Social Class: To which class do you belong??

Master and commander

Just wondering what the make-up of boards user is. Take the poll, you'll notice the middle class is divided into upper middle, middle middle and lower middle.
Thinkgs that should be considered are;
-what level of education you have <= Level 6 - working, L6-8 lower middle, >=L9 middle middle
-how much money you make
-where you live and what type of housing
-your family's economic backround, renters, home owners, land owners
-your work : unskilled, semi-skilled , skilled, professional entrepreur, capitalist
-your personal and social values
- what you were and who you hang out with


-upper class

-middle classes
----upper middle class
----middle middle class
----lower middle class


-lower classes
----working class
----the underclass (junkies, beggars, scumbags, etc)


Currently I would consider myself lower middle class based on education, where i live and my general status. When i complete my education and take steps toward a good career i hope to step up to middle middle class eventually

Another thing, no inflamatory posts please. no need for flamefighting here.

mikemac

Underclass

I work so I am working class. It doesn't matter if I work in McDonalds or in an office as an accountant. We all still work for a living

OP, when I filled up my college grant application there was a separate section for farmers.
Where do farmers fit on your list?

Manach

I believe the OP forgot the peasant class, rural workers with a very traditional mindset/worldview.

mikemac

Underclass

Why did you start a poll where our votes can be seen but only by you?
States results hidden above.

Would have been better to have made the poll anonymous but let us see the results

I voted working class by the way

Master and commander

Wroking class

Manach wrote: »

I believe the OP forgot the peasant class, rural workers with a very traditional mindset/worldview.

well spotted. I will ask the modes to edit the poll. Peasant will be added. Although in economic tersm they would be at a similar level.

Perhaps we should also include the "drinking class":D

As for farmers they could be peasant if small and on a subsitence basis or if they are tennants who rent land from a landlord, and if they do the manual labour themselves. Con-acre and all that.
A farmer who owns his/her own land and has others employed would be in some part of the middle class depending on circumstances.

As for a mcdonalds woker vs accountant. yes they are both working, but the mcd's person will be on wage labour and the accountant would be more likely to be on a salary and have higher education which would suggest middle class

A very good resource for determining class based on the above variables is her at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class#US_models

Master and commander

Wroking class

mikemac wrote: »

Why did you start a poll where our votes can be seen but only by you?
States results hidden above.

Would have been better to have made the poll anonymous but let us see the results

I voted working class by the way

ya i must have clicked the wrong checkbox by mistake, i wanted it to be viewable to everyone once they had voted. I'll have to get on to the mods about it.

Is this just a poll or is there something to discuss here

mikemac

Underclass

I read your link

Old money, new money, "noble" or prestigious families ; it's like something from 19th century Britain!

The upper-middle class, while a relatively small section of the population, usually "set the standard" for proper American behavior

Leaders on proper behaviour?
In Ireland the biggest crooks are those on large salaries

Emme

Underclass

I work for a living therefore I am working class. It couldn't be simpler than that.

Master and commander

Wroking class

Emme wrote: »

I work for a living therefore I am working class. It couldn't be simpler than that.

well it is not actually. THat is an simplistic - a broad sweeping statement which does't take into account the variables. If you are working your place in the class hierarchy depends on whether your work involves manual labour or more intellectual in nature, whether you are paid by wage labour or are on a salary and what the level of education required is.

Heres more from wikipedia:

• • Upper upper class. "Old money." People who have been born into and raised with wealth; mostly consists of old "noble" or prestigious families (e.g., Earl of Shrewsbury, Vanderbilt, Rockefeller).
  • Lower upper class. "New money." Individuals who have become rich within their own lifetimes (e.g., entrepreneurs, movie stars, top athletes, as well as some prominent professionals).
  • Upper middle class. Professionals with a college education, and more often with postgraduate degrees like MBAs, Ph.D.s, MDs, JDs, MSs, etc. (e.g., doctors, engineers, dentists, lawyers, bankers, corporate executives, head teachers, university professors, scientists, pharmacists, airline pilots, ship captains, accountants, actuaries, high level civil servants, politicians, and military officers, architects, artists, writers, poets, and musicians).
  • Lower middle class. Lower-paid white collar workers, but not manual laborers. Often hold Associates or Bachelor degrees. (e.g., police officers, fire fighters, primary and high school teachers, nurses, municipal office workers and low to mid-level civil servants, sales representatives, non-management office workers, clergy, technicians, small business owners).
  • Upper lower class. Blue-collar workers and manual labourers. Also known as the "working class."
  • Lower lower class. The homeless and permanently unemployed, as well as the "working poor."

barry711

Master and commander wrote: »

Currently I would consider myself lower middle class based on education, where i live and my general status. When i complete my education and take steps toward a good career i hope to step up to middle middle class eventually

Is this because you are ashamed of your current class? What's the reason?

Humor me now and answer me this. Supposing your lower middle class now, and come Friday you win 300 million on the euro millions. Does this automatically elevate you to the upper class but by your definitions of the lower middle class you shall remain lower middle class person because of your previous education, where you lived and your general status dictated it?

Gary L

Underclass

OP, would you be of the opinion that position in the economic hierarchy correlates with the quality of people?

I voted working class, because I work for the benefit of somebody else's profit.

Wroking class

By the Wikipedia version I am lower middle class ...I come from a framing/entrepreneurial back ground. I would think the vast majority of Irish People are lower middle class or maybe its just the people I am mixing with:)

HivemindXX

If you feel the need to divide the middle class in to three sections then you are certainly middle class. You may also be victorian.

Dividing people in to classes along these lines is even more meaningless than the left wing / right wing categorisation.

Master and commander

Wroking class

barry711 wrote: »

Is this because you are ashamed of your current class? What's the reason?

Humor me now and answer me this. Supposing your lower middle class now, and come Friday you win 300 million on the euro millions. Does this automatically elevate you to the upper class but by your definitions of the lower middle class you shall remain lower middle class person because of your previous education, where you lived and your general status dictated it?

Reason, because i am in a certain place at the moment but i am hoping to move up a step eventually when i finish education and begin a good career. My gneral status would be lower middle but finishing education and getting a good career should be enough to rise to the next step in the hierarchy.

well if i won the lotto i certainly would not become upper class, certainly not straight away. Class is about a lot more than money. Possibly and i mean way down the road, i could potentially become lower upper class if i bought a huge oil corporation or somthing. As for upper upper class, definitely no. I'd have to have been born into a very rich family or be from a noble or royal family for that. Much more than monetary wealth is involved in class distinctions.

mikemac

Underclass

Master and commander wrote: »

As for upper upper class, definitely no. I'd have to have been..... be from a noble or royal family for that.

Titles are not recognized in Ireland

This was cleared up recently in the courts where traditionally people said "my lord or m'lud". They put an end to this, you can just say judge.

Yes there is Lord Henry Mountcharles and other examples but it doesn't mean anything. People just say the title out of respect and follow what everyone else does

Count Duckula

Lower middle class

Thought I was going to leave all this class bollocks behind me when I left Britain for Ireland... clearly not.

Master and commander

Wroking class

Count Duckula wrote: »

Thought I was going to leave all this class bollocks behind me when I left Britain for the UK... clearly not.

WFT? they are effectively one and the same.

Count Duckula

Lower middle class

I mean Ireland.