Class discussion

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jdomaha

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My family was solidly middle class when I was growing up. Both parents had jobs that they absolutely had to go to. We lived comfortably, in our own home, and took regular trips and so on, but there was little "luxury" other than a new computer every now and then.

I was a little drunk last night and looking over my stats and I started thinking a little bit about what makes someone "upper class?" "Lower upper class?" "Upper middle class?"

I'm fairly sure that income alone doesn't dictate class status, especially if that income depends on someone else's benevolence. Banker guy making $200k a year loses his job, can't get another one, is forced to take a teaching position to keep his house...he's not upper class but isn't quite middle class, either. And just about any high-paying job puts the employee in that situation.

The guy making $20,000 a year off investment dividends and living in a 3rd world country like a king...is he upper class? He doesn't have to work if he doesn't want to. He's got a maid and a bigass apartment on the beach, so he has all the trappings, but can you really consider him upper class?

So what class do you consider yourself in right now, and what about your situation puts you in that class?
 


This should be a poll. add Noob loser as an option. That's the one I'm in.
 
Actually, classes are defined relative to one another.

So, the guy in Africa would be upper class there, while not here.

I guess there are valid definitions somewhere as well... digging....

aha:

In societies where classes exist, one's class is determined largely by:

From:
Social class - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Huge ass article, not really easily defined, but it seems I have been right as in "dependent on the culture".

::emp::
 
And here some more on the US:

The social structure of the United States is a vaguely defined concept which includes several commonly used terms that use educational attainment, income and occupational prestige as the main determinants of class. While it is possible to create dozens of social classes within the confines of American society, most Americans employ a six or five class system. The most commonly applied class concepts used in regards to contemporary American society are:[12]

* Upper class; Those with great influence, wealth and prestige. Members of this group tend to act as the grand-conceptualizers and have tremendous influence of the nation's institutions. This class makes up about 1% of the population and owns about a third of private wealth. "Encyclopedia Britannica". Retrieved on 2008-04-07.

* Upper middle class; The upper middle class consists of white collar professionals with advanced post-secondary educational degrees and comfortable personal incomes. Upper middle class professionals have large amounts of autonomy in the workplace and therefore enjoy high job satisfaction. In terms of income and considering the 15% figure used by Thompson, Hickey and Gilber, upper middle class professionals earn roughly $62,500 (€41,000 or £31,500) or more and tend to reside in households with six figure incomes.[9][12][22]

* (Lower) middle class; Semi-professionals, non-retail salespeople, and craftsmen who may have some college education. Out-sourcing tends to be a prominent problem among those in this class who often suffer from a lack of job security.[12][23] Households in this class may need two income earners to make ends meet and therefore may have household incomes rivaling the personal incomes of upper middle class professionals such as attorneys.[23]

* Working class; According to some experts such as Michael Zweig, this class may constitute the majority of Americans and include those otherwise referred to as lower middle.[24] It includes blue as well as white collar workers who have relatively low personal incomes and lack college degrees with many being among the 45% of Americans who have never attended college.[12]

* Lower class; This class includes the poor, alienated and marginalized members of society. While most individuals in this class work, it is common for them to drift in and out of poverty.
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So in the US I would be considered "upper middle class" income, education and
occupation wise.
 
We have it so much better than the rest of the world, you truly begin to appreciate all of America's luxuries when you begin to travel to third world countries. Take some time out of your life and devote it to seeing the world, it will greatly broaden your perspective on your 'miserable/mediocre/poor' life.
 
Yes but where do you fall into the picture and why?

emp said:
Actually, classes are defined relative to one another.

So, the guy in Africa would be upper class there, while not here.

I guess there are valid definitions somewhere as well... digging....

aha:

In societies where classes exist, one's class is determined largely by:

From:
Social class - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Huge ass article, not really easily defined, but it seems I have been right as in "dependent on the culture".

::emp::
Click to expand...
 
Hell, just having a regular toilet, instead of a hole in the ground to squat over, is quite the luxury in some places.

Bogardi said:
We have it so much better than the rest of the world, you truly begin to appreciate all of America's luxuries when you begin to travel to third world countries. Take some time out of your life and devote it to seeing the world, it will greatly broaden your perspective on your 'miserable/mediocre/poor' life.
Click to expand...
 
jdomaha said:
Yes but where do you fall into the picture and why?
Click to expand...

I guess being able to read defines some class borders as well.

emp said:
So in the US I would be considered "upper middle class" income, education and
occupation wise.
Click to expand...

I am not going to give you my exact income, but it is some Ks above the 62,500$ quoted.

As for education: University degree.

As for occupation: web dev project manager.

::emp::
 
I'm solidly upper middle class according to income ($80k+), education (Bachelors, Masters, 6 Certifications) and my authentic WASP status. I'm directly related to Captain Miles Standish of the Mayflower and two American presidents. Oh, and I'm wonderfully arrogant as well. :) As y'all know I teach and write.

I know you're talking about financial classes of people, but I'm a firm believer in the nature of people as well as defining their "class." In my world, you don't have to have money to be a class-act, and you can have all kinds of money and be straight trash in my book. But then that may be my Southern roots showing...*wink*
 
Jizzlobber said:
I dated a girl who was related to Standish. Last name was Lambert. She showed me HER tits.;)
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My maiden name is Allen, but sorry - still no tits!

Although I was telling someone the other day that if he would pay to repair the damage two kids have wrought, I'd certainly name them after him - well one of them, anyways. One future boobie is already under contract. LOL
 
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