'Middle class'

coolcait

Carl31 wrote: »

Just made an obvious joke to a friend, whom of recent years has had something of a different attitude about him, instead of noting the joke and playing a long as expected (it wasnt funny or anything just a jokey comment) i got a rather odd response, like i was someway insulting his lifestyle

I suppose what i have noted of late is many people, whom are not high earners, work like the rest of us for decent but not overly extravegant lives, taking on this 'middle class' attitude, adopting passtimes that would probably regarded previoulsy as something that the upper classes do

Theres nothing wrong for it, and in all honesty the whole class thing does not have a place in society these days, i just find it odd that more people take on this persona these days, or maybe its just people i know?

Know anyone like that?

Your post is very vague.

What exactly did you say, jokingly, to your friend?

In what context?

How exactly did your friend react, and in what way was it 'odd', in your view?

Please describe "this 'middle class' attitude".

What pastimes are you referring to in the bit in bold above?

Without knowing the answers to those requests for information, there is a risk that any reply to your post would be based on my own prejudices, rather than your specific circumstances.

Ladyhawk

MrsE wrote: »

Unless you are very high earners then you need two wages to get & pay a mortgage.
Should having children just be for the partners of high earners?

Not at all -I mean actual child rearing rather than child care while parents work.

londonsurrey

Edwardia wrote: »

I'm from a middle class background and my husband from a working class background.

At first I found it really hurtful to be called a snob just because I have a bank account, as if I was being a poser by now SIL- who has since accquired a criminal record.

I was privately appalled when MIL told me "book learning is a waste of time" and even more shocked when she disagreed with something I was saying and physically assaulted me.

My feeling was well if this is working class salt of the earth culture that's supposed to be oh so much better than being middle class, you can shove it. I got fed up with being bullied and sneered at and being told by my mother also, that I should say nothing. I just wasn't prepared to accept the potty mouth insults and physical assault.

So OH is in touch with his family and sees them and I don't. Peaceful life.

Is that actually working class, or more simply criminal class?

thorsoak

Upper class, upper middle class, lower middle class, working class and "scum of the earth" .....they are only labels of different tribes!

In my life, I think of 95% of the people I know I would classify as "working class" - simply because they all go out to work - some physical work, some mental work - but they are all committed to going to work or are looking for work, or have retired (age related).

A few (very few) could be classified as "upper class" because of the fact that they no longer have to work, or have never work because of a sufficiency of money - but I would prefer to call them the "unworked class".

Like others, I too know some people who I would classify as "scum of the earth" - those who decry education, who prefer criminality or scrounging/defrauding others to making their own living.

Me - I' definitely working class, proud of it, proud of the fact that I have had a good education, that I have raised a family that are also educated, who also are hard working people.

suki1001

My in laws have a life attitude that is absolutely ingrained in them. They were what I'd call aspiring middle classes and believed, both of them they should work hard to escape the council estate life style.

In some ways they confuse me - there is an element of snobbery in their attitudes, yet their working class beliefs really restrict a lot of things they do. My oh once said to his dad (years ago), "when I grow up I'm going to earn £10,000 a year" To which his dad replied "£10,000!! You're living in cloud cuckoo land. You'll never earn £10,000 - even I don't earn that." They really seemed to think you simply get what you're given.

sweetilemon

squack wrote: »

class isn't just about money

there are certain indicators of it though

for example, real christmas tree or artificial ?

:money:

Haha, i've gone from being defined as middle class in a previous post to working class in one foul swoop after this!

In all seriousness, with the introduction of benefit class (people who have never worked a day in their lives and live solely on benefits), 'working class' owning houses & having savings, hire purchase for cars, no need to own I think classes have mereged significatly. I would concider myself working class although its not clear cut these days. Upper class I think will always have very well spoken people that never have to work and are all priately educated but alongside that the lottery has skyrocketed all sorts of people into the financial circles as well as business people who started with nothing.

I think it does play a part in society its just not as easily defined. Especially with credit cards and hire purchase not everyone spends what they can afford. In the same respect if it looks like you are spending what others would consider outwith your pay packet it is not automatically concluded you have scrimped on something else and saved or have used an inheritance people assume you can't afford it an its on cards.