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Comment by scarejunba | Hacker News Reader

In The Big Short you read about how the guy in the baseball cap and jeans is probably a fund manager doing really well. The guy in the suit is about to go ask for more money because he's not doing so hot.

It's the same principle in Silicon Valley.

The status symbol is being enough of a hot shot to not have to play by the rules of status.

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> The status symbol is being enough of a hot shot to not have to play by the rules of status.

I definitely feel bad when I hear stories about black and hispanic men having to dress up at work because people feel scared of them when they wear hoodies and torn shorts like I do.

Relevant: https://qz.com/369338/this-is-what-makes-dressing-down-a-sta...

> Observers must believe the nonconforming individual is both aware of the norm and able to conform to it, but deliberately decides not to. A nonconforming behavior that seems unintentional or dictated by lack of a better alternative—such as ragged clothes on a homeless person—will not lead to a positive impression.

This part is super interesting. You need to be able to wear the baseball cap and jeans while letting people know that you _could_ be wearing a fancy suit if you cared about their norms.

It's not about the absence of taste, it's about the opposite of taste – is much more pronounced and intentional

Also, this send to be a great quote: https://youtu.be/FlzZhGr8G9w

This is so true. When you dress like a slob, you’re basically signaling you don’t have to impress people.

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