I am seated on my futon in the ambience of a cloudy dusk, relaxed. In order to distract myself from impending obligations I am going to write about a thing that annoys me: conspicuous consumption.
I use Burberry as a metaphor for the aforementioned sin-though some elaboration is in order to correctly articulate my feelings.
I have friends who wear burberry. The owning and wearing of expensive clothing is not something to which I am opposed. But, in my observation, many of the naked bodies clothed in dollars are ignorant about life. It is he who thinks a burberry scarf is something that people could have if they chose to spend their money on it, or they worked hard enough for it, that I loathe. He who owns an expensive article for it's quality, sentimental value or practicality, and the same is not marked by a brand to signify it's monetary value, he do I applaud.
Possession of money is largely circumstantial and is certainly not an indication of character. Nonetheless, money is viewed as a mark of prestige -or- at the very least, can have the effect of creating class distinction. Class distinction makes me uncomfortable. Truly. So, it can be said that a burberry scarf, with it's unmistakable pattern, can have the effect of making at least some people in this world uncomfortable. It is ignorance of this fact that makes me, at least initially, prejudiced against wearers of burberry.
This greatly overlaps with another thing I dislike; fashion. I classify degrees of fashion-awareness into three categories: 1) Entirely ignorant of fashion, whether or not by choice, 2) Cognizant of fashion in the sense that what is appealing changes over decades and centuries, and 3) Aware of and acting upon trends that are associated with prestige. Unless you're retarded I'm annoyed by #3. Allow me to illustrate. #1 is not a desirable state. The socially inept and hermits fall into this category. Not blind people, however... another entry, perhaps. #2 is the ideal class. You can have fun getting dressed if you're a #2 or you may be nearly indifferent about clothing. In any case you do not overly value the clothes you wear. You are a functioning member of your society however, for you notice things like; skirts that show ankles are acceptable, skirts that show thong are gross. You are, in short, the moderate, middle-ground. #3 is the class of people who care about clothing too much. If all these people became blind overnight I would bet that many would become remarkably more secure and consequently more amicable.
I shall risk being verbose and say one more thing. I do look past burberry for some people, specifically: those who prove themselves to be effusively caring and for whom money spent on exploded-check patterns is inconsequential. Cashmere-laden shoulders are fine if just beneath you find a loving heart.
The sun has set into navy night.
