades business, manufacturing, a car repair shop, car dealership etc. But those are not elite jobs.
Re: How the Elite See Rome
#44Tangential a bit, but I grate at using “elite” as a synonym for “rich”. It adopts the framing favored by powerful people as if they have an inherent difference and aren’t just some people that society allows to have more resources. It promotes a false inevitability.
Well elite and rich are actually different categories. The guy down in my parents suburban neighborhood who started a carpentry business at 18 and is now 45 years old and a millionaire is in a very different category from someone who went to Harvard Law and became a partner at a massive firm in Manhattan, even if their net worth is similar. Plenty of normal folks start businesses in various industries and get rich of…
I would argue it’s a matter of degree, not of kind. “Private equity” is a rhetorical device to convert “I run an unglamorous business” into “I’m the kind of person who gets the private tour”. All the status stuff can be bought.
Re: How the Elite See Rome
#45I sell these, have done many. Basically just about any museum (or similar) in the world is happy to accept large sums of money from rich people in exchange for exclusive experiences. This helps fund the museums and everyone wins.
Celebrities and hedge funds will often do things like "rent out Disneyland for the day" as well.
You don't even need to be a celebrity or a hedge fund to do that.
The public state college I attended rented out Six Flags every fall semester for a day, with free (or nearly free/subsidized) tickets for students.
It was a great way to attend, because it was basically students-only, so no need to worry wasting insane amounts of time in lines. And overall, the vibes were great.
Re: How the Elite See Rome
#46Where's the line between in-depth reporting and long-form advert? The Atlantic's reader base is the exact target audience for such services
It's time to link again the old article by pg: https://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
Re: How the Elite See Rome
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
Celebrities and hedge funds will often do things like "rent out Disneyland for the day" as well.
You don't even need to be a celebrity or a hedge fund to do that. The public state college I attended rented out Six Flags every fall semester for a day, with free (or nearly free/subsidized) tickets for students. It was a great way to attend, because it was basically students-only, so no need to worry wasting insane amounts of time in lines. And overall, the vibes were great.
This is an excellent used of student activity funds.
In fact, a lot of colleges have a pool of money for just this kind of activity.
Rutgers used some of this money to organize a paintball trip. On the way back from that trip is how the club got started which then turned into a team etc. I was one of the first officers and that's what led to me working in pro paintball several years later.
Re: How the Elite See Rome
#48Earlier quoted context omitted.
to add to the neighbour comment: Night shifts are very popular in German car factories as they give good money.
Stating the obvious, but you can of course see it as: there are more than enough workers that need the extra money so urgently that they are happy to screw up their health and social life. Whether they really "need" the money is another discussion.
working in a car factory is highly well paid, definitely way above average (so well paid, costs are too high for German factories). VW Poznan in Poland pays worser but still good amount.
Re: How the Elite See Rome
#49Rome has always been a city for the elite. Current day Rome is more accessible than ever for the commoners. If rich people pay money for private access and part of that money ends up being used for preservation: Good.
They could also just tax rich people more and use that money for conservation...
Because you can’t just let people do their own thing right?
Re: How the Elite See Rome
#50I sell these, have done many. Basically just about any museum (or similar) in the world is happy to accept large sums of money from rich people in exchange for exclusive experiences. This helps fund the museums and everyone wins.
Celebrities and hedge funds will often do things like "rent out Disneyland for the day" as well.
The VIP package for Disney and Universal is worth every single penny. You get a personal guide taking you to the back door and walking you straight onto every ride. Then your lunch is already made and ready for you during the day to save even more time.