Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Hapless Hobnobbing


It seems hobnobbing is becoming a dangerous sport for the top 1% of wealthy Americans. Vanity Fair did an article on the dilemma faced by New Yorkers who no longer know who to trust while climbing the social ladder. Vast fortunes have been lost right along with our more meager retirements. It's apparently hard to know with whom to be friends. Since their friendships are based on what that person can do for them, much energy is expended on ferreting out the most influential. Evidently who holds that rarefied air is not as easily distinguishable as it once was. Apparently some are only acting as though they are still wealthy, without actually wielding the influence and authority so ardently sought. Things are still shaking out, leaving fear in it's wake.

I think that's why I'm so fascinated with the television show "Real Housewives in New York". Have you every watched that show? It is a study in banal, cheesy, desperate, social climbing. I feel almost guilty watching it. Voyeuristic, I know. The sad part, is they believe this clambering for "position" is something most people aspire to, or would if they could. That really amazes me. Seriously. They think we want their lives. Now if I was young, beautiful, single and talented, I can't think of any place I would rather live. My husband and I often talk about how fun New York would be if you were in that stage of life. I would definitely be a downtown girl as opposed to an uptown girl. Downtown being much more fun, at least by my standards. 

But the thought of making friends with any of these people, or their counter-parts would just never be on my agenda. It would be so sad to judge friendships that way. Worse - to be judged by what I could do for someone before they would be my friend. I would be friendless. I had a hard enough time just being nice at company dinners to people I didn't care for or about. I have always hated doing social things, if I felt I couldn't be myself. Needless to say, my husband ascended to the position he did on his own merit, without any help from a politically astute wife.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Yes I have watched a few of these just out of pure fascination. The British husband of the odd blonde girl with the 2 badly behaved little boys - CREEPS ME OUT!

Andrea said...

I admit it - I watch that show - and I'm so fascination that there are really women like that out there. I agree with Brit' Gal - that guy is creepy! It is sort of a sad commentary - or is it just TV? Either way, it's very entertaining!

Natalie said...

Yep! You are definitely a girl after my own heart.I love people like you.xx♥

Kathy's Klothesline said...

That's what highschool was like in the small southern town I was dumped in. If you weren't a true native of the founding fathers, then you became invisible unless you could serve the elite in some menial fashion. Had I not been so young and inexperienced I would have found it amusing to watch. I hear people wax eloquent about their wonderful high school years and I just cringe. Those same people stay in that stagnant little town that has zero job opportunities, save working for the elite. I don't get it.

Hilary said...

I must be living under a rock. I've never even heard of the show. People like that seem quite unreal.

Lori ann said...

I'm with Hilary, but then I don't watch t.v. either, except for rented movies from Netflix! But I sure agree with you! I woulden't know how to be friends with someone like that.
xxlori

TheChicGeek said...

I definitely wouldn't want to hang out with those girls. I like to be around authentic people...life is too short to play with phonies.

California Girl said...

I have watched the Orange County version and the NY version. I find the OC version hilarious and the NY version annoying. I think it's because I know the OC version is extreme but there are still really people like that but not as many as Hollywood might have us think...or maybe there are more!!! I dunno. The NY version caught my eye because one of the "ladies", Bethany, had been on Martha Stewart's "Apprentice" which I actually did watch the first season. She seemed a lot less high maint and alot more motivated & career driven than she does in the two NY shows I watched back to back. So my question is, do these people, are they just doing it for the money, the tv face time, the experience or what? Cuz I don't know!