--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Having a dissenting opinion on movies…" description: "\"“Having a dissenting opinion on movies, music, or clothes, or owning clever or obscure possessions, is the way middle-class people fight one another fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/david-mcraney-10077_music_having-a-dissenting-opinion-on-movies-mu_994224.jpg" --- # Having a dissenting opinion on movies, music, or clothes… ![“Having a dissenting opinion on movies, music, or clothes, or owning clever or obscure possessions, is the way middle-class people fight one another for status. They can't out-consume one another because they can't afford it, but they can out-taste one another.” quote by David McRaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/david-mcraney-10077_music_having-a-dissenting-opinion-on-movies-mu_994224.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/david-mcraney-10077_music_having-a-dissenting-opinion-on-movies-mu_994224.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/david-mcraney-10077_music_having-a-dissenting-opinion-on-movies-mu_994224.jpg) > ““Having a dissenting opinion on movies, music, or clothes, or owning clever or obscure possessions, is the way middle-class people fight one another for status. They can't out-consume one another because they can't afford it, but they can out-taste one another.”” [David McRaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mcraney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People use taste in culture and possessions to signal status when material consumption is limited, turning personal preferences into social competition. **In simple terms:** Status is shown through taste when money can't. Key Takeaway Notice how your preferences may signal status. Themes status culture competition identity consumerism Mood reflective critical Type sociological observational When to use this quote - social gatherings - online forums - fashion circles - music fandoms - home décor choices Key Concepts signaling theory social comparison class dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Do you choose things to impress others? - How does this affect authentic self‑expression? A Different Perspective It can overlook genuine personal enjoyment in favor of rivalry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) ## Related quotes > [“Having a dissenting opinion on movies, music, or clothes, or owning clever or obscure possessions, is the way middle-class people fight one another for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mcraney/having-a-dissenting-opinion-on-movies-music-or-clothes-or-owning-2/) [David McRaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mcraney/) > [The first opinion the Court ever filed has a dissenting opinion. Dissent is a tradition of this Court... When someone is writing for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/the-first-opinion-the-court-ever-filed-has-a-dissenting-opinion/) [William O. 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And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-cain/you-know-this-entire-industry-and-its-not-just-this-industry-it-s/) [Will Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-cain/) > [We must continually remind students in the classroom that expression of different opinions and dissenting ideas affirms the intellectual process. We should forcefully explain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/we-must-continually-remind-students-in-the-classroom-that-expression/) [Bell Hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Democracy to me is letting the other person speak and being dissenting without being disagreeable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachy-mccourt/democracy-to-me-is-letting-the-other-person-speak-and-being/) [Malachy McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachy-mccourt/) > [Why the critics, like a flock of ducks, always move in perfect unison: Their authority with the public depends upon an appearance of unanimous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/why-the-critics-like-a-flock-of-ducks-always-move-in-perfect-unison/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [The modern progressive movement believes that dissenting language is objectionable, which then removes the brakes between anger and violence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/the-modern-progressive-movement-believes-that-dissenting-language-is/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [Intolerance is natural and logical, for in every dissenting opinion lies an assumption of superior wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/intolerance-is-natural-and-logical-for-in-every-dissenting-opinion/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A dissenting minority feels free only when it can impose its will on the majority: what it abominates most is the dissent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/a-dissenting-minority-feels-free-only-when-it-can-impose-its-will-on/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [My dissenting opinions, like my briefs, are intended to persuade. 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