Published on 12, July, 2020
I was brought up to believe that we are divided socially into classes:
1. Working class.
2. Middle class.
3. Aristocracy.
I also read decades ago that classes were less relevant and were disappearing.
I'm curious as to what others think so here are some questions:
1. What class were you born into?
2. What class are you now?
3. Do you believe in 1 and 2?
4. ie Do you think class exists?
5. Do you think you can move class?
Also, without Googlerating, I'd be curious as to how these classes are defined.
I've tended to think of them as not only to do with our financial situation, but also to do with tastes, interests and education.
With regard to me, I was born working class and ?probably? still am.
Add me as a friend if you like Nexus. We can continue our discussion.
Are you referring to my original post on this thread? I don't think my response was irrelevant.
What has thbis all got to do with class?!
That's a shame. The Tories have been falling quite badly in the opinion polls here. We'll have to wait and see what happens on General Election day though.
As of April 2 he still seems popular:
https://hungarymatters.hu/2023/04/02/poll-large-majority-of-voters-still-behind-orban/
Not with teachers, though, there have been a few strikes, but it doesn't look they will get much there. If inflation goes up enough that popularity may decline.
As for families, that is the first community beyond self. Most people like to belong, sure. My brother certainly fell in with the family political outlook. However, should I utter the B word? That seems to have polarised communities, as well as families, just as Trump has in the US.
Members of the hermit class dwell at all levels of our social strata.
Support for the UK parties is also passed down through families. More people are willing to buck the trend of what has gone before them in their families these days. However if you looked into this you'd be suprised. People in the UK are still clannish too.What's going on with Orban these days? Is he any closer to be removed?
Thank you everyone for replying to this.
I've found your responses fascinating although it's clear that there are differences of opinion with regard to this subject.
I think I probably belong to the hermit class.
They did bother and they were very successful, and from what I read it wasn't so dissimililar from subliminal advertising. And that's the thing, it played on who they identified as susceptible individuals, who could be swayed by targeting certain fears.
Yes, I know the BBC has been hobbled, and about Rupert Murdoch, etc. There are parallels to be had with the country I Iive in now. In the capital though, there is more awareness, just as there is in London.
But I still wonder why so many people buy into what the papers tell them. I'm not sure it's just apathy.
I am most deffinetly working class, as were my parents. Grew up on a council estate and went to a very poor estate school. However I would describe myself as upper working class. I own my own home, or will do, travelled widely, am a little cultured and wise to the world. I go to watch football but would never wear a football shirt when on holiday. I am a bit of a holiday snob and eat/drink local when we go away, you will never see me eating a Sunday roast in Spain for instance. I could be lower middle class but I did not go to university and do not have a career, I have a job.
I think we have the lower working class who live in social housing, have low paid jobs, claim UC. Middle working class as lower working class but have better jobs, probably not on UC, travel more. Then there is the underclass who may have never worked etc. Lower middle class would be university educated , parents have some money and own their own house. They may not earn massive money but also may have massive student debts.
Rob
I remember them. If what they didn't didn't have any effect then they wouldn't bother doing it.
Cambridge Analytica? - I gather they didn't have to do much. Just push one or two buttons here and there.
The powerful control the narrative through their ownership of the press and their hobbling of the BBC. A lot of people would probably only encounter views like mine when i'm knocking on their door to ask them to vote for something other than the Conservatives. If you are constantly broadcast something , do not have alternative sources of information and also have a genuine lack of interest then what are you left thinking?And i have not even started on the internet which has also broadly become a propaganda tool of the Right Wing.
That's a great reply
An anecdote.
Many years ago I was visiting my sister and I described my cousin as middle class. My 14 year old niece asked,
"Mum what's middle class?"
My sister's reply,
"It's people who think they're better than us, but they're not!"
Well in that case they are paying a heavy price for that naivete. I have to say, sometimes, in some cases, this lack of awareness about political realities looks more like wilful ignorance than anything else though.
I'm an outcast who doesn't belong in any class.
I've mixed with all classes, while at university I met some very snotty people but I don't belong to them. In other situations such as my sister's in laws they regard me as a snob.
Dark, arty, literary type. Went solo in the 60's so he could record Jacques Brel covers. I think he's still alive and every so often releases a new album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi7WRBz5Atw
Montague Terrace (In Blue ) by Scott Walker
Oh, it was even weirder as a site documenting that nightmarish series has just reminded me:
The scene is a nuclear shelter where all the adults are apathetic and the children are scared. Suddenly one man opens a cardboard box containing dressing up clothes and wigs, which he puts on, and persuades another man to join him. Together they act out a scene from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to the delight of the children.
He produced Pulp's 2001 Album.