If you don't think I am being straight with you, and I am playing some unstated game, that's ok.
I think you're being as completely straight and honest as you are humanly capable of being. I think you also overestimate the degree to which you're capable of being straight and honest. What's your straightest and most honest answer to the question of what probability you assign to the possibility that your actions can be influenced by subconscious status concerns?
Which is to say: Status games are a bias. You're claiming to be above bias. I believe you believe that, but I don't believe that.
If it's worth saying, but not worth its own post (even in Discussion), then it goes here.
Notes for future OT posters:
1. Please add the 'open_thread' tag.
2. Check if there is an active Open Thread before posting a new one. (Immediately before; refresh the list-of-threads page before posting.)
3. Open Threads should be posted in Discussion, and not Main.
4. Open Threads should start on Monday, and end on Sunday.