Class?

[poolger]

My friend and I were having a talk and we got round to talking about class (after all the BB fuss) and we wondered how you would define class. He seemed to equate wealth with class, but I disagreed as in that case you would have the likes of Jade, Michael Carroll etc being middle/upper class. I think its more to do with your whole ethos and what morals you have. What do you think?

[bounceagain]

Yeah I agree on morals and respect.

[ICEMANSAV]

Someones demeanor and the way they carry themselves socially I would say.

[jopaca]

I think to have class you need to be able to mix with all kinds of people without feeling intimitdated by anyone or superior to anyone. I can't define it but it has something to do with good morals, self respect and probably good posture as well!

[good-arras]

I think education and intelligence should come into it as well, that would certainly rule out Jade Goody and Michael Carroll

[Octavius]

Class is more about a person�s socio-economic principles and status rather than wealth and education, although these both play a part. You can have very wealthy people who are inherently working class, and you can also have no hopers with no money who would still be deemed upper class.

Many define class based on family background and socio-political or cultural interests, whilst others define it by the job they do (blue collar, white collar professional etc) or the education they have (post secondary etc).

Karl Marx defined the working class as those individuals who sell their labour power for wages and do not own the means of production, and he believed them responsible for creating the wealth of a society. He also argued that middle class does not exist.

I am not convinced that a persons morals play any part in their class. Generally someone is born into their class and although they can rise in their own status, it usually takes many generations passing to truly emerge into a different class. Those that are born to the purple usually have a long family history with roots back to working class.

[Mistopheles]

Class relates to the job you (or your father) does.

Lower or working class - mainly manual work.
Middle class - mainly mental work (teaching etc.)
Upper class - peers.

These are then sub divided, e.g. lower-middle, middle-middle and upper-middle. (Examples: lower-middle - office work, middle-middle - teachers / managers, upper-middle - creative / artists / writers etc.)

Of course, we are supposed to be in a classless society now.

One of my favourite quotes was from Barbara Cartland whn asked if she believed the class system had gone. She replied:
"Of course. Otherwise I wouldn't be talking to you."