Why do rich people like white Christmas lights?

[meltdown75]

I just change the pot-light bulbs under the eaves out front for coloured ones. I don't have a tall enough ladder though, so the ones under the higher eaves remain plain.

Super poor FTW!

The next-door neighbours have seemingly unlimited money for everything for their house and they not only have white AND red lights but they have motorized reindeer which look like they are grazing in the garden.

Ghetto house < Rich house

Seriously though... I've seen mansions with coloured lights, for what it's worth.

 

[fisheerman]

Originally posted by: Amused
I find it hilarious that otherwise intelligent people are arguing over a relative and subjective term as though it were quantitative.

Rich doesn't equal the value of something you own (or the bank owns!).

I know tons of people that live in outrageously expensive houses and know for a fact if they missed one paycheck from their job they would loss it all. They are leveraged to the max pursueing a lifestyle that they can't afford. How many of you know of lower wage earners driving around in vancy cars?

I equate Rich to be

Rich = may work but only because you enjoy it or are addicted to making money (ie Dont have to work)

Not Rich = have to work because you would be on the street.


Some of the riches people I know choose to work because they don't have anything else to do.

Remember the perception of rich is just that. I know a guy with million dollar houses, limo, sports car etc and a lifestyle that would make some people say "wow that guy is super rich" yet not have a dime in the bank. He's got a good paying income from a company that he owns but just spends every dime coming out of it.

2 cents

-fish

 

[Skyguy]

Answer to the original OP:

There are a couple of reasons........as a designer I've seen alot and I think I am somewhat qualified to offer a theory based on extensive observation:

1) The color White is simply seen as classy, timeless design choice. It's not trendy, it won't ever be dated, and those characteristics are looked upon as somewhat of a requirement for those who wish to be considered "rich". It's not a question of how rich, or even whether they ARE rich, or in what manner..........it's simply a notion that white is timeless.......and well-do-to people generally appreciate such characteristics, or at least strive to mimic them.

2) They choose white for the same reason they paint their walls sand, beige, taupe, and white: it's "neutral". Well-heeled folk normally didn't get that way by being "loud and obnoxious", and so their minimalist tastes reflect that. They're not "stereotypical white trash" and feign at the notion of being brash.......at LEAST to outward appearances........it's all about the "image".

I could go on, but combine those two and you get people who portray a positive image to their socialite friends, neighbors, and the like. They're not seen as offensive or "colorful", they blend right in. Same people who drive their silver Benz's and Beamers, wear china blue shirts and flat-front khakis with nice shoes to the office, have sand/taupe color schemes in their public areas of their house and try to be "hip" with some deep crimson bathroom color scheme.......who have impossibly fake looking shrubs in front of their house, dress their kids in Gap while wearing their own Tommy Hilfiger designer jeans.

Now, people who've gotten alot of money without hob-nobbing and being vanilla...........well, they put up colored lights.......but they probably also drive a minivan, let their kids get dirty at soccer, have a thick old comfy couch to jump on in the rec room, have a blue colored bedroom, and have Frosted Flakes in the pantry. Those people remember where they came from, aren't afraid to be "colorful" so to speak, and will tell you to leave your shoes on in their house because they don't have cream-coloured rugs and furniture that will show a speck of dirt and the slightest miscalculation.

Those people..........yeah, they're my kind of people.

Merry Christmas everyone, and to all a good set of colored lights!!!!!!

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: spidey07
because we have taste.

colored lights are for the common folk.

How arrogant.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

The white lites make things nice and bright so we can identify the lowly peasants trying to steal our lawn ornaments

 

[Jack Ryan]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Ok I'll bite.

:shocked:

Wow this thread is like the cheesecake. It's too rich for me.

:laugh:

:thumbsdown:

 

[oOZo]

Very articulate and colorful description of the OP's question. I am glad I decided to read the entire thread as you nailed it with that post.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Googer

Originally posted by: spidey07
because we have taste.

colored lights are for the common folk.

How arrogant.

oh c'mon....it was a tongue in cheek comment.

 

[Ramma2]

I use white lights to outline the lines of the house to give it a gingerbread house look. Beside that I think the white lights are a more classic look.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Because white simply looks more sophisticated. It reminds people of crystal and diamonds, etc.... Of course, the colored lights are much more festive and remind me of the old days. I kind of like them better, but don't have any up. I've got white lights up everywhere.

 

[marulee]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe
Every house in my brother's neighborhood ($400-500k houses) has all white Christmas lights. I guess it's seen as classier, to the point where no one at all has colored lights. What compels these people to be so bland and whitebread that even their Christmas lights lack color?

Edit: I realize 400-500k is not a lot in most highly populated parts of the country, but this is in a Houston suburb, and one of the most expensive subdivisions in this area. It's expensive enough for Slim Thug to have a house there.

Show off their wealthy appearance with more decoration!

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Skyguy
Answer to the original OP:

There are a couple of reasons........as a designer I've seen alot and I think I am somewhat qualified to offer a theory based on extensive observation:

1) The color White is simply seen as classy, timeless design choice. It's not trendy, it won't ever be dated, and those characteristics are looked upon as somewhat of a requirement for those who wish to be considered "rich". It's not a question of how rich, or even whether they ARE rich, or in what manner..........it's simply a notion that white is timeless.......and well-do-to people generally appreciate such characteristics, or at least strive to mimic them.

2) They choose white for the same reason they paint their walls sand, beige, taupe, and white: it's "neutral". Well-heeled folk normally didn't get that way by being "loud and obnoxious", and so their minimalist tastes reflect that. They're not "stereotypical white trash" and feign at the notion of being brash.......at LEAST to outward appearances........it's all about the "image".

I could go on, but combine those two and you get people who portray a positive image to their socialite friends, neighbors, and the like. They're not seen as offensive or "colorful", they blend right in. Same people who drive their silver Benz's and Beamers, wear china blue shirts and flat-front khakis with nice shoes to the office, have sand/taupe color schemes in their public areas of their house and try to be "hip" with some deep crimson bathroom color scheme.......who have impossibly fake looking shrubs in front of their house, dress their kids in Gap while wearing their own Tommy Hilfiger designer jeans.

Now, people who've gotten alot of money without hob-nobbing and being vanilla...........well, they put up colored lights.......but they probably also drive a minivan, let their kids get dirty at soccer, have a thick old comfy couch to jump on in the rec room, have a blue colored bedroom, and have Frosted Flakes in the pantry. Those people remember where they came from, aren't afraid to be "colorful" so to speak, and will tell you to leave your shoes on in their house because they don't have cream-coloured rugs and furniture that will show a speck of dirt and the slightest miscalculation.

Those people..........yeah, they're my kind of people.

Merry Christmas everyone, and to all a good set of colored lights!!!!!!

I couldn't agree more. That's exactly what I see. Thanks for getting the thread back on topic.

Now my brother's whole family, except maybe the 8 year old kid, is going overboard with the whole fitting in thing. It's to the point where they want to send their daughter, who is a senior in high school and has only made one B, is a member of 4 or 5 clubs including being a captain on the brigade, to Texas A&M... Because around here it's such a popular school among the upper/upper-middle class. My bro believes that the networking opportunities and "aggies looking out for each other" make it worth going there. So his millionaire rotary club buddies say. I could go on and on with this rant.

 

[rothchilds]

all white is the closest looking thing to snow most of populated California will see, at least thats why I use them. Oh that and big bulbed colored lights belong in the 70's

 

[zinfamous]

white is classy. rich people are classy; and the classiest, most tasteful people anywhere. therefore, they prefer white lights. simple.......uh
Ed: spelling

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Ok I'll bite.

:shocked:

Wow this thread is like the cheesecake. It's too rich for me.

:laugh:

:laugh:

 

[Childs]

I like colored lights. The tackier the better. Should look like Las Vegas in the 80s. I even make a star every year out of cardboard and tinfoil. And I wouldnt consider myself poor, in any part of the country. Xmas should be fun, and I dont particularly care what other people think is classy.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
There's only 35 lights per string, and we have 4 strings on a line. Seems to work OK. I am thinking of stocking up on LED lights after Christmas though...those things are way cool.

I use those on my Mom and Dad's house every year. I run them along the edge of the roof.

They look nice, but they're a huge pain in the ass. Every year there are bulbs out. I plug them in and replace bulbs as I go. It's usually cold, so the bulbs are extra fragile, and if I drop a string, they break. I have to go in the house and unplug them so I can get the broken bulb out.

I've been checking out those LED lights and I think this year I'm going to get them after Christmas. They're not too expensive right now, about $15 for a 140 light string, so if they're 50% off that'll be worth it.

I figure they'll save me at least an hour putting the lights up.

 

[Rudy Toody]

Originally posted by: GuitarDaddy
The white lites make things nice and bright so we can identify the lowly peasants trying to steal our lawn ornaments

I don't think peasants actually like pink flamingos.

 

[DivideBYZero]

White, becasue I am a Vanilla face.

 

[potato28]

Well now there's a poll... many MANY colors because I like pretty colors

 

[LookingGlass]

Also, it's not just the color of the lights themselves how they are displayed that can make or break the design and display on the home. You can have sheity looking white lights, if they aren't hung right.

 

[biostud]

white candle lights in our family, much better than electrical.

 

[LanceM]

White lights look classy. My other big problem with colored lights are that you frequently end up with a few strands that are slightly off-colored (my sister's house has a lot of red lights, but two small strands are very, very pink, despite coming from the same supplier).

And yeah, a $500k house in Texas is a very different place than a $500k home in most states.

 

[DaShen]

I like the standard white lights.

But you can have your gallimaufry of colors.

 

[CraigRT]

Not rich, prefer all white ...