This post is a counter point to the post the other day about how people who buy fake watches are lying to themselves.
TLDR: People who buy fake watches lie to others, people who buy real watches lie to themselves. Which imo is worse.
Note: notice how nobody in the comments resorts to engaging with the discussion but rather just calls me dumb. When lies run so deep the truth looks fake.
The Rep
Think about the person who buys a rep. Their lies are primarily external and highly transactional.
They want the social status of a $10,000 watch but only want to spend $200. Internally, there is a lot less deception needed to justify a small purchase.
they know the watch is a prop, and they know they are taking a shortcut. The illusion is meant for the audience, not the wearer.
The "Real"
Now think about the person who shells out $10k for a real watch. They often have to engage in deep internal deception.
Because it is socially frowned upon to admit, "I am spending $10,000 to project status, wealth, and superiority," they wrap the purchase in a blanket of romantic rationalizations. Convincing themselves they are buying "heritage," "craftsmanship," or "the soul of a mechanical movement."
Simple, they ignore the reality that they are just as superficial as the people who buy reps. The only difference is they will go to MUCH greater lengths, like spending thousands of dollars to justify their internal lies than the people who buy fake watches.