I fucking hate how our society is so status and money oriented!!

[Oneironaut]

17. Status is everything in our culture.

One of the first things people ask you in small talk when trying to get to know you is, "What do you do?" Whether or not this is legitimate concern, or just trying to fill a dreaded potential conversational void, I feel like it's a rude question. I feel like what I say next will cause people to compartmentalize me - if I am a computer programmer, I must be a nerd. If I am a musician, I must be artsy. If I am at a service job, I must be unintelligent, and etc.

I think are our culture lets our jobs and material possessions define who we are more than our actual personalities. It's sad because, at the end of the day, these are all shallow and meaningless. A job's purpose at the core is to provide services in exchange for money. You use that money to get the things necessary to survive. You use the extra money to either save for times when you are not making money, or to buy things that bring you happiness.

On the other hand, if you are buying things to maintain a certain status, then you are a slave to what others think. If this is how you want to define your life, then fine. It is entirely possible, though, that your last thoughts might be of what a fool you were to waste your life.