How Much Money You Got? Sites Broach Taboo Topic

You probably don't know Joey Kincer of San Juan Capistrano, California, but if you read the New York Times Magazine this weekend, you'll learn he makes $65,000 a year as a web developer and has a net worth of $201,000 (above the national median but about even with his fellow Californians). Kincer is happy to reveal all this on a site called NetWorthIQ, as are plenty of others, though most do so anonymously. The magazine checks in the phenomenon of such sites, which allow people to see how they stack up with others in terms of money.

Whether this is a good or bad trend is open to debate. "Does our almost irresistible urge to rank ourselves against others based on any available data serve as a source of inspiration?" writes Ron Lieber. "Or does it lead to endless striving in search of some ever-elusive achievement?" For views on both sides, read the full piece here.
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