[nostrademons]

Yeah, like deodorant, diamonds, Armani, the Model T, cruise ships, tanning salons, makeup, corsets, diet pills, jumbo mortgages, health spas, and The Great Vowel Shift of the 1600s.

Nearly everything is marketed by making you seem like a person of higher social status. If people were comfortable with who they were, we wouldn't need 90% of the goods on the market (and the remaining 10% would likely be much cheaper). It's not human nature to be content with your lot in life; if we made everyone equal, they'd find some new dimension to elevate. Bring on the Star-Bellied Sneetches!

[jimbokun]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2uIJqqOlQw

[webwright]

Not to mention hair dye, padded bras, shoe lifts, tanning lotion, girdles, braces (for straight teeth),teeth whiteners, razors, etc.

[michaelneale]

Not so sure about deodorant. Maybe it was once, but damn, I hope people don't use that as an excuse not to use it (and claim that their smell is natural or that they can't smell it).