Will Wilkinson and Henry Farrell, both vastly more informed in this area that I, have been discussing whether status really is as much zero sum game as is often stated. If we have only one method of measuring status (say,…

There is never one market, one language, one culture or form of obligation. To argue otherwise is akin to pretending that the logic of a biology lab is the logic of biology itself, uninflected by social status, taboo and mating ritual in homo academicus circa Anglo/America 2006. A novelist or anthropologist would say such secondary interests predominate, and that the study of biology, or finance, is no more than the McGuffin in the plot.

One should live life so as to maximize the odds that on looking back, another observer might be able say you did more than conform to a type.
No chance of that here kids.
So fucking stupid

But then it shouldn’t be called ‘status’. It only makes sense in respect to other people. Sure, one could as well navel-gaze and be happy, but what does it have to do with this discussion?

2. In a strictly capitalist society it’s generally accepted that market – monetary market – determines value of everything, often even the value of human life (insurance, court claims and so on)—
therefore the value of our status has to be determined by the market as well.

But you’re still missing the point, abb1: that only tells you the value that other people place on your status. If you don’t care about that, then market value is simply irrelevant.

Ultimately, the highest status male hierarchies in America are whichever ones attractive women are most impressed by.

I can see the Darwinian point that’s being made here, but even this kind of status doesn’t have to be a single hierarchy – because there can be asortative mating. So we could imagine a male striving for a form of status that isn’t generally attractive to women, but is attractive to women who have particular genes.

To clarify, I was only trying to argue that since:

1. Purpose of one’s existence – here, in this discussion – is defined as achieving the maximum status, or more precise: achieving the maximum value of mq’s (#73) ‘status mojo’—and
2. In a strictly capitalist society it’s generally accepted that market – monetary market – determines value of everything, often even the value of human life (insurance, court claims and so on)—
therefore the value of our status has to be determined by the market as well.

Which I thought was rather trivial.

The whole point is that value is sentimental all the way down.

That’s similar to what’s often called ‘sentimental value’. But what your grandfather’s watch is worth to you doesn’t tell us much about the watch itself; its market value does.

As I mentioned above, you can’t buy a “75 night elf character”. However, even if you do buy a Level 60 Tauren Warrior in the Dreadnaught armor set (Tier 3), wielding Might of Menethil you will still not have the same game skills as one who earned his/her place in the game.

You won’t be able to perform as efficiently or effectively in a raid or PVP battle.

In most cases, you won’t be allowed to participate in end game material once your limited skills are discovered.

-[)@||13|_ $(|-|43|=|=3|2

In reality the maximum level is currently 60. The upcoming expansion pack will raise it to 70.

By the way Rouges don’t generally “kick ass”. They are typically ripped apart by both Warriors and Hunters, and can be killed easily by even the most minimally skilled players of any class.

I would take option 2 in a heartbeat. Because I value the ability to play Go that well, more than I value an increase in my standard of living.

Your ranking says I would have less status. But I don’t care about your ranking. I care primarily about my ranking, and I care somewhat less about the rankings of people who are close to me, or for whom I have great respect.

So no, dollars are not universal, at least when it comes to valuing different lifestyles. I’m sure there are many criminals with a far higher net worth than any of the people I interact with every day. I consider all of those regular people higher status than any of the criminals, even the guy who works at mcdonalds part time and can’t keep his bills paid without begging friends every so often. Money isn’t everything, even to a running-dog capitalist like me.

Suppose you’re the best Go player in the world. Then, I’m sure you can go to the Go world competition, become a Go world champion and they’ll give you some dollars. And maybe you’ll manage to get hired as a spokesperson for a kimono company. And maybe you’ll get some free stuff out of it, and (not very likely) better sexual partners – all this can be estimated in dollars. And the total of what you can get – in dollars – is the exact value of this particular status.

It may turn out to be equal to the value of being the third best used-car salesman in town.