23 Comments
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William Janis's avatar

Any thoughts on the recent film called "Materialists" about the wealthy in New York City?

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David Roberts's avatar

I haven’t seen it yet. Waiting for it to be streamed.

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William Janis's avatar

I read a review in the Washington Post. The film is apparently very transactional.

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William Janis's avatar

Private secondary and university institutions serve as the training ground for the ruling class.

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William Janis's avatar

Thanks. I thought that I might be stepping on toes. I made this comment based on my son graduating from Yale.

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William Janis's avatar

Once upon a time, I wished that I could live in Ridgefield, CT.

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William Janis's avatar

The other place was Leitchfield, CT. I do not know why.

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

where I grew up!

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William Janis's avatar

Has Samuel read the 2024 John Grisham book called Framed? I am listening to the audio version.

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William Janis's avatar

Isabel--good comment about selecting an appropriate spouse.

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William Janis's avatar

I do not understand the flying private thing. Would not business class, or even first class, prove sufficient?

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David Roberts's avatar

It does suffice, but it’s a big status thing.

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William Janis's avatar

I still do not understand the reasoning.

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William Janis's avatar

Like the term, "a fragile path to happiness."

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William Janis's avatar

Parents' influence over their children rapidly diminishes over time starting from the birth of the children.

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William Janis's avatar

Isabel highlights the concept of parents living their lives through the lives of their children.

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Isabel Cowles Murphy's avatar

I see a whole lot of that, I'm afraid. I also wonder if I'll continue to be so relaxed about getting 'status' from my children's accomplishments as they grow older. It's easy for me to be laid back when they are still young and their self-actualization remains pure potentiality.

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William Janis's avatar

The parents are paying the elite high schools to get their kids into elite universities.

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Jonathan Brownson's avatar

Second gilded age...

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Jonathan Brownson's avatar

I am embarrassed to say that I had not heard that term before...it is a helpful term for those historians like me who a "lumpers" rather than "splitters".

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Jennifer Ward Dudley's avatar

David. Another live chat . I missed . Love reruns. Didn’t disappoint . Isabel was comfortable with you. As if you’d been friends for along time. My Beverly Hill’s childhood friend’s parents were amongst the wealthiest in the Country . I am one of 6 daughters . Our father a film director, producer. His office on Rodeo Dr where Harry Winston lives now. He tried to keep up with the Joneses . Our home was comfortable while my friends. Holmby Hiils, BelAir, above Sunset. I was as comfortable in theirs as mine. We were teenagers in mid 60’s. Equals in a land of plenty . I moved to NYC when 21. Again my crowd. Old , blue blood . Same in Greenwich where I rented a cottage on an estate in Zaccheus Mead. Married in 1980. Darien Ct. My aunts home. Contentment Isle. My husband . Finance. Hard worker. Big pockets !?.. nope. Built a fine family. Moved Cincinnati. Talk about old wealth ? Surrounded. Tooo conservative . Goes with mid west territory. We discovered a beautiful lake harbor 8 hours up. One of my buddys family . Quaker Oats. Seems I attract the upper one half of one percent. 3 of my sisters, we Roman Catholic , married successful”nice “ Jewish wealthy men. I ? Nice, Catholic boy from O H I O by way of Cornell. 47 years . We “invested “

Your continued success on Substack . Deserved. As well as your success in life.

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David Roberts's avatar

Thank you Jennifer. I always like reading about your life and appreciate the kind words and encouragement.

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Jennifer Ward Dudley's avatar

Our son and daughter were raised with some privileges never entitled ! Honor and humility were impressed . Some of my sisters adult children work but …. Spoiled ?! Hard pill for me to swallow . Keep getting the message out not all kids from “lucky gene pool” are lacking gratitude

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