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?

[Quinlad]

You're right. There's a lot of inverse snobbery.

There's also a lot of traditional snobbery, so it does work both ways.

See the attitude towards 'chavs' and people who live on council estates.

[ll_billym]

I once heard somebody say that "Your class is defined by what your father did for a living".

A sexist and sweeping observation maybe but it does explain why Alan Sugar is thought of as not being upper-class.

[ummmm]

I can't help it....I'm a snob pure and simple :-)

[society]

Ummmm, you're not a snob!

[Justincider]

Actually society, at school, most of the time I was in a class of my own

[Coldicote]

I did a Google search 'define class' and the answer came back - a collection of things sharing a common attribute; "there are two classes of detergents". So now you know!!

[puzzfuzz]

no one should be judged on what their parents do for a living or how much money they have or how educated they are. Someone can come from a council estate and be as graceful and eloquent as someone from an upperclass background and also someone who has money can also be vulgar.

[Quizmonster]

The Oxford English Dictionary - the 'bible' in such matters - defines working class as (quote) "the grade of society comprising those who are employed to work for wages in manual and industrial occupations." It would seem, therefore, that to be in a higher class you would need at least to be to be salaried and not working specifically with your hands. (Yes, I know surgeons, for example, work with their hands, but they work with a lot else including a lengthy education besides!)
We are certainly not defined by our parents in this regard. My father was an ordinary working-class man, but I went on to gain a Master's degree and became a senior military officer, so my children would certainly consider ME to be middle class. Do not imagine for a moment, however, that I in any way look DOWN on my father! He was a "better" man than I am by far.

[saxy_jag]

I've always thought of middle-class as being those who still have to work for a living, but who would rather not get their hands doing so, and disassociate themselves from those who do get their hands dirty.

I'm salaried, educated with two degrees, and work in an office environment. But I'm certainly not too proud to call myself working class. There's no shame in it.

I've met a few genuine upper classes - titled gentry and the like. To be honest, I find them far less pretentious and snobbish than anyone I've met who calls themselves 'middle class'.

[123everton]

George Osborne's nickname was "oink" because of the school he went to, he's hardly poor.
I don't begrudge anyone success, it is tiresome though when they offer their experiences as a prescription for success.
Often such tales of childhood poverty when examined are grossly over exagerrated, if you were born in the 70s (like I was) then most people had very little, if you grew up in the 80s in the north (like I did) then you got to see hardship and disenfranchisement (I even got to read the slogan "yes it hurt, yes it worked") noone's that interested in the kick me hard sign that was slung on your back at birth, to my mind once you become an adult, you cope.
Class is very difficult to ascribe to any one group, British politics is decidedly middle class (I feel) that's why it's an offence to smoke in a pub but you'll get a suspended sentence for theft.
There's people I know who've left the saddle and gone checking, often the story will be told that they were owl a r s e s on the road, which is often untrue (bar one), a bloke I started with is a boss now. he's earned his stripe I can't begrudge him that, but, to a man with nigh on 40 years service he told him casually (and wrongly) that were was no longer a job for him, hands behind his head "well, it's the credit crunch and all that..." he said.
If nothing else class can't be bought.

[CovKid]

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

I prefer to think of quality rather than class. Decent honest people are high quality. People who drop litter are scum.

Not sure what class Alan Sugar is. I know he doesn't have much, just "loads-a-manney".

[naomi24]

Everton, //There's people I know who've left the saddle and gone checking, often the story will be told that they were owl a r s e s on the road, which is often untrue //

I don't know what that means. Could you explain please?

[welshlibranr]

my defination of class is, I am not better than anyone else, and no one is better than me!!..........................alway been my defination, works for me.....................

[NoMercy]

Defination?

[123everton]

Given up driving to become an inspector.
Turning from this
http://images.mirror....-79181DCE0A387BE0.jpg
Into this
http://astro.ic.ac.uk...5/2007/blakey_big.jpg

[naomi24]

Everton, oh, I see. Thanks for that, but I can't see what relevance it has to this discussion. Some who is promoted from bus driver to bus inspector is still considered to be 'working' class, surely?

[naomi24]

*someone

[123everton]

Arguably, they're salaried, they're white collar, they have authority over you, it's still a bit like swapping your "bonnet for a bowler", look it up if you don't know.
http://www.mirror.co....hern-115875-22181740/
The Tories are obssessed by it still it seems.

[Booldawg]

'you cant buy class' is the old adage and very true.