it was written in a post which i found to be a highly critical observation dressed in his trademark satire.
how very true, the rules in which he noted that this fame game is played by.
there are no rules, except those that are made by the most popular around, to keep themselves popular.
and so, there effectively is a caste system in terms of popularity, in which there are 3 tiers, much alike any social caste systems.
right at the top are the high, the aristocrats, of who above all, seek to remain where they are, or at the very least, be perceived so. their preferred tools? to be seen and heard, especially with the right people, at the right places. and just like the aristocrats in any society, the high have power, and they usually choose to use this power to keep their power, and at the same time, to gain more power. the high makes all the rules, pertaining to the playing of this fame game. that which they fear most, is to lose their popularity and accordingly, their power to influence others and thus, like that of most in authority, they jealously guard it, systematically removing anyone who threatens their control, yet regularly inducting those who are "worthy" into their ranks to keep their strength. also, perhaps, least they find themselves to be on the outside of another, bigger, more influential group.
next comes the middle, who are looking to replace or the high. they try their hardest to be seen with the high, to be heard talking about the high, to be spoken of, favorably, by the high and are much alike the servants to the high, regarded with amusement by the high who indulge in them occasionally to stoke their own ego, to enjoy the fruits of their power, and they take advantage at the service of the middle. just like how a favored servant would be honoured, every now and then, members of the middle through sheer luck and manoeuvring and manipulation would be thought worthy, or useful to be one of the high - who and when - decided of course, of the high themselves.
right at the bottom comes the low, the proletariat. people who are generally looked upon with disdain by both the middle and the high, who are thought to be "uncool" and suicide to be seen with, for anyone with ambition to either break into the high, or to remain there. they are widely left alone, and consist of people who are thought "weird" or and also, those who were from the high or middle but have found themselves displaced and ostracised because they have fallen out of favor, or had the audacity to challenge or aggravate the high.
so who is it that decides who goes where? who set the high where they are? how do the middle break into the high? who decides who the low consists of?
it would appear that it all boils down to the whimsical will of the aristocrats, ever so opal, except for their single-minded pursuit of power and more power.
which leads us finally back to the very capricious nature of this social snake and ladders.
you could be part of the high, climbing quickly via the ladders, and then, all it takes is a bad roll of the dice, an adverse landing on a bad spot and hell, you are sliding down the snake's tummy into social banishment and wilderness.