If everyone avoided 'status games,' how would society function?

Sure, here is the translation:

This is a really interesting question that touches on a core driver of how our society operates. I'll try to explain my thoughts in plain language.

What Would the World Be Like if Everyone Stopped Playing "Status Games"?

First, let's briefly define what a "Status Game" is.

Simply put, it refers to the constant "competition" between people to see who has a higher social ranking. This game isn't necessarily about money; it can be about power, reputation, knowledge, who is more "virtuous," or even who appears more "Zen-like" or detached from material concerns... Its core characteristic is that it's often a zero-sum game: if I rise, someone else must fall; your victory is my loss. It's like on social media – you flash your luxury vacation, and someone else has to post their Harvard acceptance letter to "one-up you."

Okay, now let's imagine a world completely free of these games.

The Sunny Side: A More Authentic and Creative World

If status games disappeared, the positive effects would be remarkably clear. The world could become a more comfortable and efficient place.

1. Intrinsic Motivation Becomes Mainstream People would do things not to "look impressive," but because "I genuinely enjoy this" or "this is truly meaningful."
- A programmer would develop an app because they enjoy the creative process, not to put "Worked at Big Tech Company X" on their resume.
- An artist would create purely to express their inner vision, not to get into a famous gallery.
- We would see a much wider variety of incredibly creative things born purely out of passion.
2. Genuine Cooperation, Not Superficial Alliances Within status games, cooperation often happens to build alliances to expand one's influence and defeat another group. Without this underlying competition, cooperation would become more authentic.
- Imagine several companies truly sharing technology to solve a global issue (like climate change) faster, rather than fighting to be the market leader. The entire society would function like a massive, efficient open-source project.
3. Much Better Mental Health for Everyone Anxiety, envy, comparison... many of these modern "psychological afflictions" stem from status games. You feel pressure when your neighbor buys a luxury car; you feel loss when a classmate gets promoted.
- In a world without status games, you could sincerely feel happy for others' successes because their win wouldn't diminish your own standing. You'd focus more on your own growth and happiness, rather than your ranking in others' eyes.
4. Resources Would Be Used More Efficiently So much money and energy are spent on the "arms race" of maintaining status. Think luxury goods, extravagant weddings, unnecessarily large houses.
- If these games stopped, people would consume more pragmatically. Resources would flow towards areas that genuinely improve lives and solve problems, like education, scientific research, and healthcare.

The Flip Side: Potential Chaos and Stagnation

However, it's not that simple. While status games are problematic in many ways, they also serve as a societal "engine," providing powerful motivation. Eliminating them completely could lead to some unexpected problems.

1. "Who Will Do the Dirty Work?" – The Motivation Problem It's undeniable that striving for higher social status is a core motivator for many people working hard. Beyond a sense of mission, the social respect (a form of status) associated with professions like doctors, scientists, or firefighters is also a significant incentive.
- If such status-based rewards disappeared, who would willingly do critical but difficult and unpleasant jobs? Overall societal functioning could dramatically decline, potentially leading to stagnation.
2. "Who's in Charge?" – The Order Problem Status, to some degree, provides a quick-reference "social coordinate system." We instinctively tend to trust experts more and follow superiors' guidance. While this hierarchy can be rigid, it also maintains basic social order.
- If everyone's "status" were completely equal, society might descend into decision-making chaos. In a project, who gets the final say? During a crisis, who takes the lead? This could make collaboration incredibly difficult.
3. "A New Game Begins" – The Human Nature Problem Pursuing status seems almost hardwired into human DNA. It's an instinct evolved from ancient times, tied to competing for resources and mating opportunities.
- It's highly likely that even if we abolished one old status game, a new one would emerge very quickly. For instance, people might start competing over who "cares least about status," and the person who appears "most indifferent" ironically gains the highest implicit status. This sounds ironic but is very realistic. Think of wealthy individuals deliberately dressing plainly – this in itself is a higher-order status signal.

Conclusion: Balance is Key

So, a society completely devoid of "status games" might not become the utopia we imagine. It might be more authentic and less stressful, but it could also lack drive, be inefficient, or even somewhat chaotic.

The key issue likely isn't eliminating status games, but rather how each of us perceives and participates in them.

As Naval Ravikant often points out, we should aim to shift from "status games" to "wealth creation games."

Status games are Zero-sum: If you win, I lose.
Wealth creation games are Positive-sum: You create a great product, everyone benefits, and you profit too – it's win-win.

We can choose to:

Recognize the Game You're Playing: When doing something, ask yourself: is it to gain others' approval, or to create real value?
Play Selectively: Engage in games that are beneficial to society and positive-sum.
Pursue an Internal Scorecard: Measure your success by your own sense of fulfillment and values, not by external applause or rankings.

Perhaps the ideal society isn't one without status games, but one where the majority are consciously aware and choose not to waste their lives in endless, zero-sum status competitions. Instead, they shift their focus towards creation, collaboration, and self-actualization.