Watches, clothes, and cars are no substitute for character



If you spend any amount of time on X (formally known as Twitter), it’s hard not to notice the incredible amount of daily anxiety people experience.

It’s all over. There’s political anxiety, height anxiety, weight anxiety, relationship anxiety manifesting in an accelerating gender war, and, of course, class anxiety. And my God, the class anxiety is so painful, so fraught, and so vapid. Really, it’s so absurd you have to laugh.

In our degraded era, developing into a civilized, literate Westerner is considered boring.

“If I have to read one more post about what something ‘codes as,’ I am going to throw my phone through the (insert expletive) window.” That was my sentiment about three days before I finally muted the phrase, “codes as.”

Code breaking

For those not in the know, the latest trend online seems to be analyzing a person's every sartorial/consumer/personal choice and determining what it says about their status. In other words, what it "codes as."

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Universal History Archive/Getty Images

It gets old quickly. How many posts can be made analyzing what a car "codes as"? How many hot takes can there possibly be on the apparent class-signaling evident in how a woman does her hair? How many overwrought opinions clearly overcompensating for a hidden fear about “downward mobility” can really be sent out into the X-verse?

It appears there is no limit, no ceiling. This silly, trite — though pretending to be enlightened and insightful — discourse knows no end.

Mixed signals

We all know that we all send signals all the time. Sometimes we send them intentionally, other times unintentionally.

We understand that what we wear says something about what we value. That how we speak reveals something about our upbringing.

The watches we wear, the music we hear, the way we talk about faith, and the way we voice our disagreements with those opposite us all speak volumes. The way we talk about money — or more importantly, the way we don’t talk about money — the manners we have or the ones we don’t have, all these things are signals.

So what’s wrong with analyzing these signals?

Trend traps

Nothing. It’s the talking about it publicly. It's a bit gauche, especially when it leads to obsessing over our own choices and what they communicate to others.

Being in a constant state of trying to anticipate trends or copy the taste of others is exhausting. To base your identity entirely on signaling as a certain class and how others see you as an embodiment of that class is silly.

It’s a sign of having no internal compass, opinion, or taste of your own. It’s a sign of extreme over-socialization. It’s closer to slavery than freedom. It’s no way to live life.

Improving your manners is good. Manners are a sign of dignified civilization. Trying to dress well out of respect for others is also good. Dressing well is a sign of decency. Becoming musically literate so as to understand some of the most beautiful music ever written is key to understanding the greatness of Western civilization. These things used to be attached to class in some way. Now, not so much.

Personality void

In our degraded era, developing into a civilized, literate Westerner is considered boring. Today, class anxiety mainly revolves around buying the right things and consuming them in the right way.

It’s what happens when one lacks a personality or confidence. It may sound strange, but it takes confidence to be who you are, enjoy what you enjoy, pursue what you believe, learn about art and culture out of genuine curiosity, and be a decent person because it’s the right thing to do.

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Horst P. Horst/Condé Nast | Getty Images

If you are in a constant state of reacting to the world and then becoming whoever you are based on that reaction, what are you? Is there anything in there, deep down? Do you have autonomy, or are you just a pinball bouncing around?

That’s the problem with all of this. That’s the story under the story. That’s what the obsession with what everything "codes as" reveals. A lack of self and an inability to be someone — anyone! — without first consulting the trend opinions of everyone else.

It’s a life lived for others. A life without honest direction or authentic intention.

San Francisco rolls out Newsom-approved program fining speeders based on income



San Francisco recently became the first city in California to install speed cameras as part of a broader program aimed at reducing speeding, improving traffic safety, and preventing traffic-related fatalities.

While the initiative had the makings of an inoffensive program purposed around making high-injury thoroughfares and school zones safer, the state Democrats behind it apparently permitted their ideology to corrupt the novel Speed Safety System Pilot Program, transforming it into a three-tier equity-attuned penalty system.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) ratified legislation in 2023 authorizing San Francisco and a handful of other cities in the state to establish a Speed Safety System Pilot Program.

Under the program, clearly identified speed cameras can be positioned on streets approved for enforcement. These cameras, which must be placed at least 500 feet after signs stating both the speed limit and "Photo Enforced," take photos of the rear license plates of vehicles traveling 11 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit. The vehicle's registered owner subsequently receives a citation.

'A designated jurisdiction shall reduce the applicable fines and penalties by 80 percent for indigent persons.'

SF Gate reported that the cameras, operated by the Arizona-based transportation company Verra Mobility, will not use facial recognition.

According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, 33 cameras have been installed across the city.

Well over half of the cameras are not currently operational. Those actively snapping pictures are more or less warming the public up to the idea of their presence as the law justifying it requires that participating cities issue warning notices rather than notices of violations for speeding offenses detected within the first 60 days of the program.

Real fines will be issued for violations after this grace period with the exception to individuals subject to criminal penalties for the same act. Violations recorded by the cameras will result only in contestable civil penalties and, according to the legislation, "shall not result in the [Department of Motor Vehicles] suspending or revoking the privilege of a violator to drive a motor vehicle or in a violation point being assessed against the violator."

The Democratic legislation that produced this speed-trap scheme states that "a designated jurisdiction shall reduce the applicable fines and penalties by 80 percent for indigent persons, and by 50 percent for individuals up to 250 percent above the federal poverty level."

Accordingly, a driver caught traveling in a vehicle going 26 miles per hour over the posted speed limit must pay $200, unless of course they qualify for the "low-income fee," in which case they must pay only $100. Those on public assistance traveling at over 100 mph would be hit up for only $40.

For San Franciscans 251% above the federal poverty level or higher, the fines can reach $500.

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Christian NFL quarterback got blasted for poor play, even smeared as 'bad teammate.' But rookie QB lauds him as 'unbelievable human being' after quiet, 'classy' gift.



NFL quarterback Carson Wentz made a serious case as the Most Valuable Player during the Philadelphia Eagles' magical season five years ago.

But Wentz suffered a season-ending knee injury late that year — and then watched backup Nick Foles shock the sports world by leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Things haven't been the same for Wentz since.

He endured further injuries, being benched, a trade to the Indianapolis Colts, and then just a season later, a trade to the Washington Commanders. In that time, Wentz has been ripped constantly for poor play — but far worse, he's been accused repeatedly of being a "bad teammate," not only when he was with the Eagles but also during his stint with the Colts. One writer even accused Wentz of being the recipient of white privilege.

None of this can possibly sit well with Wentz, who's an outspoken and committed Christian. Unfortunately, things this season have been much the same: another injury, another benching, and then heaps of blame for the Commanders missing the playoffs.

But amid what may have been the lowest of low points this season, Wentz quietly did something that shows by many accounts that he's not only a good teammate but also that he possesses a ton of class.

'He's just an unbelievable human being'

Wentz watched from the sidelines as rookie quarterback Sam Howell made his first NFL start Sunday and promptly led the Commanders to a victory over the heavily favored Dallas Cowboys. According to Howell, Wentz gave him his suite at the Commanders' stadium so Howell's family could enjoy the game all the more:

\u201cSam Howell had his family in town for his debut. Carson Wentz gave Howell his suite for the occassion.\u201d
— Ben Standig (@Ben Standig) 1673228081

"I know a lot of people have said some negative things about Carson, but he's just an unbelievable human being, and he's just awesome to be around, and for him to give me his suite for my first start means a lot," Howell said.

Here's what a few others had to say about Wentz's move:

  • "Regardless of how things ended up on the field, Carson Wentz was an excellent teammate," Commanders Wire tweeted.
  • "Classy Carson," MLFootball tweeted.
  • "Sam Howell’s family and friends were sitting in Carson Wentz’s suite at FedEx Field Sunday," another commenter said. "Scorned and criticized by fans, Wentz rose above it to do a good thing for his teammate."
  • "Never seen an NFL player navigate a gauntlet of injury, regime change, and disrespect the way [Wentz] has and still carry themselves with absolute class," another user observed.
  • "Carson Wentz is and has been nothing but class," another commenter noted.
  • "Even though things didn’t go well here for Wentz, I will always support him because of the class he showed," another user said.

Here's a post with some photographic evidence that takes a satirical shot at Wentz's critics. Content warning: Language

\u201cSolid showing from Howell. But look in background. There\u2019s terrible teammate Carson Wentz being very unsupportive of the rookie QB. He\u2019s even smacking his hands together aggressively. How selfish. \n\nDude can\u2019t play QB anymore, but the bad guy bad teammate narrative is bullshit.\u201d
— Papa Jack (@Papa Jack) 1673284663

And more kudos from a college basketball coach:

\u201cCharacter, class, and professionalism.\n\nRookie Sam Howell (QB3) starts and scores a touchdown for the Commanders.\n\nBefore he can get to the sideline he is greeted with huge smiles, high fives and love from teammates including QB2 Taylor Heinicke and QB1 Carson Wentz.\u201d
— Craig Doty (@Craig Doty) 1673230479

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