Millhouse

well, that was really the question you asked.

By definition, we cannot all be Middle Class as that would imply that we live in a classless society which clearly we do not. This is rubbish peddled by socialists.

Spugsy

I've sat in bars in kings cross with Aussie millionaires, who are down to earth normal blokes who'll buy you a beer and sit with anyone as if they've known them all their lives.

I guess the UK has so much history maybe people aspire to be something they're not, therefore trying to be a higher class.

I agree though, it's pretty damn stupid.

Ethos83

You wrote, I quote:

'People in the Toon who claimed to be middle class when I was growing up were usualyl the 'keeping up with the jones' types who had a little bit of cash and tried to flaunt it, even though they'd been brought up in council houses.'

You may not be aware of it but you left behind a pretty strong implication in the post.

We can both agree that it's silly to be ashamed of where you might have come from but no one should be criticised for wanting to aim for a more prosperous life, however that manifests itself.

Ethos83

I've dined with belted earls with 10,000 acres who'll do the same. The most incredibly well-mannered people I've met were aristocrats. Then again, some of the worst behaved people I've met were also aristocrats.

People are remarkably diverse even within the various socioeconomic classes that it is always very dangerous to resort to stereotypes and cliches.

Millhouse

you uncle doesn't count.

Meow

Much as I hate the agree with Ethos this is true.

I really care very little about where people are from, although I can't help but judge those who speak poorly or hold their cutlery incorrectly.

Spugsy

Very interesting point.

MataHari

I'd say on BE, you are the most obsessed one with the whole class thing, always letting it be known that you are from a well to do background etc etc...to me you are the ultimate upper middle class show off...but maybe I have misunderstood you all along.

Spugsy

I agree with that, but despite living here, earnign a decent salary and having nice holidays and a bit of cash, I'd still put myself in the working class bracket, simply for the way I was brought up.

Millhouse

Interesting. I hope that you are happy to be judged accordingly.

As I've said before, I judge no one. Everyone (including Ethos) brings something to the table.

Meow

Of course you judge people. Everyone does, whether they admit it or not. It's human nature.

Spugsy

bad cutlery?

kittycat1

Bit of generalisation there Ethos!

Times have changed, I grew up in the same house as my grandparents where my granddad worked in the village in the factory where he had worked since he was 11- my mum was born in that house and worked in the same village, we used to have caravan holidays, we had one car between the whole family and we bought our first telly for the Charles and Di wedding where half the street came to our house to watch it- and I can remember my friends telling me that we must be really rich to have a telly.

People used to stay within the same community and would stay in the same trade as their parents, however that is no longer the case- so you have opportunities to do better jobs tahn yor parents and grandparents. The factory my granddad worked in folded in the 80's along with most other production in the UK so there where no jobs for anyone, that village has now become commutersville meaning that anyone working locally is unable to afford to stay there so people moved away, we moved to a bigger town where I found the earning potential was limited so I then moved away to college and then for work, moving to London and from there to here. Factories and production are essentially jobs that the working class used to do but seeing as those jobs hardly exisit anymore we have all had to adopt new trades.

Moving to where work is is essentially what the working class have done for centuries so perhaps we are all working class rather than all being middle class?

Millhouse

well, yes fair enough... but based on what comes out of their mouths not the means of putting things into it!

Meow

I don't believe you! If you saw someone holding their cutlery in a fist (or the awful knife as a pencil - shudder!) you wouldn't think 'oh how classy' would you?