I still do. My Gundam model backlog is like a wine cellar of high-end Japanese plastic smack. I've even got some Chinese knock-offs, which, despite the designation, are actually pretty well designed. Especially during El Cough Gigante, when it seemed as if the entire Master Grade line was being kept afloat by the legendary designer Katoki Hajime by himself.
@@draketheduelist Yep! Just like with legos, it seems some of the Chinese knockoff brands have been getting close to the real thing in terms of quality. I bought a Daban mg HeavyArms and, if you're willing to take the time to give it a decent paintjob, it still looks damn good!
@@IronMan-ds5bi Ooh, I got that same one! Had to repair some of the parts on the not-Serpent cannons for (1) splitting in half and (2) not looking metallic whatsoever and I'm kinda' particular about that. Otherwise it came together really solidly with tons of undergating that wouldn't have been in the original kit, and at half the cost of what the authentic P-Bandai one used to go for. Lately I've been working on the Infinity Nova Lizard. It's like if a Sazabi and a Heavyarms had a baby, and as someone who loves both miniguns and Zeonic aesthetics, I got mine the day it came off preorder status. China also makes some pretty killer Mecha Musume, particularly their MS General and Nuke Matrix lines. I finished the Zhuge Lang last fall. I've gotta' get back to that bunny girl at one point. The one with a hand grenade styled to look like a carrot.
Like ignoring the fact that driving at excessive speeds in a parking lot could kill someone and ruin families. So many times have I seen richie rich drive at breakneck speeds while on their phone and nearly hitting a mother carrying her child. It's seriously sickening.
"Luxury" is right. I work with unemployed people, people with psychological and addiction issues, et c. None of them are interested in DEI; they're too busy trying to survive. Equally, the DEI activists at the local university never come to get their hands dirty helping us.
That last bit is what really irks me. I got befriended some people struggling with homelessness through my church in grad school, so during the day I was surrounded by academics and then at random times at night I was around the homeless. The contrast between the reality of that world and the fantasy liberal elite have was both hilarious and sad. It makes perfect sense why liberal cities can't help the homeless, because they don't understand them in the first place, let alone how different types need different types of assistance.
@Korschtal I learned that after being homeless over the past year. All people who are homeless, have addictions or psychological are too busy trying to survive. And yeah you're right, these activists and DEI hires don't care. They just want attention, and it's sad, but I get it. They don't wanna dirty their hands by associating or helping us "peasants."
What a ridiculous argument. Severely disadvantaged folks aren't particularly interested in railway timetables.....so we can do without railways! Who needs the luxury of rail anyway?! Do you get many activists from anti-woke TH-cam getting their hands dirty helping you?
@@admthrawnuru Conservative cities don't help the homeless properly either. There is plenty of greed and stupidity to go around. Liberals don't have a monopoly on it. Maybe in your particular area you help them better, but conservative governments are easily as guilty of ignoring the problem. Much of the time they will take funding from schemes that help the unemployed and homeless, so it's quite frankly ridiculous to suggest they're better. Having said that though, I do agree that the people who obsess over these luxury beliefs are absolutely neglecting far more important, but less flashy problems in society. There are plenty of people on the left who see this, and who despise the DEI obsessive types, but unfortunately are afraid to speak up for fear of the very real consequences. This slowly seems to be changing, but it's shocking it got this far.
The cherry on top was telling the people who are already struggling that they are the baddies - just like Isma said: “you should’ve thought about that before becoming peasants.”
Yea I've been called every name under the sun. I'm not going to buy your crappy product no matter what you call me , and im not going to convert to your views lol I'm busy trying to survive
Let's goo luxury beliefs - a beautiful phrase coined by Rob Henderson (who was a foster kid adopted and raised by incredibly poor parents and ultimately went to Yale where he found himself bewildered by his privileged colleagues ability to make themselves seem like victims)
Luxury belief... a belief you are NOT willing to die for... or even really make a tangible sacrifice for. In fact, they usually tend to be things that people expect EVERYONE ELSE to sacrifice for. Socialism being a prime example.
technically, the term is NOT coined by Rob Henderson, the term is used here, in eastern Europe for 3 decades by now to desribe western ideals... So, neither the term or the phenomenon is something Rob jsut discovered, its been well known and observed by common ppl. and described so waaaay before, its jsut it took you guys to go off the rails to notice how luxorious almsot ALL of your beliefs are for one reason or another (most of them, because unliek you guys most nations dont have 2 ocean protecting your own borders from hostile actors, which in turn means A WAY MORE thing is considered a matter of national security in other countries than in the West)
11:16 The biggest issue with that scene is "who doesn't like dragons......" in Veilguard where dragons kill entire villages and bring ruin on everyone. So a LOT of people don't like dragons. Smh.
Funny thing... when bad dragons exist, liking dragons is a "luxury belief". Real world scenario... I like wolves... but I also don't own sheep or other livestock... or live around wolves. I also like polar bears... from a 1000 miles away.
I prefer frugal. It's important to know your income to expenditures. A lot of people play like they're rich but in reality they're just hiding that they're broke while pantomiming that they have all the money in the world.
Cheap huh? Yeah right, I'll show you cheap. The best beer I ever had was a cheap $5.99 a six pack named "Fat Tire" at my local Trader Joes. For some reason it was discontinued, and that was the best beer I have ever had anywhere. I miss it. And it just cost six bucks a six pack, but the quality was an easy 10/10. Anyways, good post! 👍 Edited because I can't type worth a darn.
It's such a clever way to put it for sure. 10k likes on social media doesn't mean shit in the real world. Unfortunately getting a few +1s validates a lot of stupid opinions.
Great video, Greg! My favorite example of luxury beliefs was Leonardo DiCaprio flying on his private jet across the world to conferences where he would preach that we (the common people) should walk to work instead of drive in order to save the environment. Not only can we (the common people) not always afford to work within walking distance (or in cities where public transpo is nearly non-existent), but there's the joyful hypocrisy of it too, where WE should walk while YOU fly.
That documentary about DiCaprio being the Environmental Ambassador? Where they talk about humanity running out of time, on the verge of an apocalypse? I watched it in college, and I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I panicked when I first saw it. Until my dad talked to me and explained why it was all bunk. I've never gone back since.
@@nickjohnson1997 25 years later and people are still falling for the "we're 10 years from catastrophe" narrative. At what point does basic math kick this political doomsday cult to the curb?
I believe a more suitable example on how DEI is harmful to those who adopt them is the idea of the "victim perception fallacy". In short, when people are told that discrimination exists everywhere to prevent them from success, then their IDENTITY becomes the scapegoat, and the individual sees discrimination in places in where there is none. For example, if a black man doesnt get a job, the reasons could be several things such as lack of experience or credentials. The reason is unknowable, so DEI can sneak in and whisper in his ear "you didnt get the job because you're black". To link back to entertainment, when a woke product fails (ex. Velma) the blame is placed on their identity, and thatvthe consumers are racist/sexist/whatever, NOT that the show is terrible. When people are told that discrimination is everywhere, everything becomes discrimination.
Agreed. I had so many run ins with police for minor stuff like jaywalking, smoking a cigar walking down the sidewalk, having my brights on, etc, and I’m pale white. If I were black, I would 100% have assumed that was the only reason they ever stopped me.
@@CurtOntheRadio Then if they haven't been tainted by victim ideology, they would easily be able to identify when they were actually being discriminated against, and bam lawsuit
The thing with these sorts of people and their "luxury beliefs", is that not only are they superfluous, but the problems they "fix", only exist in their head. These people don't suffer, they don't starve, they don't struggle, they have everything they want and could ever want, to the point where their minds wander in search of something new. But rather than solving actual problems, requiring struggle and going through adversity, they instead invent a problem that they have the solution for, which is always that everyone else is wrong and should change. Never, does it ever have anything to do with them, never do they realise it's a problem that only exists in their mind, because what other purposes do they have in life, when life itself is trivial and boring to them. What lowly creatures...
The perfect environment for someone to think Marxism actually works, not that we haven't seen it fail and kill millions in Russia China and Venezuela. But the cultural Marxists behind woke, dei, and bridge aren't stopping anytime soon.
Not only does their fix only occur in their head, but the "fix" actually fks over the average citizen by shooting up prices or ruining our health more. The food we eat being sht today is do-gooders becoming corporate patsies to pressure the government to sign off on the bs. Meat and all byproducts were demonised as killers, but in return, our countries that followed these "healthy" recommendations got fatter and got sick for long enough to be squeezed dry by the drug companies.
It's worse than that These people are so obsessed with looking good that they will actively make any problem worse because if it was solved they'll lose an excuse to virtue signal
The battle is won when celebrities can no longer afford to espouse their luxury beliefs openly on marketing tours or when writers can no longer work the same into scripts with their usual subtlety of a kick to the groin.
Celebrities don't have an opinion, they have messages from their sponsor. When they do have an opinion, they retract it publicly the next day as per the sponsors wants
Turns out the market will correct. The tiny studio making half decent stuff without the nonsense lectures promoting luxury beliefs espoused by rich people who think they’re better than the rest of us will likely, eventually, succeed
Reminds me of, “As I fear not a child with a weapon he cannot lift, I will never fear the mind of a man who does not think.” -- Dalinar Kholin. Oathbringer: Stormlight Archives.
No. Believe it or not the McRib actually sells pretty well. It's a limited time thing, and it's actually cheap to produce. Back in the day when I worked at mcdonald's, that McRib sold like hotcakes. From my understanding it still does. Now the fish sandwich we can talk about. It stays on the menu year round, and comes with cheese...
As someone who has been working there a little less than a year, somehow the fish is insanely popular as is, and the mcrib was definitely selling well to the point my store ran out of stock a week before we're supposed to phase them out lol
Luxury beliefs is the exact way to put it. Very few people who are truly struggling give a damn about any of this stuff. If you're struggling just to put food on your table, you don't care what the person giving it to you looks like. Great video, Greg.
Thank you so much! Yeah, when things get tight that's when you really see what you care about. I know what luxuries are because I've been broke and I know what I quit spending on when I was. Seeing certain products dying out this year and last has been quite telling
Im one of the people they try to pander too. Ive hated it since it started almost 2 decades ago. Just make good products, good characters, good business. The only community a business should care about is their local one.
@andrewgreeb916 it is about profits, but its misguided. The thumb is on the pulse of celebrities and disconnected narcissists, not on the pulse of the public.
@@andrewgreeb916 They aren't even Marxists, they're rich Hollywood elites. They love money. They just want us to be happy without it and give it all to them. If the means of producing movies weren't under their control, and available to the masses, they'd lose their minds. Look how much a few Korean shows trounced them.
@@fettbub92 I would say it's both. The activists who worm their way into companies are doing it for a the sake of activism, but they pitch it to the CEOs and Executives as something that will increase profits and improve their image.
If you have running water and electricity you are a lucky man If you have both those things and a plate of food, you are a wealthy man If you have all these things and a family to share it with, you are a blessed man.
Stopped going to the movies. Stopped playing video games. Stopped drinking wine. Know where I hang out? TH-cam. ... dialogue straight out of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Touché, sir.
There's still good movies, there's plenty video games, and you can still buy wine and enjoy it. What I mean, is that there's choice out there. Silent Hill 2 remake was not filled with DEI for example, mouthwashing even having lefty vibes is still pretty good.
@Kabodanki Not just to mention the sheer volume of games that already exist, especially older games. And to be honest, I would honestly rather play video games and watch more older* movies than waste as many hrs of my time on youtube.
It was a bit expensive, but the only streaming service I use now, is the criterian channel.. It has different content every month, and lots of old classic movies, and arthouse stuff, and because it's curated, I never have that issue when I spend 20 minutes scrolling with nothing to watch.. I got it for 50% off, I don't know if bill have any more deals come up definitely try it for a month, if you are ever app for streaming stuff that you haven't seen before.. There's lots of bonus content to like documentaries, behind the scenes .. And commentary
@@Bahr_2006 That is a great movie. I actually bought the dvd of The Last Wish and "Free Guy". The only movies that I bought basically in the last 5 years.
"Luxury Beliefs" is a perfect term for that. I'd been trying (and failing) to find a succinct way of expressing that idea for years. Thanks for introducing me to that term.
I prefer 'Fashionably Incorrect Beliefs," or "FIBs" for short. The very fact that they are harmful to adapt directly implies they are inherently wrong, but the rich like to showcase how wrong they are as a status symbol. You know, tell a few fibs for social clout just to flex that they can.
Luxury beliefs are ideas and opinions that confer status on the fortunate, while inflicting costs on the unfortunate. The core component of a luxury belief is that the believers are sheltered from the consequences of their belief.
I went into working in the entertainment industry (artist + writer) with the same mindset Mom has as a hairdresser: when things get tight, our business is the first to go. People don't care about the new show when they're struggling to keep the lights on any more than they care about a haircut when they're struggling to pay for groceries. They're luxuries, and luxuries are the first to go. And luxury beliefs have to be the best way to explain this current year madness. I'm Christian. This has not changed no matter how many people have tried to dissuade me, and there have been more than a few over the years (my favorite are the online people because then I can ask "why does what a stranger believes matter so much to you?" Never get an answer back). And yet if you examine some of these people's beliefs, you can see them shifting in real time. Tell them that you heard x said y and they'll happily rush to cancel the person, torches and pitchforks at the ready--they're less activists and more bullies looking for a fresh target. I've said that they think they want to fight giants and all they have are windmills. It's all fake but they'll bend over backwards screaming for people to look at them--the "me" generation was truly this current one. As for what I'm currently excited about...Sonic 3, firstly, it's the first movie I'm going to see in theaters since Sonic 1 in 2020 and I do believe it'll be worth it. X'D In the game industry...Palworld, I've been checking for their announced big update every day this month since they said they'd release a new island in December. Started playing it in January when it popped back up on my radar as "Pokemon with guns," and it's been overdelivering--Pokemon spent the past ten years minimum disrespecting its fanbase, and when Palworld came and gave us fans the game we've been wanting, of course we went with that. Controversies? It's like with Hogwarts Legacy--controversies mean nothing when you're given a game you've wanted since the 90s on a silver platter. Will say I'm relieved that things seem to finally be swinging the other way--been giddy since November and for the first time in a while I'm actually looking forward to new stuff over going "oh no what now." Here's to a better year coming! :D
Well said. I've even lived on ramen ($0.39 per meal when I buy it in bulk) so I could maintain my dogs' quality food and vet care during lean times. Entertainment is for when I have EXTRA money. It's a luxury, especially when there's so much free entertainment right here on YT.
A lot of us believe these activists who've infiltrated nerd culture like anime and some gaming were the people who use to bully and make fun of us for enjoying anime and some games.
It's funny how entertainment companies forgot there weren't already endless choices of existing entertainment without the stains of Current Year. Video games have been around 50 years. Movies: 125 years. Music and books: centuries. I can watch old movies on Tubi or DVD. I also donate via Patreon of artists I want to see continue. I am in the Angel Guild almost exclusively for Tuttle Twins.
Every movie you haven't seen is a new movie to you, even if it is from the 1930's. There's an endless wealth, and more and more and more I find myself wondering "why would I see X new thing when I can watch Bride of Frankenstein or Casablanca again?"
@@CoryTheRavenabsolutely. For anyone who may be interested in more modern movies and may not have heard, try A24 films. They tend to be horror movies, but one of the big sellers for them is limited studio/producer interference. The director gets a lot of say, and it makes for more solid (and surreal) movies in my opinion when you’re not pandering to a particular group. Some include: The Lighthouse Everything, everywhere, all at once And Ex Machina Just to give a good eclectic selection
Hollywood is so bad I'm thinking of watching DS9 again with a new eye. I never liked it. No JLP no for me. Oh yeah, I now hate star trek because of the reasons of this video. JLP needs to stop lecturing and start being awesome again.
One of the most helpful realizations I’ve come to in my later 20s is that the entertainment industry needs me (or my money and attention) but I don’t need them-I can choose how I spend my money, time and attention. Very empowering!
I agree with everything you said, but what also is worth mentioning is that these "Luxury beliefs" have grown incresingly hostile to the average consumer. So it's not just that we can't afford to join in ... we actively don't want to because the people supporting these ideas can't stop talking about how terrible I am for the crime of existing. Again and again we basically get threatened with hatred, isolation, or even firing simply for not buying in. But acting like that will only make people obey in the short term as they truthfully wait for their chance at revenge against those that threatened them into compliance. So the problem becomes two fold. Those that were buying into it for the status afforded from "luxury ideas" are giving up because they can't afford it, and those not supporting it have grown increasingly hostile to it. When gay marriage was being debated I didn't care as it wasn't really my problem either way. I didn't mind if people lived their lives however they wanted. Then LGBT stated and all these groups stated getting put on a pedestal ... a bit unfair and patronizing but ... overall not much of an issue, my life is still find if I keep my distance. then suddenly all evertainment and jobs MUST not only allow these ideas but actively support them ... okay I'm taking issue with this. THEN employers start boasting about being openly racist and discrimitory to anyone NOT LGBT ... this is the tipping point where it's no longer possible to just leave it alone. So now the people who silently disagreed with "Luxury ideas" but still went with the flow because they couldn't be bothered to care and actively resisting it and what little middle class support it had largely collapsed.
A brilliant summary of my own personal trajectory. I started out being strongly in support of gay marriage, but by the time I was being told I was evil for being a straight white male I actively hated these people.
Right to Repair is very near and dear to my heart. It makes things cheaper to not have to buy entirely new things when a small piece breaks It makes us more self reliant to learn how to fix our things It makes more jobs as companies can spring up to produce 3rd party replacement parts It makes engineers design things better Only negative is some things might be slightly bulkier.
That's what I miss most about my ancient old BlackBerry -- I could buy a new rechargeable battery when the old one hit its limit, and overall that phone lasted longest of any phone I've ever had, because of that.
I don't think it's that people can't afford the "luxury beliefs". It's the luxury beliefs are losing their allure. Once every store in the world was waving a rainbow or black square, and it was enforced by government...it wasn't cool anymore. This is why media and governments, especially in Europe, are working so hard to maintain it through media control and enforcement.
In addition, it's no longer a 'rebel belief', as it's being held up and supported by the establishment. You can't claim to be oppressed when the system backs you constantly.
It's a bit of both, really Luxury beliefs are - almost by definition- inherently harmful to the people who hold them, but most of the people who hold them are in a position to not suffer the direct consequences. The difference now is that the harmful practices are now both widespread enough for the consequences to be casually observed and intrusively mandated into places they otherwise wouldn't be
Honestly it’s because the damage it does is now obvious to the plebs. People who might have not cared about queer issues in 1990 now know a kid who “came out” as trans. The people who didn’t care about policing in 2000 now have to hunt down someone to unlock a display case if they want to buy anything that costs more than $5. People who were okay with immigration in the past now can’t find jobs and pay more for housing. So the luxury beliefs no longer signal quality m they signal being out of touch.
I just tap the right side if the screen a couple times to give youtubers lower watch time for every pandering, cringy or sponsor crap. Scam companies already pay them enough ad money, so why bother with increasing their metrics?
It's the hierarchy of needs! I don't catch all your vids but this one is a prime example of not only why I sub'd, but why I love them. Well thought out and excellently presented. BRAVA
Grass is historically a Luxury Status symbol. It was used by old english land owners to flaunt "Look how much land I have that I don't even need to *do* anything with. Ohoho, I'm so rich and wealthy and my land is so lucrative. Hoho. Chortle chortle."
Its still basically the same, except it's having a yard to grow grass on in the first place that's become the luxury. The average person can't afford to buy property anymore(even with excessive loans), and what they can afford is to rent a studio apartment(or worse, a single room in a "quad" shared living space) where having a yard is typically out of the question. Where I live, a 100 year old house with a modest yard sold for over $1,000,000 while the much newer and larger apartment building down the street was sold for the SAME AMOUNT a few months later
@@vladpiranha I'd argue that's an example of the CCP stumbling into success by exploiting an opening they had no real impact on making. See their sudden 'investment' into the face mask market after their failure to contain a bio-weapons project for another example.
maybe the best ad read I've ever seen on youtube. I was literally all the way through it before I realized that I hadn't even thought of fast forwarding
Troubled is an excellent book. I’m not sure if we’ve reached the apotheosis of the negative ramifications of luxury beliefs, but I do think Henderson’s work and the work of others is really helping elucidate the negative externalities of the things we deploy to confer status.
Hollywood in the 1970s- 2000s used to have the finger on the pulse of ordinary people. They used to convey stories from the perspective of regular folks. People like Scorcese and Oliver Stone used to make movies about real political/psychological tensions. Now it's all glossy high camp fantasy and superheroes. Def tells you a lot about the mindset of the people making it.
I think there is room.for all genres, although there is an excess of marvel. However, I believe that the social issues they tackle lately have nothing to do with the majority of society.
I think the most hilarious takeaway from this video, is how, in a nutshell, it's explaining that the ones who whine the most about being oppressed or kept down or underrepresented are actually the most privileged and entitled of the lot.
I’ve been calling them luxury believes since 2016, but I don’t have a fancy Ivy League degree and access to a publisher and media outlets. And I work a real 8 to 6 job
Another major reason for the failure of DEI, is that the people that promote it, like those working in DEI teams, don't want to save anyone but themselves. They are as much about respect, love and peace, as a nuclear missile. And most people woke up to that fact.
"Luxury bellies " this is fitting for the fat positivity moment. They feel entitled to extra plane sits. Because they are the size of double wide trailers.
I don't think I actually have any luxury beliefs, but my belief system is so radically different from the elites that I don't know if there's anything they espouse that would be remotely compatible with my intellectual systems.
"Luxury beliefs" really is a great way to describe this stuff. Take away internet, electricity, food, safety... suddenly I don't think anyone would care so much about pronouns. lol
I am sure Ziegler got her start based on personality. No one is gonna deny that she is classically beautiful, but it’s crazy that people are waking up and able to look past what the pretty face and react to the substance.
Wow! I have watched a lot of videos on wokeness, but none so far has been as enlightening as this one! Thank you for finally explaining it all in a way that makes perfect sense. This whole time I was stuck thinking "But WHY do the rich believe things that are detrimental to everyone?" And finally, an answer! Thank you, thank you, thank you! (As a side note, I am really happy that you are on the side of reason in this culture war. Maybe it's a stereotype, but it seems to me somewhat rare that well-educated bespectacled handsome young men like you take up the cause. It is amazing to have you, you are truly one of a kind.
Luxury beliefs are absolutely a thing. Think of this example as well. Sexual deviancy and promiscuity. The wealthy can afford to sleep around and catch diseases, because they have the money, time, and resources treat those diseases, whereas poorer people don't have those same resources. The same can be said for drug use, or the party lifestyle. They play up these destructive lifestyles and make them look glamorous, and when the poor people participate in these lifestyles it often ruins their lives because they don't have the money, the time, the power, the resources to get back on their feet after a 6-month meth binge. They won't be able to get a job at Daddy's law firm after crashing their Lamborghini into a light post after a drunken brawl at the nightclub. So yes absolutely, the poor are fed horribly dangerous and destructive ideas, and they just don't have the ability and resources to recover from the negative effects of engaging in these lifestyles. And I hate to say it for anyone who's opposed to that ideological system, but that's why we're seeing a resurgence in traditionalist lifestyles. It's not glamorous, it's not fancy, it's not going to make you look like some big important hot shots, but it will provide you with stability, and the resources to live a comfortable life. It is far more attainable to be able to settle down with a wife and child, raise a family, etc then it is to try to be an Uber wealthy high-flying, drug using, model screwing executive. On top of all that it just feels more real and grounded in reality, it's more tangible than this lofty dream world of infinite money and infinite beautiful people and infinite parties.
I support most luxury beliefs that pisses off *The Message.* Things like Hogwarts legacy, Black Myth Wukong, Stellar Blade. Anything that upsets the inhabitants of the fictional hellscape that is Twitter.
Fun fact, Hogwarts Legacy itself embraces the message. The twitards just tried to boycott it because Rowling, so people bought it en masse as a counter-protest. There's the bartender Sirona, who people modded the voice of to be feminine, which was then banned from mod hosting sites that also cater to child... stuff and other gross things.
At least those are real products, some of which only piss off the message, because the message is shallow and doesn't bother actually checking content.
I never cared about anything Harry Potter -- never read the books, never saw the movies, I prefer sci fi -- until Wokeists started telling people NOT to get the game, and trying to cancel streamers who did playthroughs. That's what made it irresistible 😂
Hey Greg, just wanted to let you know there has been a lack of decent TH-camrs lately, and you are one of the top one I look forward to seeing more content from. Thanks for your videos!
Interesting point. What I witness is that, increasingly, protest is removed from change (either what is real or what is feasible), and "virtue signaling" from actual virtue. "Diversity"-forward productions that all look alike, shows of "compassion" and "understanding" that focus on bullying people into line. Increasingly, the luxury belief I've been having to divest myself of is that there will be enough time to do everything. Cancer surgery is an unfortunate eye-opener.
It's been months since Ive found a great channel. Your videos are quick, informed, informative and concise. Not once did i have to hold 2x to get to the point. Thank you sir, keep it up.
This is the same problem that plagues many "freemium" multiplayer games, especially MMOs, and why many of them die super quick. When developers focus too much on the whales (rich people) with tons of awesome IAPs (luxuries), while ignoring the free players or small purchasers, the free players end up quitting. Without an audience of people to flex on, whales stop buying, and the game dies. Just like with the so-called "luxury" industries, all freemium games also need the free or low-buying players, because there's tens of thousands more of them than whales/rich people, and not only do those low-buyers add up to a lot of revenue, without them, the rich people stop buying because there's no flex. So many games have died because devs think they can just keep harpooning the whales and ignoring the small fish, not realizing that the whales are only attracted to the small fish that are being fed, too. Without the small fish, there are no whales. And vice versa, as well, but whales are slightly less important to the overall community than low-buyers are. They're just a symbol to keep the low-buyers playing, thinking one day they'll look as awesome as the whale.
That situation is honestly kind of funny to me. Because if there are small fish, the whales will come to you even with very basic bait for them. (Because the actual bait IS the small time people.) So if they just focused on making an enjoyable game for said smaller fish, they'd make more money. Seems like a case of 'the economist said A-X and management ignorantly latched onto only X to maximize.' to me.
That's literally the opposite of feminist. Can I recommend a book about luxury beliefs by a Chinese spy you might like? It comes with free magic beans...
If you go back to Victorian Christian morality, you couldn't get laid without getting married (unless you went to a prostitute) and you couldn't get married without a job, or "prospects". No wonder they were such hard workers.
You have my favorite channel these days, thank you for this bridge building content, many of my farther left friends are watching your videos and coming back to center. God Bless brother 🙏🏼☦️
This video couldn't have come at a better time; I was struggling with how to explain my feelings toward Private Equity firms, Shareholders, and CEOs. Now I know what's been bothering me--they are so rich that they can afford to waste other people's time and money on luxury beliefs. The biggest luxury belief of all is "It's all about me!" Looks like a certain CEO of a major health insurance company recently found out that when you only care about yourself, people stop caring about you. "I'm sorry, my insurance plan doesn't cover sympathy." 😊
Thinking that if you stick drug injection centers and apartments for the homeless around schools in peaceful little suburbs is totally safe is also a luxury belief. This has happened multiple times here now and it's made entire neighborhoods unsafe. And what rankles the most is that residents and parents who opposed this were mocked and shamed as NIMBYs by people whose kids will never have an encounter with some exhibitionist weirdo on the way home or find human excrements and soiled needles in their sandbox, because they somehow never seem to want to build this shit in their own posh neighborhood for some weird reason.
I went from partaking in many big movies and games, since 2020 engaging less and less from the big company ones mostly only going to smaller companies who are making shit made for me. My wallet has been much happier with me.
Unrelated note: Greg, if you haven't, you should watch and talk about Avatar: The Last Air Bender. It is a fantastic family show, and I believe your family will love it.
Government taxation combined is my second largest single expense behind food, above rent, health insurance and cost, or any other single expense you can imagine. Why…?
I decided to do some research into this expression “Luxury Beliefs” because it reminds of something I noticed when people get caught up in these “Feel Good Movements.” It is popular for maybe a year. The person leading this movement is put on a pedestal but eventually the movement loses steam and it is forgotten. These movements make people feel like they’re actually doing something good but they accomplish absolutely nothing. I wonder if “Luxury Beliefs” is referring to this?🤔
I've been using Warby Parker since they first started, they're the only manufacturer I've found that has designs wide enough for those of us blessed with a large cranium.
i love how your channel just feels like i'm chatting with a friend or coworker about things, you're always so chill and reasonable and never feels like lecturing or talking down
When a brand tries to pander to the minority they should expect only the minority would buy their products and not the majority. So if their product fails to sell they should blame themselves not the majority who didn’t want to buy their product because it wasn’t meant for them in the first place
Growing up in a non-famous wine region (with mostly solid but not great wines), I have a theoretical concept of wine as a luxury good, but it's still hilarious to hear this talk about wine snobs.
7:08 or being disabled. I use a wheelchair daily, and hearing that i'd be hired "just because" i was disabled felt disingenuous. No matter that the employer did as much as they could to try and get me fired after a year
Luxury beliefs can definitely be on any political side. But I understand not mentioning any opposing luxury beliefs, as they are almost completely excluded from the modern entertainment industry. Social media has really bolstered all kinds of luxury beliefs and it can be really sad to see so many be swept to either side.
This is a superb explanation of how the entertainment industry killed itself by engaging in "Luxury Beliefs." It is also presented in an easy-to-understand way; yet, it is presenting complex ideas.
I know I’ll never prove causation, but the correlation of the SAG/Actor strike ending and streaming services adding commercials is something I’ll never forgive. Maybe I’m being entitled, but Eggs are $8, and when my one escape goes behind a paywall so rich actors stay rich….. I’ll never pay for Netflix or Amazon again
Greg, I don't watch many movies, I certainly don't waste time with silly shows, and I don't take time to play video games anymore, BUT, I will always take time to watch you bag on stupid entertainment properties that would waste my time. IDK why the TH-cam overlords brought me to your channel a few months ago, but boy, I am glad. Keep it up man!
12:51 I'd like to pose a counterpoint to the wine analogy. Not to argue but to add. I have also seen wine drunk by people who are falling apart or in bad times within media. So it has also associated itself with a negative status in my mind. Much like cigarretes and drugs. These "luxury beliefs" have done the same. Coming from people that will preach the ideals while never actually helping people. Making me (and probably many others) view them as nothing more than hollow words
You nailed it when you said that there's not much left to fight for And I'm convinced this is the reason activists have gone completely unhinged They are trying to get a regression of society on those issues so that they can stay relevant, which is horrifying
It’s no wonder why the ideology who thinks their smarter then every human to ever exist has just been richer then everybody to exist not on the backs of their own labor and now they’re out of money..
@@calumlittle9828 No, I didn't. I haven't reported a comment in years. TH-cam keeps hiding comments and shadowbanning people. That was my complaint in the first place.
@@AkiRa22084 just talked about how sexy you were and how we should totally hook up. But it's too late now, the moment has passed and I'm not single anymore besides.
Man I miss when rich people just bought expensive crap to flex
And left the rest of us alone so we could enjoy our lives without their constant complaining.
Blame social media likes/upvotes being the new social "good" bank account balance
I still do. My Gundam model backlog is like a wine cellar of high-end Japanese plastic smack.
I've even got some Chinese knock-offs, which, despite the designation, are actually pretty well designed. Especially during El Cough Gigante, when it seemed as if the entire Master Grade line was being kept afloat by the legendary designer Katoki Hajime by himself.
@@draketheduelist Yep! Just like with legos, it seems some of the Chinese knockoff brands have been getting close to the real thing in terms of quality.
I bought a Daban mg HeavyArms and, if you're willing to take the time to give it a decent paintjob, it still looks damn good!
@@IronMan-ds5bi Ooh, I got that same one! Had to repair some of the parts on the not-Serpent cannons for (1) splitting in half and (2) not looking metallic whatsoever and I'm kinda' particular about that. Otherwise it came together really solidly with tons of undergating that wouldn't have been in the original kit, and at half the cost of what the authentic P-Bandai one used to go for.
Lately I've been working on the Infinity Nova Lizard. It's like if a Sazabi and a Heavyarms had a baby, and as someone who loves both miniguns and Zeonic aesthetics, I got mine the day it came off preorder status.
China also makes some pretty killer Mecha Musume, particularly their MS General and Nuke Matrix lines. I finished the Zhuge Lang last fall. I've gotta' get back to that bunny girl at one point. The one with a hand grenade styled to look like a carrot.
“You can ignore reality but you cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality”
Like ignoring the fact that driving at excessive speeds in a parking lot could kill someone and ruin families. So many times have I seen richie rich drive at breakneck speeds while on their phone and nearly hitting a mother carrying her child. It's seriously sickening.
Facts! 💯🎯
-Ayn Rand
Those who ignore reality tend to be ignorant to the idea of the reality they live in, you could say.
Dont tell me what I can and cannot ignore.
"Luxury" is right. I work with unemployed people, people with psychological and addiction issues, et c. None of them are interested in DEI; they're too busy trying to survive. Equally, the DEI activists at the local university never come to get their hands dirty helping us.
The collegiate left has never forgiven the actual poor and working classes for not joining the proletariat revolution.
That last bit is what really irks me. I got befriended some people struggling with homelessness through my church in grad school, so during the day I was surrounded by academics and then at random times at night I was around the homeless. The contrast between the reality of that world and the fantasy liberal elite have was both hilarious and sad. It makes perfect sense why liberal cities can't help the homeless, because they don't understand them in the first place, let alone how different types need different types of assistance.
@Korschtal
I learned that after being homeless over the past year. All people who are homeless, have addictions or psychological are too busy trying to survive.
And yeah you're right, these activists and DEI hires don't care. They just want attention, and it's sad, but I get it. They don't wanna dirty their hands by associating or helping us "peasants."
What a ridiculous argument. Severely disadvantaged folks aren't particularly interested in railway timetables.....so we can do without railways! Who needs the luxury of rail anyway?!
Do you get many activists from anti-woke TH-cam getting their hands dirty helping you?
@@admthrawnuru Conservative cities don't help the homeless properly either. There is plenty of greed and stupidity to go around. Liberals don't have a monopoly on it. Maybe in your particular area you help them better, but conservative governments are easily as guilty of ignoring the problem. Much of the time they will take funding from schemes that help the unemployed and homeless, so it's quite frankly ridiculous to suggest they're better.
Having said that though, I do agree that the people who obsess over these luxury beliefs are absolutely neglecting far more important, but less flashy problems in society. There are plenty of people on the left who see this, and who despise the DEI obsessive types, but unfortunately are afraid to speak up for fear of the very real consequences. This slowly seems to be changing, but it's shocking it got this far.
The cherry on top was telling the people who are already struggling that they are the baddies - just like Isma said: “you should’ve thought about that before becoming peasants.”
*Yzma
Wrong lever
Yea I've been called every name under the sun. I'm not going to buy your crappy product no matter what you call me , and im not going to convert to your views lol I'm busy trying to survive
The “E” can stand for “Elitists saying do as I say not as I do.”
@@christophercripps7639 Discrimination, Elitism, Ignorance
Let's goo luxury beliefs - a beautiful phrase coined by Rob Henderson (who was a foster kid adopted and raised by incredibly poor parents and ultimately went to Yale where he found himself bewildered by his privileged colleagues ability to make themselves seem like victims)
Luxury belief... a belief you are NOT willing to die for... or even really make a tangible sacrifice for.
In fact, they usually tend to be things that people expect EVERYONE ELSE to sacrifice for.
Socialism being a prime example.
@@Nyet-Zdyesuntil now. 😂feels good
@@TempoLOOKING People chunking some of these luxury beliefs into the trash, at least has the advantage of being more honest.
You don't see how far up the ladder you are when you're only looking up.
technically, the term is NOT coined by Rob Henderson, the term is used here, in eastern Europe for 3 decades by now to desribe western ideals... So, neither the term or the phenomenon is something Rob jsut discovered, its been well known and observed by common ppl. and described so waaaay before, its jsut it took you guys to go off the rails to notice how luxorious almsot ALL of your beliefs are for one reason or another (most of them, because unliek you guys most nations dont have 2 ocean protecting your own borders from hostile actors, which in turn means A WAY MORE thing is considered a matter of national security in other countries than in the West)
11:16 The biggest issue with that scene is "who doesn't like dragons......" in Veilguard where dragons kill entire villages and bring ruin on everyone. So a LOT of people don't like dragons. Smh.
That clip ate some of my brain cells.
Right? Ever seen the movie Reign of Fire? If dragons were real, nobody would be sitting around talking about how awesome they are.
They butcher the lore of Dragon Age with that trash game.
Funny thing... when bad dragons exist, liking dragons is a "luxury belief".
Real world scenario... I like wolves... but I also don't own sheep or other livestock... or live around wolves.
I also like polar bears... from a 1000 miles away.
Isn’t it called Dragon Age because dragons are a huge threat to humanity?
"Not for moral reasons, I'm just cheap" are words I live by. 😂
Hell yeah😂😂😂😂 for whatever reason, I brag about my cheapness
I prefer frugal. It's important to know your income to expenditures. A lot of people play like they're rich but in reality they're just hiding that they're broke while pantomiming that they have all the money in the world.
Cheap huh? Yeah right, I'll show you cheap. The best beer I ever had was a cheap $5.99 a six pack named "Fat Tire" at my local Trader Joes. For some reason it was discontinued, and that was the best beer I have ever had anywhere. I miss it. And it just cost six bucks a six pack, but the quality was an easy 10/10.
Anyways, good post! 👍
Edited because I can't type worth a darn.
It’s a great motivator
@@blockmasterscottfat tire was discontinued?? That was a good beer.
Heinlein used to say that fiction writers are competing for people's beer money. The entertainment industry needs to remember that.
The King Himself. May he rest in peace.
Unfortunately for the industry beer is far more addictive than what they are brewing.
Wow never thought of it like that. Thanks for this.
What a goated writer
The entertainment industry desperately needs more Heinleins
I don't know why, but the phrase "Tweets are not legal tender" sent me on a laughing fit. It's so true, hits the nail directly on the head.
It's such a clever way to put it for sure. 10k likes on social media doesn't mean shit in the real world. Unfortunately getting a few +1s validates a lot of stupid opinions.
@@easportssucks4347 Plus there's a good chance a lot of those Likes are from bots and not actual people.
Great video, Greg! My favorite example of luxury beliefs was Leonardo DiCaprio flying on his private jet across the world to conferences where he would preach that we (the common people) should walk to work instead of drive in order to save the environment. Not only can we (the common people) not always afford to work within walking distance (or in cities where public transpo is nearly non-existent), but there's the joyful hypocrisy of it too, where WE should walk while YOU fly.
That documentary about DiCaprio being the Environmental Ambassador? Where they talk about humanity running out of time, on the verge of an apocalypse?
I watched it in college, and I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I panicked when I first saw it. Until my dad talked to me and explained why it was all bunk.
I've never gone back since.
@@nickjohnson1997 25 years later and people are still falling for the "we're 10 years from catastrophe" narrative. At what point does basic math kick this political doomsday cult to the curb?
He doesn’t seem interested in forcing CEO to create work from home permanent also.
But HE's a movie star! HE needs to be in location to work! HE needs to fly to work! Why cant YOU see that!? BiGoT!
The sense of entitlement was once astounding.
Now, it's normal... even expected.
I mean, aren't you surprised when one of them does NOT act entitled?
I believe a more suitable example on how DEI is harmful to those who adopt them is the idea of the "victim perception fallacy". In short, when people are told that discrimination exists everywhere to prevent them from success, then their IDENTITY becomes the scapegoat, and the individual sees discrimination in places in where there is none.
For example, if a black man doesnt get a job, the reasons could be several things such as lack of experience or credentials. The reason is unknowable, so DEI can sneak in and whisper in his ear "you didnt get the job because you're black".
To link back to entertainment, when a woke product fails (ex. Velma) the blame is placed on their identity, and thatvthe consumers are racist/sexist/whatever, NOT that the show is terrible.
When people are told that discrimination is everywhere, everything becomes discrimination.
"White privilege is never being told your faults are somebody else's problem."
-Bill Whittle
Agreed. I had so many run ins with police for minor stuff like jaywalking, smoking a cigar walking down the sidewalk, having my brights on, etc, and I’m pale white. If I were black, I would 100% have assumed that was the only reason they ever stopped me.
The final paragraph; the Anita Sarkeesian motto.
What about seeing discrimination in places where this is some, not none?
What about the black that doesn't get the job because they're black?
@@CurtOntheRadio Then if they haven't been tainted by victim ideology, they would easily be able to identify when they were actually being discriminated against, and bam lawsuit
The thing with these sorts of people and their "luxury beliefs", is that not only are they superfluous, but the problems they "fix", only exist in their head.
These people don't suffer, they don't starve, they don't struggle, they have everything they want and could ever want, to the point where their minds wander in search of something new.
But rather than solving actual problems, requiring struggle and going through adversity, they instead invent a problem that they have the solution for, which is always that everyone else is wrong and should change.
Never, does it ever have anything to do with them, never do they realise it's a problem that only exists in their mind, because what other purposes do they have in life, when life itself is trivial and boring to them.
What lowly creatures...
The perfect environment for someone to think Marxism actually works, not that we haven't seen it fail and kill millions in Russia China and Venezuela.
But the cultural Marxists behind woke, dei, and bridge aren't stopping anytime soon.
Not only does their fix only occur in their head, but the "fix" actually fks over the average citizen by shooting up prices or ruining our health more. The food we eat being sht today is do-gooders becoming corporate patsies to pressure the government to sign off on the bs. Meat and all byproducts were demonised as killers, but in return, our countries that followed these "healthy" recommendations got fatter and got sick for long enough to be squeezed dry by the drug companies.
Brilliantly put!
Dang what a line!
It's worse than that
These people are so obsessed with looking good that they will actively make any problem worse because if it was solved they'll lose an excuse to virtue signal
The battle is won when celebrities can no longer afford to espouse their luxury beliefs openly on marketing tours or when writers can no longer work the same into scripts with their usual subtlety of a kick to the groin.
Celebrities don't have an opinion, they have messages from their sponsor.
When they do have an opinion, they retract it publicly the next day as per the sponsors wants
Turns out the market will correct. The tiny studio making half decent stuff without the nonsense lectures promoting luxury beliefs espoused by rich people who think they’re better than the rest of us will likely, eventually, succeed
@@kaufmanat1
Well, unless they get bought out or sabotaged, of course.
Like how the Terran Morale Officers from the Starshatter universe say “One cannot grip their sword proper if they have no grip on reality.”
Reminds me of, “As I fear not a child with a weapon he cannot lift, I will never fear the mind of a man who does not think.”
-- Dalinar Kholin.
Oathbringer: Stormlight Archives.
"Overwhelming online support does not translate into sales". *Bam! McRib commercial. 😂
😂😂😂😂🎉🎉🎉🎉say it louder for the people in the back (ie Hollywood)
The McRib exists outside of time and space. It is not susceptible to mortal consumer trends.
No. Believe it or not the McRib actually sells pretty well. It's a limited time thing, and it's actually cheap to produce. Back in the day when I worked at mcdonald's, that McRib sold like hotcakes. From my understanding it still does. Now the fish sandwich we can talk about. It stays on the menu year round, and comes with cheese...
@@metpach old people love the fish sandwich cause its mushy.
As someone who has been working there a little less than a year, somehow the fish is insanely popular as is, and the mcrib was definitely selling well to the point my store ran out of stock a week before we're supposed to phase them out lol
Luxury beliefs is the exact way to put it. Very few people who are truly struggling give a damn about any of this stuff. If you're struggling just to put food on your table, you don't care what the person giving it to you looks like.
Great video, Greg.
Thank you so much!
Yeah, when things get tight that's when you really see what you care about. I know what luxuries are because I've been broke and I know what I quit spending on when I was. Seeing certain products dying out this year and last has been quite telling
We also all stopped giving a shit about celebs in general. And they still haven’t caught on…
Im one of the people they try to pander too. Ive hated it since it started almost 2 decades ago. Just make good products, good characters, good business. The only community a business should care about is their local one.
It's not about profits it's about cultural victory.
A cultural victory for Marxists, which will likely end about as well as it did for Mao...
@andrewgreeb916 it is about profits, but its misguided. The thumb is on the pulse of celebrities and disconnected narcissists, not on the pulse of the public.
@@andrewgreeb916 They aren't even Marxists, they're rich Hollywood elites. They love money. They just want us to be happy without it and give it all to them. If the means of producing movies weren't under their control, and available to the masses, they'd lose their minds. Look how much a few Korean shows trounced them.
@@fettbub92 I would say it's both. The activists who worm their way into companies are doing it for a the sake of activism, but they pitch it to the CEOs and Executives as something that will increase profits and improve their image.
If you have running water and electricity you are a lucky man
If you have both those things and a plate of food, you are a wealthy man
If you have all these things and a family to share it with, you are a blessed man.
If you understand that you are indeed blessed, you are a wise man.
Amen
Stopped going to the movies. Stopped playing video games. Stopped drinking wine.
Know where I hang out? TH-cam.
... dialogue straight out of Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood. Touché, sir.
There's still good movies, there's plenty video games, and you can still buy wine and enjoy it. What I mean, is that there's choice out there. Silent Hill 2 remake was not filled with DEI for example, mouthwashing even having lefty vibes is still pretty good.
@Kabodanki Not just to mention the sheer volume of games that already exist, especially older games.
And to be honest, I would honestly rather play video games and watch more older* movies than waste as many hrs of my time on youtube.
It was a bit expensive, but the only streaming service I use now, is the criterian channel.. It has different content every month, and lots of old classic movies, and arthouse stuff, and because it's curated, I never have that issue when I spend 20 minutes scrolling with nothing to watch.. I got it for 50% off, I don't know if bill have any more deals come up definitely try it for a month, if you are ever app for streaming stuff that you haven't seen before.. There's lots of bonus content to like documentaries, behind the scenes .. And commentary
@Kabodanki I'd rather watch and play older content. Don't need to check out remakes. Don't care about them anymore.
Tons of solid indie games as well as double A
Anything from Hollywood is not just a luxury, it's worthless.
What about Puss in Boots: The Last Wish? That was a Hollywood movie.
@@Bahr_2006Good point. The sad part is movies like this are now the exception, not the rule.
@@MSgt5J071 True : (
Hollywood is just putting out the equivalent to the HAWK memecoin.
@@Bahr_2006 That is a great movie. I actually bought the dvd of The Last Wish and "Free Guy". The only movies that I bought basically in the last 5 years.
“Low-skill actors and writers…”
And that encapsulates the last 6-8 years of pandering in the (shameless) entertainment industry.
"Luxury Beliefs" is a perfect term for that. I'd been trying (and failing) to find a succinct way of expressing that idea for years. Thanks for introducing me to that term.
I prefer 'Fashionably Incorrect Beliefs," or "FIBs" for short. The very fact that they are harmful to adapt directly implies they are inherently wrong, but the rich like to showcase how wrong they are as a status symbol. You know, tell a few fibs for social clout just to flex that they can.
When identity politics hit hard in 2020 I called it luxury politics and I said it wouldn't last.
Look up the writings of Rob Henderson. You won't regret it.
The worst part is the ultimate luxury belief is to bully others into affirming luxury beliefs. That’s why entertainment has to hyper preachy
Luxury beliefs are ideas and opinions that confer status on the fortunate, while inflicting costs on the unfortunate.
The core component of a luxury belief is that the believers are sheltered from the consequences of their belief.
I went into working in the entertainment industry (artist + writer) with the same mindset Mom has as a hairdresser: when things get tight, our business is the first to go. People don't care about the new show when they're struggling to keep the lights on any more than they care about a haircut when they're struggling to pay for groceries. They're luxuries, and luxuries are the first to go.
And luxury beliefs have to be the best way to explain this current year madness. I'm Christian. This has not changed no matter how many people have tried to dissuade me, and there have been more than a few over the years (my favorite are the online people because then I can ask "why does what a stranger believes matter so much to you?" Never get an answer back). And yet if you examine some of these people's beliefs, you can see them shifting in real time. Tell them that you heard x said y and they'll happily rush to cancel the person, torches and pitchforks at the ready--they're less activists and more bullies looking for a fresh target. I've said that they think they want to fight giants and all they have are windmills. It's all fake but they'll bend over backwards screaming for people to look at them--the "me" generation was truly this current one.
As for what I'm currently excited about...Sonic 3, firstly, it's the first movie I'm going to see in theaters since Sonic 1 in 2020 and I do believe it'll be worth it. X'D In the game industry...Palworld, I've been checking for their announced big update every day this month since they said they'd release a new island in December. Started playing it in January when it popped back up on my radar as "Pokemon with guns," and it's been overdelivering--Pokemon spent the past ten years minimum disrespecting its fanbase, and when Palworld came and gave us fans the game we've been wanting, of course we went with that. Controversies? It's like with Hogwarts Legacy--controversies mean nothing when you're given a game you've wanted since the 90s on a silver platter.
Will say I'm relieved that things seem to finally be swinging the other way--been giddy since November and for the first time in a while I'm actually looking forward to new stuff over going "oh no what now." Here's to a better year coming! :D
Well said. I've even lived on ramen ($0.39 per meal when I buy it in bulk) so I could maintain my dogs' quality food and vet care during lean times.
Entertainment is for when I have EXTRA money. It's a luxury, especially when there's so much free entertainment right here on YT.
A lot of us believe these activists who've infiltrated nerd culture like anime and some gaming were the people who use to bully and make fun of us for enjoying anime and some games.
luxury? i spend almost nothing, i overthink everything i buy, that's IF i buy it
Are you my wife? 😂
@@MumRah sorry to disapoint
That's me as well. I'll watch every video read every review before I even crack my wallet.
That's because fashionframe is endgame, and people like you and I have barely exited the tutorial.
soon you wont be able to buy anything only subscribe!
Great video. This is a concept I think I was aware of intuitively, but couldn’t put into words.
Right?! The first time I heard Henderson lay it out, I was so shocked at how much it makes sense, but how I couldn’t describe it before.
It's funny how entertainment companies forgot there weren't already endless choices of existing entertainment without the stains of Current Year. Video games have been around 50 years. Movies: 125 years. Music and books: centuries.
I can watch old movies on Tubi or DVD. I also donate via Patreon of artists I want to see continue. I am in the Angel Guild almost exclusively for Tuttle Twins.
Every movie you haven't seen is a new movie to you, even if it is from the 1930's. There's an endless wealth, and more and more and more I find myself wondering "why would I see X new thing when I can watch Bride of Frankenstein or Casablanca again?"
@@CoryTheRavenevery game you haven't played is a new game to you, the entire c&c collection is only 20 USD.
@@CoryTheRavenexactly
@@CoryTheRavenabsolutely. For anyone who may be interested in more modern movies and may not have heard, try A24 films. They tend to be horror movies, but one of the big sellers for them is limited studio/producer interference. The director gets a lot of say, and it makes for more solid (and surreal) movies in my opinion when you’re not pandering to a particular group. Some include:
The Lighthouse
Everything, everywhere, all at once
And Ex Machina
Just to give a good eclectic selection
I would be careful what you say before they start editing stuff out movies
“It’s easy to be an angel in paradise” - DS9
I get the basic idea, but I'd counter the quote by saying that the concept of fallen angels suggests otherwise.
"It is easy to be a saint in paradise." - Commander Bejamin Sisko.
BARS!
It's easy to be a monk in a monastery.
Hollywood is so bad I'm thinking of watching DS9 again with a new eye. I never liked it. No JLP no for me.
Oh yeah, I now hate star trek because of the reasons of this video. JLP needs to stop lecturing and start being awesome again.
One of the most helpful realizations I’ve come to in my later 20s is that the entertainment industry needs me (or my money and attention) but I don’t need them-I can choose how I spend my money, time and attention. Very empowering!
Vote with your wallet.
I agree with everything you said, but what also is worth mentioning is that these "Luxury beliefs" have grown incresingly hostile to the average consumer. So it's not just that we can't afford to join in ... we actively don't want to because the people supporting these ideas can't stop talking about how terrible I am for the crime of existing.
Again and again we basically get threatened with hatred, isolation, or even firing simply for not buying in. But acting like that will only make people obey in the short term as they truthfully wait for their chance at revenge against those that threatened them into compliance.
So the problem becomes two fold. Those that were buying into it for the status afforded from "luxury ideas" are giving up because they can't afford it, and those not supporting it have grown increasingly hostile to it.
When gay marriage was being debated I didn't care as it wasn't really my problem either way. I didn't mind if people lived their lives however they wanted.
Then LGBT stated and all these groups stated getting put on a pedestal ... a bit unfair and patronizing but ... overall not much of an issue, my life is still find if I keep my distance.
then suddenly all evertainment and jobs MUST not only allow these ideas but actively support them ... okay I'm taking issue with this.
THEN employers start boasting about being openly racist and discrimitory to anyone NOT LGBT ... this is the tipping point where it's no longer possible to just leave it alone.
So now the people who silently disagreed with "Luxury ideas" but still went with the flow because they couldn't be bothered to care and actively resisting it and what little middle class support it had largely collapsed.
Welcome to cultural Marxism maoism.
Where having the wrong beliefs makes you a nonperson.
A brilliant summary of my own personal trajectory. I started out being strongly in support of gay marriage, but by the time I was being told I was evil for being a straight white male I actively hated these people.
As the gen x meme says after the election. You made us care, so this is what you got.
@marcusmoonstein242 nobody ever told you that, and if they did, they were a troll to get you to move in exactly the direction you did.
That's complete revisionism.
Right to Repair is very near and dear to my heart.
It makes things cheaper to not have to buy entirely new things when a small piece breaks
It makes us more self reliant to learn how to fix our things
It makes more jobs as companies can spring up to produce 3rd party replacement parts
It makes engineers design things better
Only negative is some things might be slightly bulkier.
Reduce, REUSE, and then recycle.
Being anti right to repair is not environmentally friendly.
That's what I miss most about my ancient old BlackBerry -- I could buy a new rechargeable battery when the old one hit its limit, and overall that phone lasted longest of any phone I've ever had, because of that.
I don't think it's that people can't afford the "luxury beliefs". It's the luxury beliefs are losing their allure. Once every store in the world was waving a rainbow or black square, and it was enforced by government...it wasn't cool anymore. This is why media and governments, especially in Europe, are working so hard to maintain it through media control and enforcement.
In addition, it's no longer a 'rebel belief', as it's being held up and supported by the establishment. You can't claim to be oppressed when the system backs you constantly.
It wasn't cool in the first place and they're still trying to deepthroat you with their new ridiculous beliefs.
It's a bit of both, really
Luxury beliefs are - almost by definition- inherently harmful to the people who hold them, but most of the people who hold them are in a position to not suffer the direct consequences.
The difference now is that the harmful practices are now both widespread enough for the consequences to be casually observed and intrusively mandated into places they otherwise wouldn't be
Honestly it’s because the damage it does is now obvious to the plebs. People who might have not cared about queer issues in 1990 now know a kid who “came out” as trans. The people who didn’t care about policing in 2000 now have to hunt down someone to unlock a display case if they want to buy anything that costs more than $5. People who were okay with immigration in the past now can’t find jobs and pay more for housing.
So the luxury beliefs no longer signal quality m they signal being out of touch.
Owen's "like my vid" game is JEDI LEVEL
It's cringe
@Kabodanki
I disagree. Pretty much every creator asks for sub/ like/ comment.
Greg has a good approach.
Yeah, it was pretty dope. He got me with it 😂
I just tap the right side if the screen a couple times to give youtubers lower watch time for every pandering, cringy or sponsor crap. Scam companies already pay them enough ad money, so why bother with increasing their metrics?
@@KorianHUN
It's called "support"
It's the hierarchy of needs! I don't catch all your vids but this one is a prime example of not only why I sub'd, but why I love them. Well thought out and excellently presented. BRAVA
Grass is historically a Luxury Status symbol. It was used by old english land owners to flaunt "Look how much land I have that I don't even need to *do* anything with. Ohoho, I'm so rich and wealthy and my land is so lucrative. Hoho. Chortle chortle."
Its still basically the same, except it's having a yard to grow grass on in the first place that's become the luxury. The average person can't afford to buy property anymore(even with excessive loans), and what they can afford is to rent a studio apartment(or worse, a single room in a "quad" shared living space) where having a yard is typically out of the question. Where I live, a 100 year old house with a modest yard sold for over $1,000,000 while the much newer and larger apartment building down the street was sold for the SAME AMOUNT a few months later
@richarddickjohnson516 You're not wrong. Having property at all is a status symbol.
All we can do is let the DEI sturdy companies keep failing while new competition rises from the muck to bloom
Civil War.
They'll be Chinese. If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd say it was by design.
@@vladpiranha I'd argue that's an example of the CCP stumbling into success by exploiting an opening they had no real impact on making. See their sudden 'investment' into the face mask market after their failure to contain a bio-weapons project for another example.
@@Sorain1 Knowing the CCP, they probably had to steal the concept of taking advantage of a gap in the market first
maybe the best ad read I've ever seen on youtube. I was literally all the way through it before I realized that I hadn't even thought of fast forwarding
Troubled is an excellent book. I’m not sure if we’ve reached the apotheosis of the negative ramifications of luxury beliefs, but I do think Henderson’s work and the work of others is really helping elucidate the negative externalities of the things we deploy to confer status.
Hollywood in the 1970s- 2000s used to have the finger on the pulse of ordinary people. They used to convey stories from the perspective of regular folks. People like Scorcese and Oliver Stone used to make movies about real political/psychological tensions. Now it's all glossy high camp fantasy and superheroes. Def tells you a lot about the mindset of the people making it.
I think there is room.for all genres, although there is an excess of marvel. However, I believe that the social issues they tackle lately have nothing to do with the majority of society.
Everything sucks to watch anymore because most mainstream entertainment is built to pander to the widest demo possible and slacktivist is in right now
Most in Hollywood today have no life experience outside of the bubble that is Hollywood.
I think the most hilarious takeaway from this video, is how, in a nutshell, it's explaining that the ones who whine the most about being oppressed or kept down or underrepresented are actually the most privileged and entitled of the lot.
I don't always like your videos, but when I do, I actually mean it.
A very good and balanced observation.
Me too. Even when I don’t agree with Greg, I appreciate his perspective because it isn’t forceful.
I’ve been calling them luxury believes since 2016, but I don’t have a fancy Ivy League degree and access to a publisher and media outlets. And I work a real 8 to 6 job
Another major reason for the failure of DEI, is that the people that promote it, like those working in DEI teams, don't want to save anyone but themselves.
They are as much about respect, love and peace, as a nuclear missile.
And most people woke up to that fact.
At first I read "luxury bellies" and thought it was a weirdly specific title 😅
Hahahaha, that’s me leaving the Brazilian restaurant!
@gregowen2022 😂😂
"Luxury bellies " this is fitting for the fat positivity moment. They feel entitled to extra plane sits. Because they are the size of double wide trailers.
Oh yes off course the fat positivity bs.
I don't think I actually have any luxury beliefs, but my belief system is so radically different from the elites that I don't know if there's anything they espouse that would be remotely compatible with my intellectual systems.
That as well. They're so trapped in their bubble and completely out of touch with the rest of the world.
@@DavidMartinez-ce3lp They sure are, and it cost them the election.
"Luxury beliefs" really is a great way to describe this stuff. Take away internet, electricity, food, safety... suddenly I don't think anyone would care so much about pronouns. lol
I am sure Ziegler got her start based on personality. No one is gonna deny that she is classically beautiful, but it’s crazy that people are waking up and able to look past what the pretty face and react to the substance.
Wow! I have watched a lot of videos on wokeness, but none so far has been as enlightening as this one! Thank you for finally explaining it all in a way that makes perfect sense. This whole time I was stuck thinking "But WHY do the rich believe things that are detrimental to everyone?" And finally, an answer! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
(As a side note, I am really happy that you are on the side of reason in this culture war. Maybe it's a stereotype, but it seems to me somewhat rare that well-educated bespectacled handsome young men like you take up the cause. It is amazing to have you, you are truly one of a kind.
nice video. This is one of the reasons, why there are so much more common sense in some developing countries, that can`t just burn money on bs.
Luxury beliefs are absolutely a thing. Think of this example as well. Sexual deviancy and promiscuity. The wealthy can afford to sleep around and catch diseases, because they have the money, time, and resources treat those diseases, whereas poorer people don't have those same resources. The same can be said for drug use, or the party lifestyle. They play up these destructive lifestyles and make them look glamorous, and when the poor people participate in these lifestyles it often ruins their lives because they don't have the money, the time, the power, the resources to get back on their feet after a 6-month meth binge. They won't be able to get a job at Daddy's law firm after crashing their Lamborghini into a light post after a drunken brawl at the nightclub. So yes absolutely, the poor are fed horribly dangerous and destructive ideas, and they just don't have the ability and resources to recover from the negative effects of engaging in these lifestyles.
And I hate to say it for anyone who's opposed to that ideological system, but that's why we're seeing a resurgence in traditionalist lifestyles. It's not glamorous, it's not fancy, it's not going to make you look like some big important hot shots, but it will provide you with stability, and the resources to live a comfortable life. It is far more attainable to be able to settle down with a wife and child, raise a family, etc then it is to try to be an Uber wealthy high-flying, drug using, model screwing executive. On top of all that it just feels more real and grounded in reality, it's more tangible than this lofty dream world of infinite money and infinite beautiful people and infinite parties.
1:46 I quit drinking wine because of money reasons. Alcohol just ain’t worth the wallet burn
I support most luxury beliefs that pisses off *The Message.* Things like Hogwarts legacy, Black Myth Wukong, Stellar Blade. Anything that upsets the inhabitants of the fictional hellscape that is Twitter.
Fun fact, Hogwarts Legacy itself embraces the message. The twitards just tried to boycott it because Rowling, so people bought it en masse as a counter-protest. There's the bartender Sirona, who people modded the voice of to be feminine, which was then banned from mod hosting sites that also cater to child... stuff and other gross things.
At least those are real products, some of which only piss off the message, because the message is shallow and doesn't bother actually checking content.
I never cared about anything Harry Potter -- never read the books, never saw the movies, I prefer sci fi -- until Wokeists started telling people NOT to get the game, and trying to cancel streamers who did playthroughs.
That's what made it irresistible 😂
I see supporting Hogwarts Legacy as supporting these lunatics eating their own. :D
Hey Greg, just wanted to let you know there has been a lack of decent TH-camrs lately, and you are one of the top one I look forward to seeing more content from. Thanks for your videos!
This was VERY well put. You summed up everything that is happening right now is such a concise way. Thank you! I’ll now be binging your videos
Interesting point. What I witness is that, increasingly, protest is removed from change (either what is real or what is feasible), and "virtue signaling" from actual virtue. "Diversity"-forward productions that all look alike, shows of "compassion" and "understanding" that focus on bullying people into line.
Increasingly, the luxury belief I've been having to divest myself of is that there will be enough time to do everything. Cancer surgery is an unfortunate eye-opener.
It's been months since Ive found a great channel. Your videos are quick, informed, informative and concise. Not once did i have to hold 2x to get to the point. Thank you sir, keep it up.
This is the same problem that plagues many "freemium" multiplayer games, especially MMOs, and why many of them die super quick. When developers focus too much on the whales (rich people) with tons of awesome IAPs (luxuries), while ignoring the free players or small purchasers, the free players end up quitting. Without an audience of people to flex on, whales stop buying, and the game dies. Just like with the so-called "luxury" industries, all freemium games also need the free or low-buying players, because there's tens of thousands more of them than whales/rich people, and not only do those low-buyers add up to a lot of revenue, without them, the rich people stop buying because there's no flex.
So many games have died because devs think they can just keep harpooning the whales and ignoring the small fish, not realizing that the whales are only attracted to the small fish that are being fed, too. Without the small fish, there are no whales. And vice versa, as well, but whales are slightly less important to the overall community than low-buyers are. They're just a symbol to keep the low-buyers playing, thinking one day they'll look as awesome as the whale.
That situation is honestly kind of funny to me. Because if there are small fish, the whales will come to you even with very basic bait for them. (Because the actual bait IS the small time people.) So if they just focused on making an enjoyable game for said smaller fish, they'd make more money. Seems like a case of 'the economist said A-X and management ignorantly latched onto only X to maximize.' to me.
Greg, you hit the nail so accurately you’re a skilled carpenter
I think Eric July said it best: equality is a side effect of putting quality first.
The root of DEI, "faminism", is fundamentally wrong, for example:
Men NEED a job to get married.
Women do not require a job to get married.
I've said for years, women ruin everything.
That's literally the opposite of feminist. Can I recommend a book about luxury beliefs by a Chinese spy you might like? It comes with free magic beans...
If you go back to Victorian Christian morality, you couldn't get laid without getting married (unless you went to a prostitute) and you couldn't get married without a job, or "prospects". No wonder they were such hard workers.
@@daniellogan-scott5968 Very true. It protected women, while motivating men and there was someone for everyone.
@@daniellogan-scott5968😂😂😂why stop there? Let's go to stone age. I get DEI sucks, but let's not be absurd
You just won the mug battle with that sick Alexandmug! :O
Oddly, when I hold that mug, I feel so much more effective and skilled. Like…. About 15% more, I’d say
You have my favorite channel these days, thank you for this bridge building content, many of my farther left friends are watching your videos and coming back to center. God Bless brother 🙏🏼☦️
DEI and quotas are a violation of artists' civil liberties.
This video couldn't have come at a better time; I was struggling with how to explain my feelings toward Private Equity firms, Shareholders, and CEOs. Now I know what's been bothering me--they are so rich that they can afford to waste other people's time and money on luxury beliefs. The biggest luxury belief of all is "It's all about me!" Looks like a certain CEO of a major health insurance company recently found out that when you only care about yourself, people stop caring about you. "I'm sorry, my insurance plan doesn't cover sympathy." 😊
Thinking that if you stick drug injection centers and apartments for the homeless around schools in peaceful little suburbs is totally safe is also a luxury belief. This has happened multiple times here now and it's made entire neighborhoods unsafe. And what rankles the most is that residents and parents who opposed this were mocked and shamed as NIMBYs by people whose kids will never have an encounter with some exhibitionist weirdo on the way home or find human excrements and soiled needles in their sandbox, because they somehow never seem to want to build this shit in their own posh neighborhood for some weird reason.
I think there's a fine line between an expensive belief, and an idiotic belief, it's getting harder to see that line though.
I went from partaking in many big movies and games, since 2020 engaging less and less from the big company ones mostly only going to smaller companies who are making shit made for me.
My wallet has been much happier with me.
Unrelated note: Greg, if you haven't, you should watch and talk about Avatar: The Last Air Bender. It is a fantastic family show, and I believe your family will love it.
Yeah, pity it never got a proper sequel aside from comics (so I hear.) but it's absolutely worthy of watching.
Government taxation combined is my second largest single expense behind food, above rent, health insurance and cost, or any other single expense you can imagine.
Why…?
DEI is not going away, it’s rebranding and going silent. It’s going to continue to ruin everything if you don’t keep up with the changes
I agree, just more subtle implementation so consumers are less aware what their dollars are supporting.
I decided to do some research into this expression “Luxury Beliefs” because it reminds of something I noticed when people get caught up in these “Feel Good Movements.” It is popular for maybe a year. The person leading this movement is put on a pedestal but eventually the movement loses steam and it is forgotten. These movements make people feel like they’re actually doing something good but they accomplish absolutely nothing.
I wonder if “Luxury Beliefs” is referring to this?🤔
Oh, so "fads"
empty causes
a war for the body, an army in the mind
empty causes
losing steam as time goes by
Just found your channel. Watched a few videos - this one got my sub 👍. Amazing take and way to frame this issue.
I've been using Warby Parker since they first started, they're the only manufacturer I've found that has designs wide enough for those of us blessed with a large cranium.
I couldn't afford ONE day drunk. Not because alcohol is expensive, but because I barely survive even at my most competent.
i love how your channel just feels like i'm chatting with a friend or coworker about things, you're always so chill and reasonable and never feels like lecturing or talking down
I don’t know why TH-cam recommended your video to me, but now I’m a fan. Subscribed.
I'm glad it did, and I'm glad you're here!
When a brand tries to pander to the minority they should expect only the minority would buy their products and not the majority.
So if their product fails to sell they should blame themselves not the majority who didn’t want to buy their product because it wasn’t meant for them in the first place
this is one of the most insightful videos i've seen in a long while, wow
Growing up in a non-famous wine region (with mostly solid but not great wines), I have a theoretical concept of wine as a luxury good, but it's still hilarious to hear this talk about wine snobs.
It’s my first time watching this creator and I gotta admit I didn’t expect this video to be so good !
7:08 or being disabled. I use a wheelchair daily, and hearing that i'd be hired "just because" i was disabled felt disingenuous. No matter that the employer did as much as they could to try and get me fired after a year
great video, the best summation of this ive seen so far. subscribed.
Anti-capitalism is also a luxury belief
The biggest thing that killed the entertainment industry is the lack of entertainment.
Luxury beliefs can definitely be on any political side. But I understand not mentioning any opposing luxury beliefs, as they are almost completely excluded from the modern entertainment industry. Social media has really bolstered all kinds of luxury beliefs and it can be really sad to see so many be swept to either side.
One of the best and fair videos about the subject I watched. Kudos to you!
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words.
Nice mug, way to flex 💪
Lol, you and the other mug guy are both great fun 😀
Remember they get desperate if you ignore it and wine tastes like crap
7 minutes ago? Maybe I am a gregular...
Woohoo! I’m glad you’re here!
This is a superb explanation of how the entertainment industry killed itself by engaging in "Luxury Beliefs." It is also presented in an easy-to-understand way; yet, it is presenting complex ideas.
I know I’ll never prove causation, but the correlation of the SAG/Actor strike ending and streaming services adding commercials is something I’ll never forgive.
Maybe I’m being entitled, but Eggs are $8, and when my one escape goes behind a paywall so rich actors stay rich….. I’ll never pay for Netflix or Amazon again
Fascinating. This is probably the most clear explanation if this phenomenon I have ever heard.
Greg, I don't watch many movies, I certainly don't waste time with silly shows, and I don't take time to play video games anymore, BUT, I will always take time to watch you bag on stupid entertainment properties that would waste my time. IDK why the TH-cam overlords brought me to your channel a few months ago, but boy, I am glad. Keep it up man!
opened my eyes to this new concept. New subscriber here
12:51 I'd like to pose a counterpoint to the wine analogy. Not to argue but to add. I have also seen wine drunk by people who are falling apart or in bad times within media. So it has also associated itself with a negative status in my mind. Much like cigarretes and drugs. These "luxury beliefs" have done the same. Coming from people that will preach the ideals while never actually helping people. Making me (and probably many others) view them as nothing more than hollow words
You nailed it when you said that there's not much left to fight for
And I'm convinced this is the reason activists have gone completely unhinged
They are trying to get a regression of society on those issues so that they can stay relevant, which is horrifying
It still works in feilds dominated by female customers. Pop music for instance.
Bro you straight up killed it with this concept. I’m going to be using the phrase luxury beliefs in my life now. Strong work
It’s no wonder why the ideology who thinks their smarter then every human to ever exist has just been richer then everybody to exist not on the backs of their own labor and now they’re out of money..
So hard to communicate with Greg when YT censors everything...
Seems like you're the one doing the censorship...
@@calumlittle9828 In what way? You okay?
@@AkiRa22084 you reported my reply to you.
@@calumlittle9828 No, I didn't. I haven't reported a comment in years. TH-cam keeps hiding comments and shadowbanning people. That was my complaint in the first place.
@@AkiRa22084 just talked about how sexy you were and how we should totally hook up. But it's too late now, the moment has passed and I'm not single anymore besides.