How do you define 'Class'?

[naomi24]

With the election looming, there's been much discussion on 'Class' on here lately, so how do you, personally, define 'Class'?

Take, for example, someone born to a poor family living in a deprived area in totally inadequate rented accommodation, but who is bright enough to pass an exam to enable them to get a place in a good school and gain a good education. They then work hard to succeed in their chosen career, become a high earner, and subsequently buy a house in a much more affluent neighbourhood, enjoying the foreign holidays, cars, and all the other things the fruits of their labour has brought them. What 'class' would you place such a person in, and do you applaud their success or resent it?

[naomi24]

Everton, //You asked if I view people who make decisions as higher than me?//

No, I didn't. I asked if you consider anyone employed to make decisions as being in a higher bracket than you - meaning a higher social class. There's a big difference.

People who have the same social, economic, or educational status are generally grouped into a particular social class, which is why it's generally accepted that the working class vote Labour and the 'toffs' vote conservative - and that's what we're talking about here.

To answer your question, I determine a person's class by their breeding. For me, 'manners maketh the man'. (Sorry about that - it's an old one, but it's true).

[society]

"'manners maketh the man'."

Haven't heard that phrase in ages, and I know exactly what you mean. No wonder the make-up of society today is in a class like none other.

Hi Naomi x

[naomi24]

Hi Society (oh I love saying that - I can almost feel a song coming on). I haven't heard the phrase for ages either - but it's what sprang to mind when I tried to sum up my thoughts on the subject.

[BBBE99]

To answer the question, I think there's poor and working and rich and working, poor and unemployed and rich and unemployed...
That's my idea.

[society]

In response to the original question, I believe I'd say 'that' person has great morals, understanding, common sense, values life and knows how to reap the benefits of surviving in this now hectic world we live in.

As for categorising them in a particular class, they are in a class or league of their own because they are what they made them self out to be.

[123everton]

I ansered that question initially, by stating that I respected the individual not the position.
In industry (my industry) you have a quite regimented system, if I called a supervisor an idiot that could be classed as insubordination and act of gross misconduct which could lead to dismissal.
If a supervisor called me an idiot then I can complain, and that's pretty much that, some supervisors you can frank with others you can't because they think they're better than you.
I agree about good manners, but, that only discerns if someone has class, it doesn't define their class as posed in the question.
For instance Hitler was a gentleman, as was Pol Pot (he was very amiable apparently), whereas Churchill and L.B.J were quite rude at times.

[naomi24]

Everton, You say //that only discerns if someone has class, it doesn't define their class as posed in the question // - which is exactly right, but you've failed to tell me whether or not you think your supervisors are in a higher social class than you. A simple 'yes' or 'no' will do.

I think you'll find that calling a supervisor an idiot in any company would be classed as insubordination, Everton. Like it or not, common sense should tell you that no business can run without a hierarchical structure.

[naomi24]

No, it doesn't mean that if someone is polite and treats others with respect then they are of a higher social class through breeding. I wasn't asked how class is generally defined, but how I personally define class.

From what you've said here I'd say on the social scale you are working class.

[welshlibranr]

I would applaud them for making the best of themselves! But they are no better, or worse than anyone else..................

[tamborine]

I dont think you can 'make' class; one is born into it, ie Lady Diana Spencer had class purely by breeding not intelligence, before she wed into royalty.

Class is not defined by assets, imo (Countess Tambo) ;)

[tamborine]

yea luna-sea....am living evidence ;)

[naomi24]

As I said, I was asked how I personally define class. The jobs people do and the wage they receive for doing that job are irrelevant to me, but they are relevant to national statistics in determining a person's social status. This probably isn't the best chart, but it's pretty clear.

http://www.businessba...csclassifications.htm

[123everton]

I've already said no I don't, but, there are supervisors with whom I can speak frankly (I tend not to swear in negotiations or discussions even though it can be classed as industrial language) and others that you cannot.
That is because some of them view themselves as being above you.
Accents often set people apart, I have a Scouse accent the amount of parties I've been too with the usual refrains of watch ya hub caps and check the cutlery. I had a very wealthy bloke say pretty much that to me and then his wife short changed me saying that was all they had, I looked at her and thought who's the crook now?

[naomi24]

Everton, I'm confused here. If you don't see your supervisors as being in a higher social bracket than you, what was the point of introducing that subject into the discussion?

I think you're right about accents. People often classify social standing by accents.

[Quinlad]

The concept of 'breeding' is a tricky one. For many people, it's a question of applying etiquette correctly and avoiding social clumsiness.

However, that's based on arbitrary rules that are designed partly to be exclusive, and to differentiate one type of person from another.

You could still be caring, polite and respectful while putting your elbows on the table and swearing.

I guess whatever way you slice it, the definition isn't satisfactory. Which is why class distonctions are dying.