Class and bullying

[Supernick]

Why is everyone these days so desperate to try and hide their middle class roots, and so desperate to claim their working class credentials? I think you should have pride in where you're from and how you're raised no matter what you background, and should respect other people. But these days it seems that admitting to being middle class is about as desirable as admitting to being a flasher.

And why is it that everyone is desperate to claim that they were bullied as a kid. I'm sure everyone gets teased a lot and some kids really are bullied, but every person you meet had a 'hard time at school' these days.

As you might be able to gather I'm sick of the office talk today, and everyone trying to best each other's hard luck stories.

[MrsBadely]

Is it possible that all the people in your office actually are working class, and genuinely were bullied at school?

If so, why should they pretend anything else?

[charliebaps]

I'm less sceptical than above. i too believe people are now embaressed to admit they are middle class. there will never be a classless society with attitudes the way they are today. it shouldn't matter what 'class' you are. unfortunately assumptions are made and hard to shake off.

The bullying point i think is a bit different. the school iwent to did not tolerate any bullying but i guess i was lucky.

[MrsBadely]

Well, I am a working class person and I was bullied at school (though not as badly as some), and I'm not about to pretend otherwise to make middle class people feel better about themselves.

Supernick says that people should be proud of their background but then suggests that working class people should keep their hard luck stories to themselves.

[frizzytwig]

Can someone explain what exactly, working and middle class constitutes. I have absolutely no idea. I grew up on a council estate with a Mum & Dad so I assume I am working class. I am now a full time mum with a husband who earns a very decent living as a Contracts Manager for a scaffolding firm, what am I now? By the way I WAS bullied at school, not making it up, had a bad time then turned into bit of a bully myself for a while.

[Supernick]

Hi Ms Badely. Bullying was meant to be completely dfferent question than the class one. I'm not for a moment saying that 'working class people should keep their bad luck stories to themselves'. Didn't think anyone would read it like that. So no offence intended :) It's hard to raise a class question as a member of the middle class without people thinking you're attacking someone else.

With the class issue, it seems like anyone growing up in a middle class background is embarrassed or considers themselves to be less of a person because of it.

With reference to Frizzytwig i'm interested as well with when you become a member of another class. If I had working class parents who took on traditionally middle class jobs and then i was born, what would I be?

[Andy008]

I think this is down to people's beliefs that their childhood experience shape them as adults, to a very large extent.

Unlike America, in this country, people revel in knocking things down and being negative.