I saw the title and approached this article a bit combatively, but let my guard down as I kept reading. I stopped buying a lot of things last year because I was trying to build an emergency fund. I had to stop scrolling through all the fashion accounts on TikTok and Instagram at a certain point because everyone looked the same. I do think we're slowly shifting away from hyperconsumerism, but it still isn't unpopular *enough* to participate in flex culture. There are still so many people who think showing off constantly works to get people to like and admire them.
Honestly so far bc I definitely clickbait to pique interest (as is the nature of writing on social media unfortunately). Yes, it's so wild how when you stop buying certain things you used to view as 'necessities' you realise how wild everything has gotten, and then when you encounter 'flex culture' again you're suddenly turned off by it.
Unfortunately the internet and the way society is today prioritizes online life more than real life. Its not necessary our fault with the rise social media and influencer culture had in the 2010s it’ll be incredibly hard to unlearn this. I dont think itll change anytime soon. That being said people can make individual changes and be aware of these things but the reality is. We care more about the illusion we create.
Very true, and i think the difference with older celebrity culture is that it was evidently distanced/unattainable for most people whereas now it's easy to compare your life to your neighbour's and not see the behind the scenes
i was drawn in by the title and stayed for the content because YES! i am so tired to see the same things over and over again & miss when there was a uniqueness and personality to everything and everyone
This was a really great piece -- gonna be thinking about your list of what to be impressed about for a while. Also the 90s brown lipstick reminds me of how much I loved Clinique's Black Honey back in the day!
2024: brat
2025: snob
not to be confused with anything even tangentially related to internet 'old money' discourse
I saw the title and approached this article a bit combatively, but let my guard down as I kept reading. I stopped buying a lot of things last year because I was trying to build an emergency fund. I had to stop scrolling through all the fashion accounts on TikTok and Instagram at a certain point because everyone looked the same. I do think we're slowly shifting away from hyperconsumerism, but it still isn't unpopular *enough* to participate in flex culture. There are still so many people who think showing off constantly works to get people to like and admire them.
Honestly so far bc I definitely clickbait to pique interest (as is the nature of writing on social media unfortunately). Yes, it's so wild how when you stop buying certain things you used to view as 'necessities' you realise how wild everything has gotten, and then when you encounter 'flex culture' again you're suddenly turned off by it.
Everything that needed to be said
Glad you liked xx
"a hotel that offers a curated stash of books and board games deserves your approval, one that buys in bulk from Maison Assouline does not."
SCREAMING. I love this so much.
hahahha was maybe a little salty at the time of writing
Unfortunately the internet and the way society is today prioritizes online life more than real life. Its not necessary our fault with the rise social media and influencer culture had in the 2010s it’ll be incredibly hard to unlearn this. I dont think itll change anytime soon. That being said people can make individual changes and be aware of these things but the reality is. We care more about the illusion we create.
You do, myself and everybody else: https://open.substack.com/pub/urcoolaunt888/p/youre-a-nobody-and-so-is-everyone?r=4gftfr&utm_medium=ios
Very true, and i think the difference with older celebrity culture is that it was evidently distanced/unattainable for most people whereas now it's easy to compare your life to your neighbour's and not see the behind the scenes
i was drawn in by the title and stayed for the content because YES! i am so tired to see the same things over and over again & miss when there was a uniqueness and personality to everything and everyone
This was a really great piece -- gonna be thinking about your list of what to be impressed about for a while. Also the 90s brown lipstick reminds me of how much I loved Clinique's Black Honey back in the day!
So glad you enjoy it! And yes I always wanted that but was a teen with no cash, I might see if I can get hold of it now bc it’s such a pretty colour
V good v good