Things that are unintentional status symbols.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not realizing how student loans make for a very uneven playing field post-college. I didn't for many years.

On a similar note, unpaid internships. After the age of 15, I could never afford to "not work."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not realizing how student loans make for a very uneven playing field post-college. I didn't for many years.

On a similar note, unpaid internships. After the age of 15, I could never afford to "not work."

Better yet, unpaid internships you take for credit! It's the ultimate, please sir, may I have another. Not only are you not getting paid, you pay the school to work for someone else for free!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Driving to a store that's less than a mile away.

Paying anything for kindergarten.

Taking medication that makes your eyelashes thicker or injecting toxins to make your forehead smooth.

Waxing parts of your body that no one but your waxer will ever actually look at.

This is all wrong. These things are either intentional status symbols (private school) or just insecurity (botox).

The topic is UNINTENTIONAL symbols of status. The person who said "competing in Ironman triathlons" got it right. Not because the competitor is really fit or hot or something, but because only the upper echelon of people can take the time and have the income to train for that.

Those in the know, know this. You need nannies to watch your kids for the HOURS it takes to train, big bucks to fly all around the US, expensive equipment and food, personal trainers/ coaches, elective medical procedures, sports massages, and on and on and on. A good tri bike alone costs $5,000. Look it up.

Joe Schmoe, GS-11 commuting from Burke, Va. and married to Julie Schmoe, GS-10, with 2 kids in daycare at that closes at 6:30, SHARP, is going to have a hell of a time carving out the hours a day to prepare.

The two people I know who compete in triathlons are a grad student who makes almost no money and my mentally-challenged uncle who works as a grocery store checker. It isn't the activity you are commenting on, it is how someone goes about it. You can be into triathlons without an expensive bike or you can be really into yoga without expensive yoga pants.

I said Ironman.

Still doesn't work. Same mentally-challenged uncle did an Ironman in Hawaii, although he didn't finish. He has a really nice group of people he trains with who help him get to races and raise the money to pay his way there. This kind of thing can be a status symbol, but lots of people just like the physical challenge and do it for themselves. Trust me, my uncle does not understand the relative status of anyone, much less his own place in that hierarchy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people jumping all over the "unintentional." Every purchase in life is intentional -- you had the free will to buy it or not. I'm guessing the OP wanted to just talk about status symbols -- someone buys a North Face bc they want a fleece and look turns out they're wearing what someone else considers a status symbol.

No one accidentally buys a NorthFace without caring, on some level, that it has a visible NorthFace logo. Don't be dense. If NorthFace is not an intentional, purposeful statement of status, I don't know what is.

This is where you are wrong. Buying a Northface jacket might be an intentional act to someone who has to think about the price of one. But, to many people, it is just a matter of needing a jacket and picking up the first one that is easily accessible, therefore, an unintentional act.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Driving to a store that's less than a mile away.

Paying anything for kindergarten.

Taking medication that makes your eyelashes thicker or injecting toxins to make your forehead smooth.

Waxing parts of your body that no one but your waxer will ever actually look at.

This is all wrong. These things are either intentional status symbols (private school) or just insecurity (botox).

The topic is UNINTENTIONAL symbols of status. The person who said "competing in Ironman triathlons" got it right. Not because the competitor is really fit or hot or something, but because only the upper echelon of people can take the time and have the income to train for that.

Those in the know, know this. You need nannies to watch your kids for the HOURS it takes to train, big bucks to fly all around the US, expensive equipment and food, personal trainers/ coaches, elective medical procedures, sports massages, and on and on and on. A good tri bike alone costs $5,000. Look it up.

Joe Schmoe, GS-11 commuting from Burke, Va. and married to Julie Schmoe, GS-10, with 2 kids in daycare at that closes at 6:30, SHARP, is going to have a hell of a time carving out the hours a day to prepare.

The two people I know who compete in triathlons are a grad student who makes almost no money and my mentally-challenged uncle who works as a grocery store checker. It isn't the activity you are commenting on, it is how someone goes about it. You can be into triathlons without an expensive bike or you can be really into yoga without expensive yoga pants.

I said Ironman.

Still doesn't work. Same mentally-challenged uncle did an Ironman in Hawaii, although he didn't finish. He has a really nice group of people he trains with who help him get to races and raise the money to pay his way there. This kind of thing can be a status symbol, but lots of people just like the physical challenge and do it for themselves. Trust me, my uncle does not understand the relative status of anyone, much less his own place in that hierarchy.

S/he was referring to mere mortals. Not your special uncle, dimwit. I agree, Ironman is an unintentional status symbol.

[Anonymous]

Multiple kids in expensive private colleges and obviously makes too much for any financial aid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Driving to a store that's less than a mile away.

Paying anything for kindergarten.

Taking medication that makes your eyelashes thicker or injecting toxins to make your forehead smooth.

Waxing parts of your body that no one but your waxer will ever actually look at.

This is all wrong. These things are either intentional status symbols (private school) or just insecurity (botox).

The topic is UNINTENTIONAL symbols of status. The person who said "competing in Ironman triathlons" got it right. Not because the competitor is really fit or hot or something, but because only the upper echelon of people can take the time and have the income to train for that.

Those in the know, know this. You need nannies to watch your kids for the HOURS it takes to train, big bucks to fly all around the US, expensive equipment and food, personal trainers/ coaches, elective medical procedures, sports massages, and on and on and on. A good tri bike alone costs $5,000. Look it up.

Joe Schmoe, GS-11 commuting from Burke, Va. and married to Julie Schmoe, GS-10, with 2 kids in daycare at that closes at 6:30, SHARP, is going to have a hell of a time carving out the hours a day to prepare.

The two people I know who compete in triathlons are a grad student who makes almost no money and my mentally-challenged uncle who works as a grocery store checker. It isn't the activity you are commenting on, it is how someone goes about it. You can be into triathlons without an expensive bike or you can be really into yoga without expensive yoga pants.

I said Ironman.

Still doesn't work. Same mentally-challenged uncle did an Ironman in Hawaii, although he didn't finish. He has a really nice group of people he trains with who help him get to races and raise the money to pay his way there. This kind of thing can be a status symbol, but lots of people just like the physical challenge and do it for themselves. Trust me, my uncle does not understand the relative status of anyone, much less his own place in that hierarchy.

S/he was referring to mere mortals. Not your special uncle, dimwit. I agree, Ironman is an unintentional status symbol.

Hmmm. The people I know who do Ironmans are former military who like to challenge themselves. Their spouses are used to being in their own with the kids so they have time to train. Not a rich person's hobby from what I can tell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has had the same family housekeeper for several decades-overpays her to not clean very well.

Ha! So true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Driving to a store that's less than a mile away.

Paying anything for kindergarten.

Taking medication that makes your eyelashes thicker or injecting toxins to make your forehead smooth.

Waxing parts of your body that no one but your waxer will ever actually look at.

This is all wrong. These things are either intentional status symbols (private school) or just insecurity (botox).

The topic is UNINTENTIONAL symbols of status. The person who said "competing in Ironman triathlons" got it right. Not because the competitor is really fit or hot or something, but because only the upper echelon of people can take the time and have the income to train for that.

Those in the know, know this. You need nannies to watch your kids for the HOURS it takes to train, big bucks to fly all around the US, expensive equipment and food, personal trainers/ coaches, elective medical procedures, sports massages, and on and on and on. A good tri bike alone costs $5,000. Look it up.

Joe Schmoe, GS-11 commuting from Burke, Va. and married to Julie Schmoe, GS-10, with 2 kids in daycare at that closes at 6:30, SHARP, is going to have a hell of a time carving out the hours a day to prepare.

The two people I know who compete in triathlons are a grad student who makes almost no money and my mentally-challenged uncle who works as a grocery store checker. It isn't the activity you are commenting on, it is how someone goes about it. You can be into triathlons without an expensive bike or you can be really into yoga without expensive yoga pants.

I said Ironman.

Still doesn't work. Same mentally-challenged uncle did an Ironman in Hawaii, although he didn't finish. He has a really nice group of people he trains with who help him get to races and raise the money to pay his way there. This kind of thing can be a status symbol, but lots of people just like the physical challenge and do it for themselves. Trust me, my uncle does not understand the relative status of anyone, much less his own place in that hierarchy.

S/he was referring to mere mortals. Not your special uncle, dimwit. I agree, Ironman is an unintentional status symbol.

Hmmm. The people I know who do Ironmans are former military who like to challenge themselves. Their spouses are used to being in their own with the kids so they have time to train. Not a rich person's hobby from what I can tell.

Thank you. That is my point. People who do extreme sports usually do it because they are addicted to the physical aspects of this kind of training. It isn't about other people or their opinions.

[Anonymous]

Okay ppl, we mean like those weekend warriors riding into packs with their Ivy league frat bros who pull down $500/hr during the week riding $1k+ bikes wearing pink spandex shorts. It is not for the poors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hiring Doody Calls to clean the dog poop in the yard.

Dear Gawd I hope to get to that level someday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Driving to a store that's less than a mile away.

Paying anything for kindergarten.

Taking medication that makes your eyelashes thicker or injecting toxins to make your forehead smooth.

Waxing parts of your body that no one but your waxer will ever actually look at.

This is all wrong. These things are either intentional status symbols (private school) or just insecurity (botox).

The topic is UNINTENTIONAL symbols of status. The person who said "competing in Ironman triathlons" got it right. Not because the competitor is really fit or hot or something, but because only the upper echelon of people can take the time and have the income to train for that.

Those in the know, know this. You need nannies to watch your kids for the HOURS it takes to train, big bucks to fly all around the US, expensive equipment and food, personal trainers/ coaches, elective medical procedures, sports massages, and on and on and on. A good tri bike alone costs $5,000. Look it up.

Joe Schmoe, GS-11 commuting from Burke, Va. and married to Julie Schmoe, GS-10, with 2 kids in daycare at that closes at 6:30, SHARP, is going to have a hell of a time carving out the hours a day to prepare.

The two people I know who compete in triathlons are a grad student who makes almost no money and my mentally-challenged uncle who works as a grocery store checker. It isn't the activity you are commenting on, it is how someone goes about it. You can be into triathlons without an expensive bike or you can be really into yoga without expensive yoga pants.

I said Ironman.

Still doesn't work. Same mentally-challenged uncle did an Ironman in Hawaii, although he didn't finish. He has a really nice group of people he trains with who help him get to races and raise the money to pay his way there. This kind of thing can be a status symbol, but lots of people just like the physical challenge and do it for themselves. Trust me, my uncle does not understand the relative status of anyone, much less his own place in that hierarchy.

S/he was referring to mere mortals. Not your special uncle, dimwit. I agree, Ironman is an unintentional status symbol.

Hmmm. The people I know who do Ironmans are former military who like to challenge themselves. Their spouses are used to being in their own with the kids so they have time to train. Not a rich person's hobby from what I can tell.

Thank you. That is my point. People who do extreme sports usually do it because they are addicted to the physical aspects of this kind of training. It isn't about other people or their opinions.

Ok. But that isn't an unintentional status symbol. There is no status (in the traditional sense that it is reserved for wealthy people) that comes along with it.

[Anonymous]

International adoption
Volunteering for fundraising events as a full-time job

[Anonymous]

Minimal makeup
Skinny
Well-educated
Very well-traveled
Exquisite table manners
Extensive vocabulary
Nice to everyone
Confident
Family heirloom jewelry/furniture/art
Prefers to spend $$ on experiences rather than stuff

[Anonymous]

No grammatical errors or spelling mistakes. Ever. Not even in text messages or emails.