Society's status symbols have changed

[mike9009]

1980s 3/10
2014 1/10

I think peoples aspirations have changed...

[ClassicMotorNut]

5/10 and 1/10, although some would argue that an M.G. Midget is not a high-performance car.

[simoid]

ClassicMotorNut said:

5/10 and 1/10, although some would argue that an M.G. Midget is not a high-performance car.

In the 80s?

[Pesty]

Pretty sure in the 80s I wanted a holiday home abroad big house with electric gates too.

that list is balls for the 80s made by the sort who win millions and still work in mcdonalds because they like it.

mind you I dont really understand what a status symbol is. I just like expensive stuff. Dont care what anybody else thinks id buy it for me, not to show off.

Edited by Pesty on Monday 21st April 13:18

[944fan]

Kinky said:

944fan said:

I have most of the 80s list and only one of the now list. I am lagging behind somewhat.

Look on the positive side .... in 30 years time you'll have a nanny

Excellent. Shame my kids will be my age now by then.

[andy_s]

In nick:

1980's:
Copy of Jazzle.
Woodbine/'snout'.
Books and paintings (no nudes).
Velvet armchair.
Obsequious nonce.

2010's:
iCloud porn on Ipad.
Crack bowl.
Shiv disguised as a tuft of grass in the rec area.
Big TV.
Colourful training shoes.

[lamboman100]

Foppo said:

When somebody bows for you that is a status symbol.You know you've made it in this crazy world of ours.

Lol. Some staff bow, and form human tunnels, for guests in a few top hotels across the US, Africa and Asia (NY, Shanghai, etc.). It is cringey at times.

[98elise]

A colour TV in the 80's?

Thats like saying a flat screen TV now. Your grandparents might have had a black and white, but it was pretty much the norm to have colour back then IIRC.

A VCR or an Atari was probably more of a status symbol.

[NicD]

The list is from 1980 I think, so not the 80s as such but I cannot find any discussion of the methodology of the 1980 survey

[valiant]

Well I've got a colour TV. Hell, I've got two! (Look at me, aren't I a flash bd).

I'm climbing that greasy pole. 1980's here I come...

[Jasandjules]

Who cares what is a "status symbol"?

Do people truly buy things because of this?

[GetCarter]

Jesus that's depressing. Is anybody that stupid?

A friend of mine, a multi, multi millionaire, drives a Berlingo.

We all *got* that status symbols are a complete farce years ago, didn't we? Is anyone still in that mindset?

[V8 Fettler]

If you are a heterosexual British male then the key real-world desirables don't really change over 35 years:

A Woman
Unbelievably fast motorcycle
Something powered by a V8
Something powered by a xflow running on twin 40s
A Mini with 100bhp
Pinball machine with no anti-tilt

I think that's it.

[HOGEPH]

My basic needs.

[Fishtigua]

Ah, at last. Got a Wifi thingy, all the other cack I couldn't give a monkey's about. I'll stick with yachts and motorbikes thanks.

[turbobloke]

OK the status symbol as a concept may be a bit 80s itself, but in the spirit of the list...a dubious but possible 2014-ish status symbol has to be having £5k in your back pocket when you crash your R8.

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists...

Article said:

Within a couple of weeks of arriving in a new ­country, Manchester City’s £22million signing was caught up in a car smash.

The young Italian was heading to City’s training ground in his Audi R8 eight days ago when the ­incident happened.

The police raced to the scene, breathalysed ­Balotelli and interviewed him. The breath test was negative, but the police demanded to know why a 20-year-old, who speaks faltering English, was ­carrying £5,000 cash in his back pocket.

Balotelli’s response was honest: “Because I am rich.”

[Dog Star]

andy_s said:

In nick:

1980's:
Copy of Jazzle.
Woodbine/'snout'.
Books and paintings (no nudes).
Velvet armchair.
Obsequious nonce.

2010's:
iCloud porn on Ipad.
Crack bowl.
Shiv disguised as a tuft of grass in the rec area.
Big TV.
Colourful training shoes.

- especially at "obsequious nonce".