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Saying that buying a private property is “more than just for prestige” already implies that prestige is still part of the equation, even if not the only motivation.
There is nothing wrong with wanting a bigger home, a different environment, or a freehold asset for one’s family. But if the primary motivation were truly just comfort and practicality, there would be little need to constantly signal status, draw distinctions from HDB living, or make snide remarks about HDB dwellers disguised as “hard truths.”
People who are secure in their choices usually explain them without needing to elevate themselves over others.
Ironically, some private property owners still feel compelled to constantly remind HDB dwellers of their supposedly lower social standing, “heartlander” status, or lack of refinement while simultaneously signalling their own “upgraded” position. The persistent need to draw that comparison suggests that status consciousness remains deeply embedded in the mindset.
As the saying goes, “You can take a person out of HDB, but you cannot take the HDB out of them.” Some upgraders may leave HDB physically, but remain HDB dwellers at heart.
Why, you may wonder. The answer is fairly simple. The pleasure of acquiring something new is temporary; as novelty fades, so does its emotional intensity. What once felt exciting gradually becomes ordinary.
When that sense of novelty disappears, people often turn to comparison and external validation to restore a feeling of significance. By extension, perceived envy can serve as a subtle way of extending novelty, by turning personal possession into something that gains meaning through the eyes of others, rather than through the object itself.
@Tree tioboh ?