Lawns

Some people are really serious about maintaining their lawns. Even too seriously, you might say. There is always one lawn in a neighborhood that is kept immaculate and lush all year long by someone who takes great care to make it appear magnificent. Many others don't seem to give a damn. However, a lawn used to be a real prestige symbol.

When you understand what a patch of grass stands for, it no longer seems weird to use it as a status symbol. It's actually quite crude in a manner. A lawn used to be a wasteful way to display your affluence. A lawn was unaffordable for a peasant. They made their living off the land. A farmer couldn't have a lawn because they needed the land to grow food so they could support their families. But who is wealthy? They might squander a lot of land. Therefore, having a large lawn suggested that you didn't care how much space you wasted.

Homeowners eventually acquired their own land and lawns, which in a way demonstrated their independence. It was successful. However, we no longer necessarily associate homeownership with the unnecessary plot of grass in front of one.