However, this is totally based on its cultural context.

Status symbols always are, almost by definition.

I'm sure he's referring to the general cultural context of the world. Sure maybe there's a culture that values your ability to yodel as a status symbol, but obviously nobody is talking about that.

Every culture on the face of the earth pretty much values wealth and power as status symbols. Let's not attempt to be clever and actually end up making the world make less sense by trying to make everything apples and oranges when there is a universal standard of status.

Certainly is...I'm in the new status symbol but without the influence ( which I dont really care about ) and most people that know me are calling me a wanker etc...Same at work but whenever they cant do something the wanker/Excel monkey becomes god on Earth.

Cultural POV must play a lot but your environment, education does too I guess.

What? This sounds profound but it's not true. Luxury goods are still status symbols, positions of authority are still status symbols. The universal status symbol is your net worth and anything that can display a high net worth is a status symbol.

A Flexible schedule is not a status symbol. Let's be real. The people with the highest status in our world today aren't high status because of a flexible schedule. They are high status because of wealth and power. This is universal to human nature and will never change.

You are missing the point of that list, I think..

I believe it's a new way or thinking- people are realizing more and more that this old "american dream" where you somehow have millions and millions of dollars and 'power' is just silly. That's not the reality for almost all people. And it shouldn't be the goal!

Maybe you work hard and get lucky? Ok great. But most people can work as hard as they want and still be just "ok".

So.. instead of going after wealth or being in authority, how about we just live happy lives and try to do awesome things?

We have so much more (cheap) technology these days, that it makes it even easier to accomplish.

People are realizing that if they have the flexibility to work from home, work on somewhat their own schedule, get to be creative while doing it and not bugged by annoying bosses/shit.. how can you get much more happy than that? Yeah, you don't have infinite money, but you probably have enough to buy a 70" TV, gaming computer, virtual reality etc.

I have a lot of this, actually.. more responsibility than I would like with young kids; but aside from that.. for me working at home and being able to be a creative developer is my dream life. I could be making a ton more money, but then I have to commute.. be away from family.. not work on my own schedule etc.

I know plenty of people who have a lot more money. And they are miserable as fuck. Money and power doesn't give you as much happiness as you would like to believe.

Of course. Vying for high status is a cut throat game and not necessarily the path to happiness. Vying for status is, however, the only path to status and the fundamental symbols of status never change.

You can choose to live a simple life and be happy, or you can rule an empire and deal with the associated stresses. To each his own, but ALL humans recognize status, and almost all humans have an innate desire for more status.

The dilemma we face is whether we're willing to pay the price to attain said status. If status was offered without a cost most people will take it without hesitation.

You know plenty of people who have a lot of money but are miserable as fuck, so does that mean if you won the lottery for 10.5 million dollars you're not gonna take the prize because you learned your lesson from other "unhappy" rich people? Let's be real.

Status is status all you're saying is that more and more people are foregoing it for a less stressful life. This doesn't change the fact that we as humans still recognize status and that some part of us always will desire it to a certain extent.

I like the list although I disagree with it some. I think luxury goods are still a status symbol (iPhone X?) and I think she/he left out experiences. People want to look they're always having a good time and living life to the fullest.

Reading the tweet source of this one, interestingly the author left out " + Anti-fragile" after Independent in his version.