I'm sure he's referring to the general cultural context of the world. Sure maybe there's a culture that values your ability to yodel as a status symbol, but obviously nobody is talking about that.
Every culture on the face of the earth pretty much values wealth and power as status symbols. Let's not attempt to be clever and actually end up making the world make less sense by trying to make everything apples and oranges when there is a universal standard of status.
Certainly is...I'm in the new status symbol but without the influence ( which I dont really care about ) and most people that know me are calling me a wanker etc...Same at work but whenever they cant do something the wanker/Excel monkey becomes god on Earth.
Cultural POV must play a lot but your environment, education does too I guess.
