Minor venting on behavior: why would someone say or think this?

[Populist_Prole]

2. Wow, I'm the same way

I like to upgrade PCs to both get better performance and get more life out of them. It's as much a matter of pride as practicality. So many others, as well as the person aforementioned, just go buy a new off the rack PC time and time again.

Funny thing about the incident I mentioned: I think you have it right. Though it was one of those "had to be there" moments. It probably really was a sense of some cognitive dissonance about "stuff". Though my actual words didn't chide him on his acquisition of said stuff, I now think my tone/vibe came across as a finger wagging refutation of being some mindless "consumer". They ( him and his wife ) have turned sharply conservative the last several years, and so I was busting his balls I guess.

Even so, though there might be a reason, the sudden nastiness ( you had to be there ) really rattled me. I'm not sure if it was a latent conservative thing or just a rationalization/cover up of buyer's remorse. These are not rich people.