What are you referring to with the phrase "status symbol"?

I can't connect it at all to your listed points. An Olympic medal is about obvious a status symbol as I can imagine but it can't (meaningfully) be bought or transferred.

The status signified with a knit sweater is membership (and good standing!) in a caring family with elders not yet fully subsumed into their phones.

People, acquaintances and strangers alike, frequently comment on the knit socks I often wear, ask after who made them, and all of a sudden we're on "how's your mom" terms.

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ghurtado 4 hours ago | parent [-]

> it can't (meaningfully) be bought or transferred.

https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop=...

> People, acquaintances and strangers alike, frequently comment on the knit socks I often wear,

Ok, that explains pretty much everything about your line of thought.

Thanks.

	▲	NiloCK 3 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		(edited for clarity) > https://www.ebay.com/b/Olympic-Medal/27291/bn_55191416?_sop=... Of course you can buy an Olympic medal. You can't buy the status conferred by the medal (of Olympic champion / nth runner up). > Ok, that explains pretty much everything about your line of thought. I don't understand this either. Are you insulting me?
	▲	bluecheese452 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		Buying someone else’s medal is not a status symbol. That is why they included the word meaningfully.