Middle class...

[Bri w]

I work = working class... if the class system exists in its 'old' format.

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

I think the point DB was trying to make in another thread was there are those folk who like to "think" they belong in a higher class, even if they don't have the money to back it up. The habit of "acting" middle class when you're no better than the rest of us can get a tad irritating at times

But hey, if you've earned it and live it then good for you

We all aspire to be in a better place, monetary or otherwise, but the irritation lies, when you get spoken down to from someone who has moulded themselves into an upper claaarrse pretentious w*anker, because of the shoulders they like to rub with, who although has an arty fart career and is educated in one field, is actually as dumb as my potato masher in the kitchen cupboard when it comes to the real world.

The other lady in that particular example to which you are refering, has had a private education, which some might think is an extremely upper class thing.....however, she is neither snotty, nor pretencious or a w*anker, but a lady who is not very well off, generally average in intelligence.......but so much warmer, so much more beautiful within her being, doesn't interrogate you in a patronising manner and someone I'd rather spend time with, than trying to get rid of.....

she doesn't try to be something she is not, this is the difference between the two. Her children will be much more well off for it too.


Now, on another note....

Peg has been in a place where he was earning silly amounts of money, has been all over the world, lived imo a kind of high life, and done pretty much what pleased him....but has never classed himself as anything other than just someone who works hard, just a bloke. He obviously doesn't live like that anymore coz he lives in Yorkshire, and hasn't a bean lol! Still the same bloke though

[andrewsmith]

The classes is do exist, its just the middle class is what the 'upper' class used to be.
The book I'm reading atm is on the Demonization of the Working class and it shows that anyone that isn't in the club is below them.

As DB said, it depends on the person in the upper claarrse I studies with a lad who was lazy and thick as pig sh*t (was carried all the way through the final semester at uni- We helped guarantee him a 3rd by locking ourselves in places he wouldn't go: The Library).

On the flip side a now good friend is also from well to do, but was open about it and said he had to be standing on his two feet by the time he was 28. He is now and he's only earning slightly more than I am

[timwilky]

The class system is no longer relevant, but does it still exist?

Only in the minds of those resentful of others who have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps to better their lot and that of their children etc.

Being middle class is nothing to aspire to. Nor should it be a term of derision. I like the adoption of the phrase middle England used these days to encompass ordinary working, house owning, tax paying folk who seem to get nothing out of government yet pay in more and more.

The "class", was more a set of values. How you though and acted.

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. Love that quote. People always try and big themselves up no matter what class they are, I don't get why it's an issue, everyone wants to better themselves but if you're quite contented with your life nobody can talk down to you.

what about chavs who have a several concils house and get a twice the average person's wage in benefits what class are they? they technically earn alot for doing nothing. now thats upper class is it not?

I consider myself lower class,BUT, that is based on my income.I don't have a mortgage or rent what i have I own outright and apart from normal household bills no large expenses
Earning £40k and a £800 a month mortgage plus a car on HP doesn't make you middle
class in my books----if you are both working and this becomes £80k then that is a different agenda
in the end it is all to do with DISPOSABLE income rather than gross income

[dizzyblonde]

Originally Posted by kiggles

what about chavs who have a several concils house and get a twice the average person's wage in benefits what class are they? they technically earn alot for doing nothing. now thats upper class is it not?

Thats a class of its own....Chav class?

Originally Posted by Dicky Ticker

I consider myself lower class,BUT, that is based on my income.I don't have a mortgage or rent what i have I own outright and apart from normal household bills no large expenses
Earning £40k and a £800 a month mortgage plus a car on HP doesn't make you middle
class in my books----if you are both working and this becomes £80k then that is a different agenda
in the end it is all to do with DISPOSABLE income rather than gross income

We own all our vehicles outright(yes, thats right we do )
We don't earn nowhere near £40k, but then we don't have an £800 a month mortgage, its nearer £300
Have very little disposable income

....I'd never class myself as middle, even when I lived in a very affluent area as a child, we were the 'Dingles' of the area by other yuppies standards!

Originally Posted by Dicky Ticker

I consider myself lower class,BUT, that is based on my income.I don't have a mortgage or rent what i have I own outright and apart from normal household bills no large expenses

I think that puts you in a higher class altogether. You're (or appear to be) responsible with money, you own your home and you're not daft with finance, not buying what you can't afford and paying for with money you don't have. I get tired of hearing peoples' woes about being skint when they'd have more money if they weren't paying off loans and outstanding financial debts.

I'm from a very working class background, I've lived the poverty and the hassle that comes with it. I've never considered applying for a loan, I've paid for everything on debit, if I don't have the cash I don't get the item. Yeah I'm not living the life I'd like but I'm not knocking the one I have either, it's a sight bloomin better than it could ever have been.

Couldn't care less what class I appear to be in or what other people think they're in either, it's not important. Everyone's out there for themselves, you make what you can of it and if you can be content with it then bonus.

[Bri w]

The worst example of the class system I have come across is when daughter no.1 went for interviews at Oxford Uni. Her predicted grades were excellent, and she did well in the interviews etc. She didn't get a place but several others who were up for interview were offered places. Theire predicted grades weren't anywhere near as good, and they had struggled through the selection process. The difference; they went to Public Schools.