Why do you care so much about seen as upper class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is unusual in that it has a great deal of affluence and education, but relatively little culture (aside from the awesome, federally-funded museums) compared to other major cities.

I think this is largely a result of the nature of most of the residents. Very career-oriented and competitive.

x2. And not very artistic. Free thinking is ostracized and looked down upon here, in contrast to cities that are cultural hubs/influencers

Native here, and this is exactly why I left - 25 year olds in DC are like 45 year olds anywhere else. Fretting about the perfect resume, being well-connected, mortgage, retirement. These are important considerations (I guess), but so many Washingtonians lack a creative or free-thinking bone in their body...

I'm not now, nor was I at 25, creative or free thinking. If you are, I agree, live in a city with a creative class. Simple as that. Don't try to change the nature of DC - those of us who choose to live here like it!

Yep. This is why it's nerd/bore central.

DC is unique in that it's a city that is filled with extremely uncosmopolitan people.

It's "cosmopolitan" to care about cars and money?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Actually, most DCUMers want you to think they're barely scraping by on $400K a year. They certainly feel they are classy, but call them "upper class" and they instantly screech
"Not in DC! It's expensive here! CHILD CARE! STUDENT LOANS! I can barely afford my bi-weekly butt waxes!"

DC is a high cost of living area. The tax code does not recognize this.

[Anonymous]

I don't see upper class as something to aspire t. Rather as something to avoid.

There are plenty of negative characteristics associated with upper class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see upper class as something to aspire t. Rather as something to avoid.

There are plenty of negative characteristics associated with upper class.

Plebe attitude.

I was born middle class, am now upper middle class, but not threatened by the upper class as you seem to be. How do you avoid being upper class? just earn less?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see upper class as something to aspire t. Rather as something to avoid.

There are plenty of negative characteristics associated with upper class.

Plebe attitude.

I was born middle class, am now upper middle class, but not threatened by the upper class as you seem to be. How do you avoid being upper class? just earn less?

Yea, brought up middle class, now upper middle class as well. I think there is something wrong when you stop aspiring to better yourself, worse still if you manufacture an excuse for your present situation to being superior on moral basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, no one in Los Angeles gives Washington, DC a moment's thought in terms of comparisons.

However, the many intellectual, interesting, interested, informed, artistic, caring, concerned, involved people who live in L.A. do pay attention to international and national affairs and politics, and they are not impressed by what Washington and its overinflated egos have been up to.

I have a good friend in LA, and when I visit I'm stunned at how completely out of touch her circle is when it comes to current events and politics. They know exactly who was nominated for best documentary short subject -- and they have a strong opinion about who should win -- but they couldn't name their own member of Congress or discuss anything that happened on the larger world stage last week.

This is the way the entire country is. Maybe you know your congressman or can name one senator. Only in DC are politicians celebrities, or of any importance at all. Politics is theater in DC but only in DC. The rest of the country doesn't care. Pretty refreshing actually

The rest of the US cares about shallow, superficial, materialistic crap.

DC's business is politics. LA's business is entertainment. If you're living in LA, being up to speed on what's going on in the film industry is probably a lot more useful personally and professionally than talking about their member of Congress. You might think this is vapid, but keep in mind that many of the intrigues and political gameplaying here are also pretty vapid. You need look no further than the Republican presidential race to recognize that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see upper class as something to aspire t. Rather as something to avoid.

There are plenty of negative characteristics associated with upper class.

Plebe attitude.

I was born middle class, am now upper middle class, but not threatened by the upper class as you seem to be. How do you avoid being upper class? just earn less?

Class is much more complex than income. You are still middle class.

[Anonymous]

I don't know whether the original topic is still really something we are striving to comment on. I would say for those that are LA or even Dallas bashing: to each their own.

LA certainly has plenty of people that love it. Plenty of very smart, accomplished, and cultured people live there. It seems snobby to feel DC is superior. Same for Dallas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see upper class as something to aspire t. Rather as something to avoid.

There are plenty of negative characteristics associated with upper class.

Plebe attitude.

I was born middle class, am now upper middle class, but not threatened by the upper class as you seem to be. How do you avoid being upper class? just earn less?

Class is much more complex than income. You are still middle class.

Most people are unware of the complexities of classes above them and probably have never read Paul Fussell's Class.

Its a bit outdated, but there are all sorts of mannerisms, clothing etc that various social classes actually possess (brands you have never heard of, or custom tailored) and what those who attempt to ape them actually possess (typical "expensive" brand names).

If you have a lot of money, but weren't attending a east coast boarding school, you won't be upper class, but if your children can because you made money, they will become upper class due to different behaviours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see upper class as something to aspire t. Rather as something to avoid.

There are plenty of negative characteristics associated with upper class.

Plebe attitude.

I was born middle class, am now upper middle class, but not threatened by the upper class as you seem to be. How do you avoid being upper class? just earn less?

Class is much more complex than income. You are still middle class.

Most people are unware of the complexities of classes above them and probably have never read Paul Fussell's Class.

Its a bit outdated, but there are all sorts of mannerisms, clothing etc that various social classes actually possess (brands you have never heard of, or custom tailored) and what those who attempt to ape them actually possess (typical "expensive" brand names).

If you have a lot of money, but weren't attending a east coast boarding school, you won't be upper class, but if your children can because you made money, they will become upper class due to different behaviours.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. We are talking upper middle class here. Not upper class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the big deal? If you love your family, enjoy your job, get to take vacations now and then?

Why are people so obsessed with whether their body type seems upper class or if they have the right engagement ring etc?

Explain it to me please.

Because of our national beginnings, Americans are uncomfortable discussing class. In England, everyone is painfully aware of exactly where they fit. There are rules, pervasive, unyielding and commonly-understood. Here, everyone is middle class. It has led to a lot of class anxiety among those who've traveled beyond what their families provided them. If they are no longer the middle class sort they grew up as, what are they? How do they differentiate? How exactly?No family photos on the first floor ? Okay. Smaller breasts indicate upper class arrival? Sure, why not? It's not like anyone - anyone - knows anyway, so let's seek definitions where we may. DC is full of lawyers. If there were ever a class shifting profession, this is it. So, it shouldn't be so surprising that you'd see this sort of panic here.

Try Fussel's Class: A Guide Through the American Status System. Tom Wolfe, Dominick Dunne, and PJ O'Rourke all had good things to say about The Official Filthy Rich Handbook, by Christopher Tennant.

Was this discussed and I missed it? Thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the big deal? If you love your family, enjoy your job, get to take vacations now and then?

Why are people so obsessed with whether their body type seems upper class or if they have the right engagement ring etc?

Explain it to me please.

Because everyone is terrified of sliding out out of the middle class, let alone staying in the upper class. In the US, poverty = shame and personal failing. It's fucked up, but there ya go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see upper class as something to aspire t. Rather as something to avoid.

There are plenty of negative characteristics associated with upper class.

Plebe attitude.

I was born middle class, am now upper middle class, but not threatened by the upper class as you seem to be. How do you avoid being upper class? just earn less?

Yea, brought up middle class, now upper middle class as well. I think there is something wrong when you stop aspiring to better yourself, worse still if you manufacture an excuse for your present situation to being superior on moral basis.

Surprise! You're both still middle-class. Class is more than just HHI. It's generational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see upper class as something to aspire t. Rather as something to avoid.

There are plenty of negative characteristics associated with upper class.

Plebe attitude.

I was born middle class, am now upper middle class, but not threatened by the upper class as you seem to be. How do you avoid being upper class? just earn less?

Class is much more complex than income. You are still middle class.

I know that. I'm upper middle class based on my educational level as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, no one in Los Angeles gives Washington, DC a moment's thought in terms of comparisons.

However, the many intellectual, interesting, interested, informed, artistic, caring, concerned, involved people who live in L.A. do pay attention to international and national affairs and politics, and they are not impressed by what Washington and its overinflated egos have been up to.

I have a good friend in LA, and when I visit I'm stunned at how completely out of touch her circle is when it comes to current events and politics. They know exactly who was nominated for best documentary short subject -- and they have a strong opinion about who should win -- but they couldn't name their own member of Congress or discuss anything that happened on the larger world stage last week.

This is the way the entire country is. Maybe you know your congressman or can name one senator. Only in DC are politicians celebrities, or of any importance at all. Politics is theater in DC but only in DC. The rest of the country doesn't care. Pretty refreshing actually

The rest of the US cares about shallow, superficial, materialistic crap.

DC's business is politics. LA's business is entertainment. If you're living in LA, being up to speed on what's going on in the film industry is probably a lot more useful personally and professionally than talking about their member of Congress. You might think this is vapid, but keep in mind that many of the intrigues and political gameplaying here are also pretty vapid. You need look no further than the Republican presidential race to recognize that.

But entertainment is fluff. Politics, for better or worse, is real.