Bentley Syndrome: Another Phenomenon Exposed by JACK0173 (558 hits)
Category: Science & EnvironmentalRating: 0.89 on 11 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by JACK0173 (View user info) at 2005-03-26 23:51:42 EST
Bentley Syndrome is an odd phenomenon that I have recently become aware of. Basically, it involves people buying things not because they are the best, but because they are the most expensive/socially respected.
I name this phenomenon Bentley Syndrome because I first noticed it when I was reading a magazine article about the new Bentley. I thought to myself, "gee, that car looks like shit. Why on Earth would anybody buy one?" I was driving one day when a Bentley cruised past me. The guy driving it thought he was top shit. I could sense the smugness he exuded as he glided past and it was so strong I felt ike vomiting. Then it hit me: People buy Bentleys to make people think they are better than are. A Bentley just screams, "LOOK AT ME I'M RICH!"
That is the only reason to buy a Bentley; so people know that you are rich. (I have never driven or owned any luxury/really expensive cars so this paragraph is pure speculation). Here in Australia the average Bentley sedan/limo/whatever they're classed as costs $300 000. You could buy a car that drives better for less (eg. two year old Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo, around $200K or less). You could buy a car that looks better for less (the list is endless but you could buy a high qulaity BMW/Mercedes sedan for around $100K). Basically you could get a better car for a lot less money. People only buy Bentleys because they cost a lot of money.
This Syndrome is not limited to the purchase of luxury cars however.
Beer is another example. Corona (the Mexican Beer) tastes like shit, is the crap beer in Mexico that everyone shuns yet put it in a cool bottle and import it to Australia and idiots will pay big money for it. Also the only people who drink it are those who I would class as suffering Bentley Syndrome. It's so sad when you see someone drinking this stuff. It's double the price of domestic beer and tastes horrible, it's so obvious they're just drinking it to be cool and to show everyone that they can afford to buy it.
Watches too, I read a newspaper article about Swiss Mechanical watches the other day. Some of you may know that Franck Muller watches are favoured by celebrities and have prices starting at $30K. A watch expert was saying that he couldn't understande why they were such a status symbol; other Swiss watches that looked better and had more complications could be bought for less money. People just buy these watches because they cost a lot and are a recognised brand.
Like Coca-cola, 600mL of this crap costs $2.20 whereas 2L of generic cola can be bought for around a dollar. Why buy Coke? to be cool of course. (Anybody who says they can taste the difference between Coke and the cheap shit is a liar, or just too fussy).
But then I admit to being guilty of this syndrome on occassion. I have a buch of expensive suits, ties, shirts etc when thay are aren't really that much better than the cheaper alternatives, so I guess I'm a hypocrite. Oh well.
User Reviews
Submitted by jack0173 (user info) at 2005-03-27 22:49:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Hey Bizantine, Stella is the same here in Australia too but I didn't want to repeat myself too much.
Manda Panda, if I'm drinking beer I usually stick to Cooper's Sparkling Ale or Toohey's Extra Dry (both Aussie brands).
Submitted by Bizantine (user info) at 2005-03-27 18:52:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
"Beer is another example"
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yeah, there's a beer that sells well in England called 'Stella Artois', a french label, which in France is marketed as being cheap, and is sold cheap.
the same beer has the opposite marketing campaign in england, where the french-sounding name makes it sound 'posh'. The price is hiked up, to be higher than most other beer on the market, and it sells better, even though it tastes like piss.
what does this teach us?
people are idiots
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2005-03-27 02:11:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Ingsoc (user info) at 2005-03-27 01:03:51 (#)
Ranking: -1
Your views on cars and beverages are indicative that you're a farmboy with no sense of taste in either of these fields.
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Hehehe. Farmboy. Fields. You're punny!
..Or not.
Good point on the post... however, I have to disagree with a few points. I can tell the difference between diet coke (regular coke makes me absolutely sick, but we won't get into that) and the cheap brands. I can also tell the difference from just looking at the two, oddly enough. (out of the bottles and in cups)
My boyfriend drinks Corona. I've never had any experience with alcohol before, but, yea, it was gross. What kind of beer do you drink?
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2005-03-27 02:11:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Some valid points, particularly the "Designer Beer" issue.
I drink Coke, because it tastes the best of the Cola's out there and very definately can taste the difference from the generic brands.
As to being a hypocrite,I think we all are to some extent.
Not too shabby though.
-Dave
Submitted by jack0173 (user info) at 2005-03-27 01:35:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Ingsoc (user info) at 2005-03-27 01:03:51 (#)
Ranking: -1
Your views on cars and beverages are indicative that you're a farmboy with no sense of taste in either of these fields. Some people do it for the image, others do it because they have taste. You can't make blanket statements like that, communist.
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Dickhead, my point is that people don't buy this shit because they like it, they do it for the image. And classing non-materialistic people as communists is a bit of blanket statement isn't it? And since when do communist farmboys wear suits anyway? Well enjoy your Coronas, you may impress the masses but intelligent people such as myself (hey, I'm biased) will recognise the Bentley Syndrome when they see it.
Submitted by Ingsoc (user info) at 2005-03-27 01:03:51 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
Your views on cars and beverages are indicative that you're a farmboy with no sense of taste in either of these fields. Some people do it for the image, others do it because they have taste. You can't make blanket statements like that, communist.
Submitted by Chinaski (user info) at 2005-03-27 00:38:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
worth reading- yet you only get a 0 because, yes, you ARE a fucking hypocrite, rich boy. Enjoy your desk job much?
Submitted by Sassmasterr (user info) at 2005-03-27 00:34:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
very interesting
Submitted by the_lone_stranger (user info) at 2005-03-27 00:16:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Yep. It's known as conspicuous consumption.
Submitted by olivia_tremor_control (user info) at 2005-03-27 00:06:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i see that a lot. everyone does it i guess. some people do it backwards too, like i got a beat up old cadillac rather than something like a new scion (scions are ugly its just an example, theyre relatively cheap) because it looks "old school". i doubt having a shitty used car from the 80's with paint peeling off is more socially respectable than a shiny new car.
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2005-03-27 00:04:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
a) i can taste the difference between coke and the other shit
b) no matter what anyone says, Rolexs are amazing watches. They are nearly indestructable and look great, and yet they dont scream at people that the wearer is rich. Its like silent sophistication.
c) honestly, whoever is rich enough to buy a Bentley, i feel has the right to flaunt their money because they have earned it, through whatever means. (this excludes those who mooch off parents)