There is a distinction between joining a group for the sake of joining a group and acquiring status, and joining a group because it offers you companionship, friendly competition, and entertainment. The feeling of status and of being a high-ranking person is a good feeling, most people feel this way. I don’t think the question is whether this feeling is good or bad, whether we should feel this way at all; it’s a question of time. How much time will it take to acquire that status? Is there a better way you can invest your time? If joining an in-group gives you the highest return on your invested time, accounting for all the risks (like being spontaneously ejected), then go for it. It’s up to each individual to decide which set of actions has the highest “emotional” return, that really depends on their unique personal history and genetics.
There is a distinction between joining a group for the sake of joining a group and acquiring status, and joining a group because it offers you companionship, friendly competition, and entertainment. The feeling of status and of being a high-ranking person is a good feeling, most people feel this way. I don’t think the question is whether this feeling is good or bad, whether we should feel this way at all; it’s a question of time. How much time will it take to acquire that status? Is there a better way you can invest your time? If joining an in-group gives you the highest return on your invested time, accounting for all the risks (like being spontaneously ejected), then go for it. It’s up to each individual to decide which set of actions has the highest “emotional” return, that really depends on their unique personal history and genetics.