I think we’re considering two different standards for pursuing status. I’m suggesting that people could give a good bit to charity while pursuing status as effectively as others who have the same income. Additionally, they might be able to pursue status more effectively if they get the sort of psychological boost that multifoliaterose does.
It’s conceivable that someone who put a comparable amount of thought into pursuing status could do better than others with the same income if they didn’t give to charity, which I think is what you mean.
Just for the record, I think pursuing status is a major human motivation, but hardly the only one.
I just mean that, all other things equal, giving money away detracts from your ability to signal status. Sure, you can give away only a tiny amount, like 0.5%, which is what I suggested as the optimal amount for pursuing happiness in the original comment. But if you give a significant amount, like 40%, then you will noticeably fall in the status ranking.
Well not if it reduces your ability to buy showy luxury items that signal your income rank!
My assumption is that people generally don’t think clearly about how they spend their money, including whether they’re pursuing status efficiently.
You seem to be presenting a false choice. The efficiency with which you pursue status is not positively impacted by giving your money away.
I think we’re considering two different standards for pursuing status. I’m suggesting that people could give a good bit to charity while pursuing status as effectively as others who have the same income. Additionally, they might be able to pursue status more effectively if they get the sort of psychological boost that multifoliaterose does.
It’s conceivable that someone who put a comparable amount of thought into pursuing status could do better than others with the same income if they didn’t give to charity, which I think is what you mean.
Just for the record, I think pursuing status is a major human motivation, but hardly the only one.
I just mean that, all other things equal, giving money away detracts from your ability to signal status. Sure, you can give away only a tiny amount, like 0.5%, which is what I suggested as the optimal amount for pursuing happiness in the original comment. But if you give a significant amount, like 40%, then you will noticeably fall in the status ranking.