Noveau-Riche Detector

 

There are several ways of becoming nouveau riche. One way of becoming one is by winning the lotto ... or marrying a rich DOM or MMMM (Matandang Mayaman Madaling Mamatay) ... striking oil in your orchard ... marrying a billionaire ... or just being successful in your chosen field as you seek greener pastures abroad.

In sociology, nouveau riche refers to somebody who has risen economically and socially but lacks the social skills for his new position.  He previously belonged to a lower economic bracket ... and the money he enjoyed at the moment - made him like a social butterfly as he wanted to enter the sanctum of the elites and the vieux riche. His propensity for consumption of luxuries on a lavish scale makes one jaw drop... and his showy expenditures are signals he likes to believe he is now the new member of the rich and the famous.

It is easy to spot a nouveau riche in our midst. The old riche is refined and dignified ... but the new riche - they're transitioning from the have-nots to most definitely have ... is less polished ... as if almost on the brink of vulgarity. Watch and learn.

1. They are always on the prowl to find designer brands - from clothes, shoes, and bags. Generic brands are a big no-no.

2. They namedropped a lot - they usually use names of who's who in the eliteville - politicians, celebrities, and the like.

3.  They want to look flashy and flamboyant.  Fashionable and noticeable ... but tacky and somewhat vulgar sort of way.

4. They want to be called a jet-setter and known for their traveling. They frequent Hongkong or Thailand ...

5. They always bragged about their connections - be it military or business, media or showbiz.

6. They want everything expensive and anything showy - Rolls Royce, Mercedes, and Lamborghini as status symbols.

7. Their idea of jewelry is that it has to be large, dangling with the ability to impress.

8.  They have a bevy of maids and bodyguards.

9. Branded items lord the day - Dolce and Gabbana, Louis Vitton, Gucci, Versace, Michael Kors, 

10. Their houses are a frenzied hodgepodge of expensive landscaping, some resemble a palace with Ionic columns. The house is gated and a dancing fountain is prominently placed near the giant gazebo enough to house 2 families.

All in all the nouveau riched doesn't have any appreciation and understanding of the word aesthetic. They are clueless about what is good or poor taste.  All they care about is bragging about their wealth.  

I could almost hear them saying: "To hell with those that critique our choices.  They are just envious. Whether what you see in our house is in good taste or not ... nobody can fault us if we want a swimming pool, a fountain, statues, columns or lion sculptures."

Money Talk With A Friend

My friend asked me about "nouveau riche". Is it something negative or positive?

Nouveau riche is a French word for people from lower strata of society who have recently become very rich and like to show this publicly by spending a lot of money. It is a term usually used in a derogatory way to people who acquired that wealth by a strike of luck they won in a lotto ... or strike a pot of gold in their backyard. They recently become wealthy ... and they spend their money in a flashy and ostentatious manner like there is no tomorrow.

My friend's follow-up question was: What brands do the new rich look for?

All branded products and designer's clothes... You name it: Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Mercedes Benz, Dolce and Gabanna, Prada, and Gucci to name a few.

What other terms can be used for nouveau riche? 

Some people call them social butterflies... others call them social climbers. As one writer put it: "They are someone who is not originally rich but brags their wealth and achievements through material possessions. Thinking that they can show people how rich they are because they can afford things that only rich people can afford. But honestly, people from the upper class particularly the old rich, find these social climbers ridiculous, lack of pedigree by being ill-mannered and displaying poor taste. These social climbers usually display loud behavior. They are also, more often than not, flaunting their wealth and are dressed in designer from head to toe. They love to publicize their every single move and conquest, and boorishly brag about their possessions."

And he continued: How does it differ from "vieux riche"?

Vieux riche or old rich as those people who have been wealthy for a long time ... they have been rich since the day they were born ... like the Sy, the Villars, the Razon and the Gokongwei's ... wealthy persons who have been there for a long time and whose fortunes are inherited. While nouveau riche becomes wealthy only recently. 

And the main difference is the way they spent their money. Nouveau riche provokes envy and admiration ... they don't have the good taste to spend their money in a classy way ... like the one person I know who has his house copied from a Castle in Disneyland. And there is another person who embossed Ionic and Corinthian columns in their facade and the paintings inside made their house look like a museum. What an ostentatious display of wealth - does it mean they are kings and queens ... my friend was almost smiling when she said that.

The old rich people are very frugal. They think hard enough before spending their money.

Multiple Choice

Sana ol! Ang sarap mag-iwan ng resibo sa ATM flaunting that you still P6 million in your balance ... tapos pinagusapan ka pa pagkatapos.  Masarap sa pakiramdam ... may malaking pera ka na ... tapos it brought about a rainbow colored emotions sa mga nakakita ng resibo - pati na ang mga nakabasa sa lahat ng multi-media platforms - jealousy, resentment, suspicion, distrust, envy and self pity (a self-absorbed unhappiness thinking na mamatay ka na lang ... there is no chance na makahawak ka perang ganoon.)

Pero hindi mo ba tinanong ang psyche ng nag-iwan ng resibo ... where he is coming from? For sure may motibo ito ... Alamin ang mga posibleng mga rason. O kitam ... sa gusto niyang mapag-usapan siya ... let us suck it to them hard.

a. The guy na nag-iwan ng resibo is "nouveau riche". It can be inferred na pinangangalandakan niya ang resibo para matuwa, magselos, mainggit ang makakita nito.

b. Nagmamayabang siya.  If you have it ... flaunt it ika nga.  Katulad ng kaibigan ko who has the temerity to count his money for everybody to see (to their delight or disgust).

c. When people flaunt their wealth they want to show everybody their status and their position in society.

d.  They want to feel better about themselves as he tries to appear very successful on social media.

e. they may enjoy the rush of positive feelings that can come from likes or comments.

f. talagang makalimutin siya.

g. it was an honest mistake.  Nagmamadali lang siguro.

h. gusto na niyang magbathroom ... sira ang kinaing pinakbet (pang mayaman ba iyon).

i. nakahalata siyang pinagmasdan siya ng kasunod niya ... kaya iniwan niya ng resibo.

PH ambassador to US hits China’s smear job

PH Coast Guard official hits pro-China ‘traitors’

Caption That

Yan ba ang klase ng pagmamahal mo? Parang katulad ka ng taong kilala ko. Pagkatapos ng ilang taong pagaalaga, pagaaruga at paghihintay ... yan lang kaya mong ibigay? Ang tipid ha! At ang damot! Self-entitled ka talaga!

Pinoy Commentaries

Sinubukan ko ang magiging BLOGGER. Grabe ang experience.  Dito ko napatunayan na mas marami pa akong followers na mas matalino kaysa sa akin.

Sinubukan ko ring mag-TIKTOK. Wala rin.  Pakiramdam ko mas madali akong makilala kung maging BASHER na lang ako ... o di kaya maging TROLL.