Thread by @dearsarah

Thinking a lot lately about the VIPization of American culture & how its displaced the notion of equality. Curious about when this started..

I'd like to read a history of VIP sections:)When did they become mainstream/acceptable/legitimate? How are they justified to kids?Any recs?

By legitimizing VIP sections, the #loligarchy has commoditized inequality & aspiration & even my hypocrisy;) Can't we do & build better?

it should be impossible to meet everyone who matters because everyone should #loligarchy theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

How do we deVIP our entire culture? When did we stop even giving lip service to the notion that people are of equal importance? #loligarchy

Humility is not claiming not to be part of the elite; its rejecting the benefits that reflect your greater importance & increase inequality

bug bounties are going private...available exclusively to VIP hackers. buzzfeed.com/josephbernstei… #loligarchy #mirrorocracy

I'd like a filter for...do you think you (or some people) are more important than other people?

#filterbias

this rejection of elitism & VIPs is important. Its also why celebs had no sway at al

https://twitter.com/daveweigel/status/796342172668887041

c5mK

yes, T-rump inherited wealth & is a "VIP". but he's rejected by the elite...ie he's not a member of Bohemian Grove or invited to Davos

I suppose if we'd elected a Koch Bro it'd be even worse because he'd know how to & have the relationships to accomplish the same agenda?

Instead of undeniable racist language, they'd use more palatable words. But, aside from keeping the elites safe, would it be much different?

Never have endorsements of any kind-from media, celebrities, institutions, unions, rich people-meant less.

Or were they counterproductive?

Anyone keeping a running list of horrific new euphemisms?

Contrarian is quickly becoming a catchall.

https://twitter.com/davidcorndc/status/797254380043042817

#loligarchy

Restore with those whom you abhor!

hard to imagine why folks didn't bother to come out & vote. #loligar4YKr

Yes, they'll all be wealthier, but T-rump is displacing one elite (Davos & TED) with another (Restoration Weeke

https://twitter.com/markruffalo/status/797484570790739968

tpsu

This is great. Hope to see more of this theguardian.com/world/2016/nov…?

💯

https://twitter.com/ethanz/status/797979864317956096

Also, less pedestals &
VIPs, more platforms that enable people to participate & treat each other as equals.

Love this; go Frank Ocean! Why should he participate in & elevate Awards that are structured so he'll never wvulture.com/2016/11/frank-…yCxe

I agree that it is too late for the elite to undue what they've done, but they make room for others to participate! rollingstone.com/politics/featu…

Is self-segregation the same as forming elite cliques?How do we/can we/should we avoid this or is it how we survive? buzzfeed.com/nitashatiku/se…

This should have occurred to me: aside from KochHeads, who else can T-rump really hire? Bohemian Grove here he comes!talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/behind-ma…

TFW sometimes you do choose heroes who DON'T grow old & disappoint you (/avoiding fame & thus familiarity

https://twitter.com/kharyp/status/800501173199380480

pfx9RLoE

Warped World of Web Summit theatlantic.com/technology/arc… #loligarchy

We are all part of the problem. How do we hold ourselves & each other responsible for it?

How do we stop legitimizing elitism collectively?

Movements that oppose T-rump (be it Dems or others) must also practice equality--& stop creating & maintaini

https://twitter.com/rbreich/status/823255514435829761

9fyC1717

The Twin Insurgency the-american-interest.com/2014/06/15/the… (tho aside from time, there's no difference between plutocrats & criminals?) #loligarzLFt

This year, Davos swung from aspirational to awful. How long till "VIP" badges are the new scarlet

https://twitter.com/miriamelder/status/823318396297220102

0FvpY4w4oB

beginning to have hope that we might be swinging back, culturally, away from being selfish hypocritical assholes. Headsup incumbents & VIPs

California inmates can pay for cushier accomodations nbcnews.com/news/us-news/s… Hope @JerryBrownGov makes this illegal in CA; so gross.

The Rise of the (VIP)Thought Leader newrepublic.com/article/143004… (& the extinction of the public intellectual) #loligarYvrj

VIPatization demonizes critical thinking & makes us complicit in our own oppression, while undermining the very notion of equaliWVcs

When will we stop creating the wrong kind of aspirational heroes? How do we stop VIPization? Also, I ❤️@st_vincent buzzfeed.com/laurasnapes/st…

Can't we stop legitimizing & making heroes out of awful people who publicly express their lack of regard for oth

https://twitter.com/karaswisher/status/907095021492621312

OPUy

When did CEOs became VIPs? During the Clinton administration? When did CEOs having an agent become a thing?

https://twitter.com/latimes/status/915308037010788357

It is our “civility” that got us here.

Civility, rooted in inequality, serves as code for respect for & deference to power. By adhering, we become complicit in maintaining the legitimacy of the status quo.

Civility validates & preserves VIP culture & undermines egalitarianism.

If civility really meant mere politeness— rather than commanding subservience to & respect for folks who deny your humanity & legitimating their status—the Red Hen wouldn’t be the powerful red herring it is... #loligarchy

Gross but not surprising that Kim & Kanye hired private firefighters & didn’t consider the impact on shared public resources ...but on the plus side, their indiscretion might be a public benefit, since here their entitlement may undermine its continbuzzfeednews.com/article/salvad…TXqnqJEL

Lordy this is surprisingly & painfully insightful..

Even if I’m still loathe to believe the #loligarchy has spent decades normalizing VIP culture & glamorizing vanity, selfishness & nytimes.com/2018/11/26/opi…o/ysCy9gsIxy