Things that are unintentional status symbols.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a good skier.

Straight teeth.

Dietary requirements.

I agree with this except for dietary requirements. I think the opposite: being able to eat anything in moderation, drink and function, smoke a cigarette occasionally when with prep school friends and still look attractive and not be self conscious at all. "Grandmother smoked and drank gin until she was 92"

PP here. I mean, "gluten intolerant," "vegan," etc.

You know gluten intolerance is a real health problem, right?

For less than 1% of the population, which is far, far less than the amount of people who go gluten-free to mask their subtle eating disorders into socially acceptable habits.

False. It is just under 1% specifically for celiac - percentage is much higher for the broader spectrum of gluten sensitivities.

Though I'll grant you it could be an unintentional status symbol, as getting diagnosed takes time and good medical care, and the GF diet is frequently more expensive.

I'm the original PP here. To be clear, I've been a vegetarian for decades, and my comment isn't meant to be snarky. Buying specialty food is time consuming and expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think special diets in general. It takes a certain kind of privilege to willingly forgo food.

What makes you think all people on special diets actually want to be on those special diets? Some people don't eat food that will kill them.

I think PP was referring to the people who are on special diets from preference rather than medical need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Being a good skier.

Straight teeth.

Dietary requirements.

I agree with this except for dietary requirements. I think the opposite: being able to eat anything in moderation, drink and function, smoke a cigarette occasionally when with prep school friends and still look attractive and not be self conscious at all. "Grandmother smoked and drank gin until she was 92"

PP here. I mean, "gluten intolerant," "vegan," etc.

You know gluten intolerance is a real health problem, right?

For less than 1% of the population, which is far, far less than the amount of people who go gluten-free to mask their subtle eating disorders into socially acceptable habits.

As someone with diagnosed Celiac, I am thankful for the people with "eating disorders" and the autistic community because they add to our numbers and make it viable for companies to manufacture gluten free bread and other food items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think special diets in general. It takes a certain kind of privilege to willingly forgo food.

What makes you think all people on special diets actually want to be on those special diets? Some people don't eat food that will kill them.

I think PP was referring to the people who are on special diets from preference rather than medical need.

Exactly. It's not the people who actually hav celiac. It's the blue bloods that are trying out gluten free to see if gluten is the cause for their frequent headaches, as opposed to the real cause of being frequently "over served" at Kenwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think special diets in general. It takes a certain kind of privilege to willingly forgo food.

What makes you think all people on special diets actually want to be on those special diets? Some people don't eat food that will kill them.

I think PP was referring to the people who are on special diets from preference rather than medical need.

Exactly. It's not the people who actually hav celiac. It's the blue bloods that are trying out gluten free to see if gluten is the cause for their frequent headaches, as opposed to the real cause of being frequently "over served" at Kenwood.

Or moms who think they sound really involved if they keep their child GF without a medical basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think special diets in general. It takes a certain kind of privilege to willingly forgo food.

What makes you think all people on special diets actually want to be on those special diets? Some people don't eat food that will kill them.

I think PP was referring to the people who are on special diets from preference rather than medical need.

Exactly. It's not the people who actually hav celiac. It's the blue bloods that are trying out gluten free to see if gluten is the cause for their frequent headaches, as opposed to the real cause of being frequently "over served" at Kenwood.

Oh gawd, PP... Kenwood is NOT where bbs belong, that is Chevy and Chevy only...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think special diets in general. It takes a certain kind of privilege to willingly forgo food.

What makes you think all people on special diets actually want to be on those special diets? Some people don't eat food that will kill them.

I think PP was referring to the people who are on special diets from preference rather than medical need.

Exactly. It's not the people who actually hav celiac. It's the blue bloods that are trying out gluten free to see if gluten is the cause for their frequent headaches, as opposed to the real cause of being frequently "over served" at Kenwood.

Oh gawd, PP... Kenwood is NOT where bbs belong, that is Chevy and Chevy only...

Lol. I'm the Kenwood pp. I was going to say Chevy Chase but couldn't remeber if the proper name is Chevy Chase Club, Chevy Chase Country Club or if it's just referred to as Chevy Chase. Gawd forbid I used the wrong name

[Anonymous]

Bitching about not being able to get parts for your 15 year old Saab. But refusing to give it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think special diets in general. It takes a certain kind of privilege to willingly forgo food.

What makes you think all people on special diets actually want to be on those special diets? Some people don't eat food that will kill them.

I think PP was referring to the people who are on special diets from preference rather than medical need.

Exactly. It's not the people who actually hav celiac. It's the blue bloods that are trying out gluten free to see if gluten is the cause for their frequent headaches, as opposed to the real cause of being frequently "over served" at Kenwood.

Oh gawd, PP... Kenwood is NOT where bbs belong, that is Chevy and Chevy only...

+1. Also, the bluebloods are not the ones concerned about celiac, they take too much enjoyment from the (low key) fussing over which wine to serve with that good red meat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bitching about not being able to get parts for your 15 year old Saab. But refusing to give it up.

Who said I'm bitching? I do take a secret pride in thinking it's much more elegant than your Explorer, however.

[Anonymous]

There's a big distinction that needs to be made here: blue bloods vs. upper middle class. Upper middle class people are generally much more concerned about education and dietary restrictions than blue bloods. BBs may have gone to Harvard because they were legacies (much tougher today) but it's not because they like sitting around the fireplace discussing great literature. Intellectual pursuits and dietary concerns are more of an upper middle class thing.

There's definitely some overlap, of course. There are plenty of people in the DMV area who are upper middle class with blue blood ancestors. Along the way much of the money got spent (sounds like PP's friend who refuses Asian cars), so economically they're upper middle class, but they still cling (fear of status loss?) to BB values.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stupidly expensive strollers. Bonus of you have more than one for whatever scenario you and Larliandra may find yourselves in.

Does this include BOB running strollers?

Bobs are not stupidly expensive. Stupidly expensive is $1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a big distinction that needs to be made here: blue bloods vs. upper middle class. Upper middle class people are generally much more concerned about education and dietary restrictions than blue bloods. BBs may have gone to Harvard because they were legacies (much tougher today) but it's not because they like sitting around the fireplace discussing great literature. Intellectual pursuits and dietary concerns are more of an upper middle class thing.

There's definitely some overlap, of course. There are plenty of people in the DMV area who are upper middle class with blue blood ancestors. Along the way much of the

money got spent (sounds like PP's friend who refuses Asian cars), so economically they're upper middle class, but they still cling (fear of status loss?) to BB values.

I am definitely UMC and not a BB. Thanks for partially explaining the difference.

[Anonymous]

Driving a 14 year old beater car to a private school drop off, country club, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's a big distinction that needs to be made here: blue bloods vs. upper middle class. Upper middle class people are generally much more concerned about education and dietary restrictions than blue bloods. BBs may have gone to Harvard because they were legacies (much tougher today) but it's not because they like sitting around the fireplace discussing great literature. Intellectual pursuits and dietary concerns are more of an upper middle class thing.

There's definitely some overlap, of course. There are plenty of people in the DMV area who are upper middle class with blue blood ancestors. Along the way much of the money got spent (sounds like PP's friend who refuses Asian cars), so economically they're upper middle class, but they still cling (fear of status loss?) to BB values.

But the thread is about status symbols generally, not just upper crust blue blood legacy type of nonsense.