Reply to What are the classic components of an UMC or UC American childhood?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]If you aren't born into wealth and social status, you'll never really be upper class. I say this as someone who went to Phillips Academy Andover for high school and met a lot of kids from that world. My parents could afford to pay full freight, but I quickly realized I would never be part of the world some of those kids occupied, no matter how much money my parents make. That's fine--it doesn't bother me--but it's the reality.

Truly upper class people don't make their money from paychecks. They make their money through dividends. They have trust funds. They have dorms named after their families. Their families have been going to Ivy League schools since the early 1900s. They have legacy at prep schools like Andover, Brearley, and Collegiate.

It's not about vacations, nannies, etc. It's about whether you have generations of participation in the halls of power in this country. 
[b]
If you haven't been born into that world, you will never be truly accepted into it, no matter how much money you make.[/b] [/quote]

But isn’t this the beauty of America? You can make it in one generation and you dgaf who accepts you or not, actually plenty of UC people stand in line to greet truly successful entrepreneurs.

Also, Bezos wasn’t born in that world. Do you think he has any issues fitting in or he even cares?[/quote]

I think having parents who come from a lower social class who rose up is a benefit.  Talking about grit and determination and the things they didn't have growing up helps a child to appreciate his UMC or even UC privilege and gives them a different perspective.  [/quote]

I wasn’t talking about whether that can give someone a different perspective. I was talking about whether you’ll be accepted.

A billionaire entrepreneur might be an exception, but I know for a fact that being considered upper class by those born into it requires more than money and material possessions. It’s not fair, but it’s the truth. [/quote]

Ok but when is it even relevant? 
Most UMC/UC people don't run in these very closed circles. I went to college in NYC and knew quite a handful of kids who had university buildings named after them, grew up on Park or 5th.. they have their own social circle now surely. By the way, they were lovely, funny sweet kids for the most part and did socialize with a number of normal kids despite having billion dollar inheritances. Does it really matter what they think? if they can detect from mannerisms that someone didn't grow up like them? I mean, who cares? This seems like an odd thing to be hung up on. This is why people come on DCUM anyways and say they are UMC when they make 5mil a year.. because for every one of those.. there is someone else coming to tell them they aren't really true UC because they weren't raised with a silver spoon. What is people's obsession with old money? I'm impressed with people who are self made and their stories. It's more interesting to me personally. [/quote]

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