"it’s clear that hierarchies are all-pervasive in our modern societies. How do we come to such a state of affairs?... My guess would be that some were initially caused by the necessities of pre-technological tribal life and have survived because they gave power to some favoured group, who became interested in maintaining that power."

This misses the point, and there's no need for guessing - like it or not (yes, kick and scream all you like), we're all biologically hardwired to look for status, and so heirarchies form naturally. Whether it be dogs, chimps or bloggers, status and heirarchy issues are 'part of the package'.

The original author's own rude reply to a post on this site is evidence of his own need for status, and his response to a perceived threat to his own imagined position in the blogging pecking order (ugh)