Showing off is a funny phenomenon because, on one hand, I think it is good and virtuous to show off, to show other people what’s up.
I think on the other hand, the philosophy is showing off is bad when you’re trying really really hard to show off, hoping the other people will notice… and you’re constantly checking whether they are checking you out or not, and when you see them check you out, you feel aloof, but when you see that they are not checking you out, you feel dejected.
What is the optimal strategy?
I suppose what it comes down is whether you want to be hidden, or to be seen.
Perhaps what we need is some sort of constancy?
LA IRONIES
Currently living here in LA, one of the most hilarious, hypocritical, contradictory places I’ve ever been in terms of showing off, showing off culture, image culture etc.
On the one hand, I think to some degree, there are lots of people in LA who want to be seen. There is a reason why it is fashion capital of the planet, because all the media is produced here. Not London, Paris, New York. It is LA.
LA has all the music, the culture, the arts, and the films and TV shows are produced here in LA, in Culver City and Hollywood etc.… LA is the capital.
Cars?
Tell me what you drive and I will tell you who you are.
There are a lot of certain funny tropes and memes here in LA; one of them being the woman, or maybe the man, driving the all tinted out, all blacked out, murdered out, Mercedes-Benz G wagon AMG, and they themselves driving with sunglasses on.
so let us say you drive a G wagon in LA, with Fulton. Tint in the front and in the back. Do you want to be seen and show off? Or just feel dominant on the road?
How *NOT* to be a coward
my personal thought is people in LA are a bunch of cowards. 99% of people here where fully tinted sunglasses, in which you cannot see their eyeballs. And also baseball caps, and also baggy clothes, and there are always covering up. Also with AirPods on, which is a metaphorical shield.
Never rate anybody confident or truly self realized until you have seen them without a hat on, without sunglasses on, without a mustache or facial hair, or some ugly flannel covering them up.