Status Anxiety Pt. 1 (2 of 5)

[Liamandrewmusic]

SPONGEBOBS EYELASHES ARE THE WRONG WAY DOWN! *creates chaos and death aound him in a confused frenzy* seriousnote - Alan DB is brilliant.

[Terry1969ism]

Lol, I want to sleep with that black hooker @1:14

[xn6]

@Terry1969ism LOL

[Brainstrain]

Pent-a-gun

[anemone9]

The saddest thing is that SpongeBob's eyes are upside-down.

[tiananman]

i love his sean connery.

[robjs89]

The USA is fucking circus. it's brilliant.

[robjs89]

One thing which really surprised me when i first went to the USA, is the amount of people in low status jobs who are proud of what they do. These people seemed to receive a sense of satisfaction with even the smallest achievements. you won't see that in Europe or even Australia.

[jhflif]

@robjs89 fuck you you sack of shit

[Barbiehoe]

@robjs89 That's BS. I'm not sure about the wages for jobs in the US, but I've read that $7 an hour is normal for low-cost jobs. That is called 'social dumping' where I'm from. How can you be proud of that?

[robjs89]

@Barbiehoe well not everyone is a bourgeois who thinks that those who can't afford to do their grocery shopping in an organic produce shop are victims of a huge social injustice, or that they should be sitting their in shame and indignation that they don't earn the national average income.

[Barbiehoe]

@robjs89 Who are you trying to fool? Like it or not: money means a lot in today's society. If you don't have money you basically don't have freedom. You're not able to travel, not able to buy whatever you want (house, car, insurance, health care), not able to eat whatever you want etc. Stop with the BS.

[GustavssonMark]

"I wanna be a criminal" .... "people have choices"

[greenghost2008]

screw that black guy.

[22heloise22]

The flag is often used as a symbol here. The red and white strips were taken from the most powerful company of all time - the British East India Company - which in 1775 represented the company's freedom from the crown to make their own decisions. If you take the symbolism as that then give your life to the company, steal, lie, fight, die, anything for your company. That is the symbolism of the flag. Not the stuff pointed out here. The stars and blue field are an old symbol of Washington.

[coolguy7248]

that guy reminds me of rupert pumpkin characterr played by robert de niro in martin scorcese most underared movie "king of comedy"

[xrockthe40ozx]

"Status Anxiety" is America's number one force of control. Everyone i know thinks they are going to be something more than themselves, someone big, someone special, everyone's a super star. It keeps the populace separate and makes it impossible for anyone to really take a stand against the system when it fucks with their lives. That is why America stands in opposition to Communism/Socialism and any nation based on "power of the people."

[ostrogotu]

"Never compare yourself to other people, only to yourself, to the progress you've made".WE don't go in life from the same starting-point, some people have headway, some have disadvantages over us.If you want to have a sane,content life listen to this advice.

[WhateverWasLeft]

@ostrogotu

That is very true. I try to follow this philosophy myself however I must admit it's hard not to look at all the glam and bling on that other side of the canyon and not wonder if you're capable of crossing it and achieving similar success. And I would assume for some people this desire for "greatness" might even stem from curiosity rather than envy. It does for me at least. But I try to remain sane and concious of my overall progress in life.

[82windows82]

Where can I download this?

[hootiepaladin]

A HA HA..."they perhaps would be very good in cleaning my house, washing my dishes, driving me around, cleaning my clothes, cutting my grass..."

[ParisSpleen74]

Alain de Botton should be required reading for every member of the human race.

[Piitsi]

I'm glad that I don't have the American dream. I'm not wealthy but grateful about what I have. I am happy.

[HLecterPHD]

blaise - in the closet

[TheBestInterest]

F

U

C

K

Motivational speakers!

[CMink7777]

Some of the reason for lack of success among poor people is obviously lack of opportunity or talent. However, sometimes it's poor decision making. Decision making toward making money is constantly skewed by our peers decisions and opinions. Everyone is an expert on what investments are good and bad even if they are poor. It's also a product of buying into the American ideal of buying and borrow "stuff" instead of investing money into things that make more money....product of the market agenda.

[ticklemesenseless]

americans are shameless. the speed with which that seppo announced 'over 37 million dollars' is disgusting. i don't begrudge his success, but why boast.

[kaiserinaz]

@ticklemesenseless the funny thing is, considering the American propensity to brag and falsify, that number is probably lower. It was quite shameless, but a lot of people probably ask him that question.

[FreemanGordon2009]

Is the spongebob suit the 45.000$ job.

[MarmaladeINFP]

The guy around the 7:00 mark is the perfect example of the arrogant self-righteousness that is the problem with the world. If there is a revolution, I think that guy should be the first to go.

[hannahskm]

I cracked up when he was interviewing him in that sponge bob costume.. one thing I do admire is that he has a dream he wants to fulfill.. well.. he has the right attitude but he needs to work on his talent.

[DAVID3766]

Rosseau is a Swiss buddy!!!

[DAVID3766]

de botton!!!!

[blaziermissy]

lol..don't worry if you peceive people who are a slave to "things" as robot-like. You just may be the luck one, you know.

[blaziermissy]

read between the lines......it's IMPOSSIBLE in a capitalistic society for there not to be poor.

[burn70u7]

4:24 I dont know weather to be sorry for the guy or to just laugh.

[robertwc82]

to me the dream of being famous on TV is a dream for absolute tossers

[tinyteens1]

the sean connery impersonation attempt was seriously cringeworthy

[ConradZaar]

That guy's whole life is cringeworthy.  It makes me sad.

[AzoreanProud]

And the guys above are not happy, so is just stupid, the comparasion is normally not real, its the fake image given to us.

[massofcells]

Interesting detective work!

[michelangeli23]

alain de botton is amazing

[RyunSharp]

All I can say is society is full of Narcissistic personalities.

[streetfightsecrets]

I think our culture is training us to be borderline sociopaths with narcisstic personality disorder

[spartak95]

that is so fuckin true

[netcyrus]

people are unequal, thats the point, equality for the equal, unequality for the unequal

[kenyon1245]

How the presenter kept a straight face during the Sean Connery "imperssion" I'll never know, I nearly wet myself....Well Mish Moneypenny

[ineby42]

"Are you guys familiar with Dateline? They voted him personality of the week eight years ago."

[jazzigod]

@ineby42 HAHAHA. So funny.

[Unlocktube]

I agree completely with Alain, desire pushed on people by advertising and keeping up with the neighbours is the root of many people's mental anguish today.

[kieronj]

so true. read 'affluenza' by Oliver James

[AzoreanProud]

Its condiotning, its not human nature.

[Sludgy9]

Ever heard the saying 'practice makes perfect"? People can have a natural physical makeup, yes, but i do not beleive in aptitudes being doled out to some and not others. Thats lazy, feeble thinking.

[tuftthewhale]

he was laughing at the plight of that poor restaurant manager

[zcomecuca]

I don't agree with the presenter on how, in aristocratic societies, people from the lower classes were free from comparing their acheivements with those of the higher classes. That's simply ridiculous. He says that this kept people from the lower classes from feeling inferior.

[mercurius0]

I don't agree with his very English attitude that life is a "cruel joke". That's just a untrue judgement, and unnecessarily negative. It's totally relative. If you have a roof over your head, clean water and plenty of food in the fridge every day, this would be considered a life of luxury to maybe the majority of people in the world, so be grateful!

[jkfrancis]

How did you manage to totally miss the point of this show?

[mercurius0]

He is saying that you have two alternatives: to take personal responsibility for improving your life or to accept that for you, life is always going to be a disappointment. For me, however, there is a third alternative: to accept and embrace life exactly as it is without judgement. This can bring a great sense of peace regardless of the situation. Then, what might have seemed a bad situation before, can actually be seen as beautiful. It may or may not change but it is still beautiful.

[Unlocktube]

He says no such thing.

[Sludgy9]

Cool. But i cannot and will not agree on this silly idea of being born with "gifts"...you work at something or you dont, there is no gift, no ability is handed to you on a platter, despite the perception. Keep going, Alain.

[jkfrancis]

That's simply not true. People are born with natural aptitudes for certain things.