Comment by Jerome_Thomas on Competent Elites · 2008-09-27T15:59:03.000Z · LW · GW

Something to bear in mind. There exists a feedback loop whereby social status and the approval of others, (whether justified or not)increases confidence and self-assurance driving that social status higher still.

It seems quite possible that elites are "sparkly" because of their social status rather than the other way around.