Rob Henderson's theory of "Luxury Beliefs".
People buy luxury goods in order to showcase how rich they are.
It's precisely b/c they're useless that it brings high status, b/c only wealthy can afford them.
The message is: "I'm so rich I can afford to waste money on this."
People buy luxury goods in order to showcase how rich they are.
It's precisely b/c they're useless that it brings high status, b/c only wealthy can afford them.
The message is: "I'm so rich I can afford to waste money on this."
But today, luxury goods are more affordable than before.
And in a remote world, they're harder to show off.
Thus, they're less reliable as indicators of social status.
Amplified by social media, status has shifted to the beliefs we express.
Hence, Luxury beliefs.
And in a remote world, they're harder to show off.
Thus, they're less reliable as indicators of social status.
Amplified by social media, status has shifted to the beliefs we express.
Hence, Luxury beliefs.
It's not new:
"Jared Diamond has suggested that one reason ppl engage in displays such as drinking, smoking, drug use, & other costly behaviors is b/c they serve as fitness indicators.
The message is:'I’m so healthy that I can afford to poison my body and continue to function".
"Jared Diamond has suggested that one reason ppl engage in displays such as drinking, smoking, drug use, & other costly behaviors is b/c they serve as fitness indicators.
The message is:'I’m so healthy that I can afford to poison my body and continue to function".
Luxury beliefs are ideas and opinions that confer status on the rich at very little cost, while taking a toll on the lower class
They're the ideological equivalent of a luxury good: They signal how well-off people are that they can afford to have beliefs that make them worse off
They're the ideological equivalent of a luxury good: They signal how well-off people are that they can afford to have beliefs that make them worse off
The tragedy w/ luxury beliefs is that, since they're free, & since the non-elites aspire to eliteness, the beliefs themselves trickle down to the masses.
But since being high status means avoiding what the masses are doing, as soon as the masses adopt them, the elites drop them.
But since being high status means avoiding what the masses are doing, as soon as the masses adopt them, the elites drop them.
The tragedy is that these luxury beliefs are originated by the elites, who get the benefits of short-term high status, but the long-term costs are ultimately borne by the masses.
It'd be as if the masses bought a ton of expensive shit they didn't need & became saddled w/ debt.
It'd be as if the masses bought a ton of expensive shit they didn't need & became saddled w/ debt.
Polyamory is an example, popularized by the affluent who often end up in monogamous relationships after flirting w/ polyamory.
The elites are in a better position to experiment since they can afford protection (& abortion if needed) & can recover thx to financial/social capital.
The elites are in a better position to experiment since they can afford protection (& abortion if needed) & can recover thx to financial/social capital.
Cycle: An elite flaunts their belief, the masses copy it, so the elite discards it.
Then a new luxury belief emerges, while the old one causes chaos for the masses
Goods could only cause limited damage b/c they were expensive. Beliefs are free & viral
Then a new luxury belief emerges, while the old one causes chaos for the masses
Goods could only cause limited damage b/c they were expensive. Beliefs are free & viral
