| Topic: | Bore them better | |
| Posted by: | David Ainsworth | |
| Date/Time: | 29/12/25 11:14:00 |
| If they bore, one must counter-bore. "The theory of "luxury beliefs," coined by Rob Henderson in 2019, is frequently critiqued as being a luxury belief itself. The term refers to ideas and opinions that confer status on the upper class while inflicting real-world costs on the lower classes, because the wealthy are sheltered from the consequences of those ideas. Whether the theory is a "luxury belief" depends on how it is applied and who is using it. Critics and proponents have raised several points regarding this paradox: 1. The Theory as a Status Signal Critics argue that the term "luxury beliefs" has become a fashionable status symbol for conservative intellectuals and elites. Intra-Elite Signaling: Using the term can signal that a person is "intellectually enlightened" and separate from the "woke" elite. Political Shorthand: It is increasingly used as a conventional piece of language for acceptance in right-wing circles, serving as its own form of "cultural capital". 2. Lack of Personal Cost for the Messenger One core tenet of a luxury belief is that the holder does not pay for its negative effects. Intellectual Insulation: Critics note that commentators who use the theory to dismiss social movements (like "Defund the Police") often do so from safe, well-funded positions. Abstract Critiques: If the theory is used solely to win academic or social media debates rather than to address the root causes of poverty or crime, it may fit the definition of a luxury belief: a high-status idea with no personal risk. 3. Sincerity and Hypocrisy The theory often implies that elites are duplicitous—preaching radical values they don't actually live by. Counter-Critique: Some argue that those who hold "luxury beliefs" are often perfectly sincere and simply naive about the impact on others. Universal Application: Critics like Bryan Caplan argue that almost all political beliefs are "luxuries" because individuals rarely face personal costs for being wrong about broad social policies. 4. The Response from Proponents Proponents, including Henderson himself, argue the theory is an empirical observation rather than a belief. Empirical Defense: They point to survey data showing that higher-income individuals are more likely to support policies like drug legalization or defunding police, while lower-income groups—who live with the consequences of those policies—tend to oppose them. Agnostic Framework: Some suggest the concept is a useful tool for any ideology to examine how its ideas affect the marginalized, rather than just a weapon for the right." |
| Topic | Date Posted | Posted By |
| Luxury Beliefs | 28/12/25 22:09:00 | Steven Rose |
| Reply | 29/12/25 08:41:00 | Michael Brigo |
| Re:Reply | 29/12/25 09:35:00 | Gerry Boyce |
| Re:Re:Reply | 29/12/25 10:19:00 | Robert Wheeler |
| Re:Re:Re:Reply | 29/12/25 10:31:00 | Michael Brigo |
| Bore them better | 29/12/25 11:14:00 | David Ainsworth |
| Re:Bore them better | 29/12/25 13:24:00 | John Hawkes |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply | 29/12/25 12:00:00 | Lucille Grant |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply | 29/12/25 13:21:00 | John Hawkes |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reply | 29/12/25 15:02:00 | Michael Brigo |
| Re:Reply | 29/12/25 13:20:00 | John Hawkes |
| Re:Re:Reply | 29/12/25 15:03:00 | Michael Brigo |
| Reply | 29/12/25 11:40:00 | Michael Ixer |
| Re:Reply | 29/12/25 12:50:00 | Steven Rose |
| Re:Re:Reply | 29/12/25 13:40:00 | John Hawkes |
| Re:Reply | 29/12/25 13:34:00 | John Hawkes |
| Re:Re:Reply | 29/12/25 15:07:00 | Michael Brigo |
| Re:Re:Re:Reply | 31/12/25 14:56:00 | John Hawkes |
| Reply | 29/12/25 17:16:00 | Michael Ixer |
| Re:Reply | 31/12/25 15:21:00 | John Hawkes |
| Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 15:17:00 | John Hawkes |
| Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 15:54:00 | Gerry Boyce |
| Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 16:52:00 | Michael Brigo |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 17:13:00 | Gerry Boyce |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 17:57:00 | Steven Rose |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 18:18:00 | David Ainsworth |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 19:09:00 | Steven Rose |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 19:27:00 | Gerry Boyce |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 29/12/25 19:35:00 | David Ainsworth |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 30/12/25 07:44:00 | Michael Brigo |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 30/12/25 09:12:00 | Steven Rose |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 30/12/25 09:24:00 | Gerry Boyce |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 31/12/25 16:35:00 | John Hawkes |
| Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Luxury Beliefs | 31/12/25 15:27:00 | John Hawkes |