Summary

The Stanley Cup craze exemplifies society's fixation on status symbols, driven by social trends and the desire for social acceptance, despite the often fleeting nature of these fads.

Abstract

The Stanley Cup, a product of the Stanley brand, has unexpectedly become a viral status symbol, particularly among younger generations, leading to frenzied demand, high resale prices, and social stratification based on possession of the cup. This phenomenon reflects broader societal behaviors regarding the pursuit of status through material objects, a practice deeply rooted in human nature. While the author acknowledges the absurdity of a simple cup becoming a coveted item, they also recognize the historical precedent of such fads, comparing the Stanley Cup craze to past trends like the Tulip Craze of the 17th century. The article suggests that while some status symbols endure and remain economically significant, others are short-lived and eventually lose their appeal and value. The author advises against investing in these fleeting trends, emphasizing that while such crazes may seem trivial, they are an intrinsic part of human social dynamics.

Opinions

The author feels out of touch with mainstream trends, having learned about the Stanley Cup craze from social media rather than through traditional social circles.
The author expresses skepticism about the value of the Stanley Cup as a status symbol, considering it overpriced, unattractive, and impractical.
There is a critique of the superficiality of using branded items, like the Stanley Cup, as a measure of social status, particularly among youth.
The author points out the irony in the cup's design not aligning with traditional aesthetics associated with status symbols, such as elegance or functionality.
The article suggests that the desire for status symbols is a natural human instinct, linked to social and reproductive selection.
The author distinguishes between long-term status symbols, which are typically more expensive and steeped in tradition, and fads, which are temporary and often economically unwise to invest in.
The author maintains a humorous and somewhat cynical tone about the Stanley Cup craze, while also acknowledging the universality of participating in such trends.

What The Stanley Cup Craze Tells Us About Society

Second verse, same as the first.

When I first heard about the Stanely cup craze, I realized I had become old. I found out about it on YouTube and TikTok, of all places. Normally, I would assume that I’d hear about it from a friend who is mainstream.

Nope, I am officially out of the loop.

For those not in the know, the hottest new accessory is a giant-looking metal cup from a sporting brand named Stanley. Stanley became popular on TikTok after one of their cups survived a car fire — and somehow, that matters.

Since the Stanley cup went viral, the brand started to partner with major names like Starbucks for limited-edition cups. The result was seeing cups pried off shelves within seconds, videos of kids begging for a Stanely cup, and cups retailing on eBay for hundreds of dollars.

Excuse me, what the hell?

Call me dusty and old, but a cup is a freaking cup. It’s not a fashion accessory by any means of the word. I mean, don’t get me wrong. I love to see a beautiful home spread involving cute cups and plates.

It’s just that, well, I would never make fun of a person for not having a certain type of cup. And yet, that’s exact ly what is happening in schools and even in certain mom groups.

I…ugh.

Even if it is a sturdy thermos, I can’t justify paying $50 for a stupid punkass cup. They don’t even look that nice. They don’t have cute patterns, they look like they belong in a thrift store (not in a good way) and they are clunky to hold.

I mean, if you’re going to go bonkers for a status symbol, could it at least be a nice-looking one? Or one that actually has multiple uses? Or something that isn’t a pain to hold? I can understand a Birkin bag. I can’t understand this.

The Stanley cup craze is far from the first place I’ve seen this, though.

Let’s face it. Stanley cups are just one more cog in the long line of status symbols that become a part of our social zeitgeist. Truth be told, I don’t think most people care about whether or not Stanleys are sturdy.

I think they are more interested in showing they have the “it” thing of the day, even if it’s just a stupid cup. And you know what? That’s actually a fairly human thing to desire.

Humanity always had ways to determine status, since status helps people figure out if someone is worth reproducing with or not. Sometimes, it was the golden glitter of a crown. Other times, it was wearing perfume.

Regardless, it’s normal to want to get status symbols, not matter how stupid and useless they are. Stanley is just a symptom of being a human. The right gear, unfortunately, can pave a way to “coolness” or status.

I think anyone who’s been in public school has seen how much a simple brand can change how kids treat you. It’s literally a part of human nature.

The funny thing about Stanley cups is that they probably won’t stay a status symbol for long.

There are long-term status symbols, and then there are faddy status symbols. Long-term status symbols have staying power, faddy status symbols become “junk” in 20 years — at least in most cases.

Long-term status symbols tend to be more expensive, more useful, and more importantly, steeped in traditions and economic mechanisms. Faddy status symbols are often kicked off by “crazes.”

Let me give you a couple of examples of long-term versus short-term status symbols:

The Tulip Craze of the 17th century was a fad craze. Tulips became a status symbol because they were newly introduced to the Dutch. The novelty made their prices shoot up, and soon they were more expensive than a person’s annual salary. Today, tulips are about the price of a cup of coffee. The fad lasted three years and people who got all in on it were financially devastated.
Real estate, especially real mansions, are a long-term status symbol. You live in it. Mansions cost a lot of money to maintain. It’s a clear indicator of wealth and has been an economically viable way to transfer wealth generationally.
Ed Hardy attire was a status symbol fad in Jersey during the 2000s. I’ve seen people shell out as much as $200 for one of those shirts. You kinda had to have a big wallet to afford those back in the day. It was the Stanley Cup of the Jersey bar scene.
A yacht would be a long-term status symbol because simply maintaining one costs an arm and a leg. Besides, sea vessels have often been a sign of great wealth.

Let them drink from Stanleys, but don’t be the one to invest in them now...

I’m just going to point out that every major fad craze goes through a moment where investing in them as soon as they get popular is a good idea. That’s because they tend to be the first ones to sell those items to people who pay top dollar in hopes of them appreciating in value later.

After it starts to lose steam, there is no point in buying that status symbol secondhand unless you actually like it. The price crashes, and being able to get your hands on a whatever-it-is becomes a cinch in a short while.

While we can all roll our eyes about the Stanley cup craze, the truth is that we’ve all had moments like that. For some of us, it’s a pair of Ghast pants. For others, it might be a Starbucks coffee or reservations at Per Se.

We’re making it all sound like it’s a shitshow worthy of loathing, but this is one of those things that’s fairly harmless in the grand scheme of things. Let’s just laugh it off, okay?