• Hot Saucerman
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    1 year ago

    Pretty sure it’s about conspicuous consumption and how many people live above their means.

    In practice, there’s many rich people who understand that flaunting wealth is seen as crass, and many who don’t want to be known as well-to-do. There are definitely wealthy people who also understand how wealth can taint their interpersonal relationships, and aren’t excited to share how wealthy they are initially with a new partner, because they want the partner to like them for who they are, not for their wealth.

    The first man appears wealthy, but in actuality has very little money, because he has spent his money on things that make him look wealthy. He flaunts his “wealth” only for it to be a sham.

    The second man appears poor, but in actuality has a decent amount of money, because he has spent his money on things that actually provide value, while limiting conspicuous consumption. He would prefer to initially hide his wealth from a new partner.

    This isn’t meant to be a defense of the rich. By and large, most rich people are all too happy to commit to conspicuous consumption and let their interpersonal relationships be tainted by money. The handful of rich who understand how money twists things I do not think are properly representative of the whole.