THE DEFINITION OF VIP STATUS

Posted on by VIP

VIP Status – it sounds impressive, but what does it really mean? In this inaugural post I want to take a look at the origin of this concept, and investigate just why

VIP Status is so alluring to so many people around the world.

The term VIP is an acronym that stands for Very Important Person. A person who who is, according to Wikipedia “accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance”. I’ve been looking for an exact date where this term was first introduced but so I far I haven’t been able to find one. Most of the research I’ve done indicates that it came along in the first half of the Twentieth Century, sometime between 1909 and 1945.

At its root, the idea of a VIP is exclusionary. After all, for one to be a very important person that would mean that other people are not so important, perhaps indicating a hierarchy of importance where VIP are close to the top, and the vast majority is below them. This being the case it only makes sense that people would aspire to VIP Status. After all, not too many people want to be thought of as insignificant, not important, faceless, worthless sheep. It would seem therefore that being a VIP is in many ways about how we are perceived by others and the value that we are seen as having in relation to others.

Then, there is also this matter of the special privileges that are afforded to those with VIP status. Because VIPs are seen as very important, they are treated like royalty everywhere that they go. The are given the best table at restaurants, and are as a rule given the best service. Unlike the masses who need reservations, and are often forced to wait in long lines, VIPs can walk right in to a venue and receive service with a smile. On top of that VIPs often get goods and services given to them free of charge, simply because of their perceived status. This is particularly amusing considering that VIPs often have a great deal more discretionary income than other “less important” people!

It should also be noted that there are many venues that have so called “VIP” sections where any customer willing to pay can receive “VIP privileges” simply by paying a set fee. This is very common in nightclubs which have special tables set aside for “VIP” guests. However, true VIP status cannot be bought so easily. In other words just because you paid to sit in a special section doesn’t actually make you important or guarantee that others will perceive you as such.

In the end I think that it is only natural for people to aspire to be seen and treated as VIPs. Getting the best service, the best tables, the best treatment and so forth is always nice, and there is obviously a nice massage for the ego when other people treat you as special. That being said, it is also important to remember that just because other people treat you like you are special doesn’t mean that you actually are special. Whether you are special or not is really something that only you alone can determine.




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