Just watched BBC news and sociologists after a large survey, have redefined 'class' in the UK. We now have SEVEN levels!

They have even created a 'class calculator' so you can check out your own CLASS-ification in society! You you can now see what group/box you now fit into.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22000973.

I wonder how useful this sort of thing is - oh well gave work to some academics I suppose??

Jon

I doubt there is a class to slot in the Phillpots

I for one, am happy to see it.

The "pidgeonholing" of he classes into categories we expect, rather than what they really are, desperately needed to be re-examined.

I doubt it too. Actually that is a good thing, they really are a class of their own and hopefully no-one else aspires to join them there.

Rosemary

Not at all useful. If I do the test as I am now it puts me in working class, if I do it as I was 15 years ago it puts me in elite. But I'm the same person.

I started doing it but it's just too ridiculous. Do they really think class is about whether you prefer opera to hiphop? I don't like either, so I guess I'm in a class of my own

That's called social mobility though, these days hardly anyone stays in the same class all their life.

Which would usually be considered a good thing. But I went from elite to working class.

I'm proud of my working class roots: My friends and I grew up on the same street in the poor part of town... and nearly 50 years later the 5 of us still meet up annually (at least) for a 4/5 day 'lads weekend'. Wonderful time, every time.

I also think the exercise is ridiculous as well, a few screens of simple questions and you are 'pigeon-holed' to some academics definition ..... and really what does it matter? Nothing against academics, but it depends on what they are studying.

With questions about e.g hip-hop they are bringing in new elements to 'class'.

One way I personally define 'class' as the way a person behaves. I've met some amazingly wealthy people who have no 'class' at all. They would naturally consider themselves 'Elite' and now they have a study to point to as well. Total bol**cks!

Also met people who haven't much to their name who display wonderful levels of class... really classy people - who I prefer to be with any time of the day. They are the real elite and 'salt of the earth'.

I wonder now that the money has been spent - what next with this work. Filed away or will they do something with it??

Jon

Well I have just had three attempts at the test

Twice Elite and once Technical Middle Class.

If I input only the first page i.e the financial bit I am elite, Once I start putting in my Social and Cultural activities I slip down the classes,

But non of it explains the calluses on my hands or the grease under my finger nails, conditions I was born with

I personally.....Am in a different class than you lot!

I've just read the full research article in the Sociology journal and it makes a lot more sense now. If you are interested you can find it here:

http://soc.sagepub.com/content/early....full.pdf+html

if you have to ask what class you are in then you don't have any

That's the trouble, the word has too many meanings. For some it's about people's manners and behaviour, for others it's about taste, or where they live or the job they do. For sociologists it's about people's socio-economic status. We all have to fit in somewhere, otherwise their theories don't work and they are out of a job!

The research was interesting because it's clear the old definitions of working class, middle class and ruling class don't apply any more. They were devised in the 19th century when you were born into a class and had virtually no chance of moving out of it. However I don't think trying to conflate your musical tastes with how much money you've got in savings is going to give us a meaningful answer. They are comparing apples and oranges.

All I know.....Is that I am a different class than you lot!!!