What class are you?

[FidelCashflow]

Every now and again I read a post that smacks of class-ism. (e.g. you should dress/act a certain way because its what upper class people are supposed to do)

What class are you? Are you proud to be of your class? Do you want people to recognize and respect you for your class? Do you dislike associating with people of a lower class?

Maybe it's just me, but I still remember asking my dad when I was in the third or fourth grade "what class are we?" to which he responded "why would you even ask such a thing?" Since then I try not to think of myself or other people in terms of class, although its not always easy. Some people are so upfront about class, I'm a bit taken aback by it.

I was visiting relatives overseas recently and my uncle was having one of his servants paint the house. He went outside to check on the progress, and it was coming along pretty slowly. We got in the car to go somewhere and he told me "people of this class cause trouble everywhere in the world." I didn't know what to say to that.

In some parts of the world, class is still a very normal part of society, where you're born with it, and it follows you. You don't deny it or try to change it, you just accept it with whatever advantages/disadvantages it brings.

 

[JetBlast]

I am a class of my own.

JB

 

[JohnnyLaw]

Class of '07.

 

[grundletaint]

low class

 

[Piobaire]

I am in the class of Mammalia.

 

[sho'nuff]

middle class i believe.

 

[Bouji]

I don't know what you're basing your categories on...

e.g. is
lower class = peasants, homeless
working class = janitors, assembly line workers
middle class = clerks, drivers, butlers, civil servants
upper-middle class = doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians, artists, managers
upper class = aristocracy, gentry, landlords, upper ranks of military, professors, law lords

?

Also, if you're taking this poll seriously it should be anonymous...

 

[Manton]

In what country are professors upper class?

I should have stuck with academia.

 

[RyJ Maduro]

Given local standards (Ocean County, NJ) I suppose middle. Given national standards, perhaps upper middle.

That said, my instincts are rather aspirational.

 

[Thomas]

I'm like a teacher in the summer:

no class.

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by Manton

In what country are professors upper class?

I should have stuck with academia.

I'd say that the overwhelming view in Europe is that your class is directly proportional to your contribution to society.
I mean it's an age old saying that class does not = money.

 

[Stazy]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I'm like a teacher in the summer: no class.
Oh yah? I'm like a high school drop out. no class.

 

[texas_jack]

In true class war fashion I will now begin trolling everyone who voted "upper class"

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by Bouji

I'd say that the overwhelming view in Europe is that your class is directly proportional to your contribution to society.
I mean it's an age old saying that class does not = money.

Funny, I went to an acadamic conference in Germany earlier this year, and one of the things that struck me was how envious of American universities and academics all the European profs and administrators -- some of them presidents -- were.

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by Manton

Funny, I went to an acadamic conference in Germany earlier this year, and one of the things that struck me was how envious of American universities and academics all the European profs and administrators -- some of them presidents -- were.

I don't see the correlation between being envious of an American university/academic and considering a professor upper class.