Why do all my neighbors try so hard to out do eachother?

Question

like landscaping, nicer cars, more home upgrades, ect. seems like everybody is always trying to oneup everybody else. do you feel like that is the case in your neighborhood too?

Answer 1

because they are jelous

Answer 2

It's a competitive form of status symbol.

To be able to out do another holds themselves up amonst their peers.

People have been doing this since their school days in the way they dress to who was first to bring an iPod to school to who has the fastest car and so on...

It will probably never end unless someone gets hurt in the process.  And then it would only end in that circle of friends or neighbors...

Answer 3

my cave better than your cave

Answer 4

Nope. that's not the same in my neighborhood. I guess cause different priorities. But that sounds terrible... I would never want to gain the whole world and lose my soul like that....geez

Answer 5

Because no one wants to have the worst house on the block.

Answer 6

Insecure people who need to feel superior.  I lived in a neighborhood for 17 years, happened all the time.  No matter what I did, the neighbors would copy, but try to do it just a little bit better.  LOL!

Answer 7

It's called trying to keep up with the Joneses.  (See the link below for more details.)  I live in an apartment building, so I don't have that problem.  My parents don't have that problem living out in the country where neighbors are kind of spread apart.  I never bought into that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_up_...

Answer 8

yea, same situation here. There are landrovers everywhere and there is always a truck of some sort in the street improving someones house. I think that it is not so much competition as it is that people want to live in luxury and have a nice house. In my neighborhood that is the case anyway. Perhaps there is VISIBLE competition where you live. But that's not the case here. Just people trying to live a life of luxury.

Answer 9

maybe they wanna have fun

Answer 10

the typical keep up with the joneses, its an ego thing i guess, most upscale neighborhoods are like that

Answer 11

You must live in Naperville

Answer 12

They actually BELIEVE that gives them value. They are so superficial and undefined within their own soul, that they have to paint something outwardly to give them worth. I know someone who is always bragging and I really think she's so empty. Isn't it funny how they act like they have it all, but their obviously not happy?

Answer 13

trying to keep up with the Jones