Not to know what is middle class

[Goldchilled7up]

Inspired by another thread in chat, what does middle class mean to you?

I seriously don't know. Aibu?

I remember reading somewhere that working class and upper class had more in common with each other than 'middle class'.

cantthink , my dad was reading to us a alot, took us to meseums and library, spoke 3 languages, never swore, (he smoked thu and he loves parties). He was at some point washing dishes in a hotel.

And i was skiing every winter when my parents worked in chalets

Personally, i would take the money anytime and leave the label.

Old school middle class don't give a shit about immaculate houses. They usually have a dog or two, dress the kids in hand me downs and stuff from sainsbury, read the daily telegraph, go on holiday to the Italian lakes or France, are in book clubs and NEVER talk about money. And they buy the kids wool blazers from the second hand shop.

Garibaldi you say, ninah? Okay, you've seduced me

tethers how do the welsh make their cheese?
caerphilly

They also don't feel the need to discuss the fact they are middle class or try to be it as they just are. Hence the no need for a flashy car or Boden outfit.

Yes come on lrh - backslide. You know you want to. Garibaldi, Kenco, Lambrini, Morrisons, 40 Lambert n Butla. It's a slippery slope

working class and upper class had more in common with each other than 'middle class'
ya that's right, middle classes have a downstairs cloakroom, where the spare bog rolls are disguised with a knitted holder, and the slippers are kept...

It is an interesting issue. I think it's largely down to attitude and mannerisms. e.g. shouting at snotty children in old scruffy estate car - depends on context!

I remember the first middle class families i met in the Seventies when i started going to this Ballet School and made friends. The adults drank WINE for no apparent reason, sometimes in the middle of the day. And they had big blocks of cheese.

My mum and I went to one house and they had The Specials LP out on the floor, clearly showing a song title called Little Bitch. My mother would never have had that lying out, it would have had to be The Carpenters. Or James Last.
Also i looked on their nice Book shelf and they had Erica Jong's Fear of Flying.
And they went To France on holiday.
She was a mature student in a kaftan and he had a beard and taught at the poly. Looking back now it was like central casting for Alan Ayckbourn.

I thought it was all very exciting at the time. Agree, it's sod all to do with money.

Depends what you are shouting and what your accent is like really!

'Had a beard and taught at the poly'... love that description - brings back memories and very 70s MC!

And names. Names are an issue.

love it bbs! don't you think money brings with it confidence, and can buy an education though?

Oh and they had Bean Bags. They were very middle class once too.

Most amusing watching my mother trying to sit on one.

It brings you choice i suppose ninah.

It means you can change direction more easily and have a Career rather than a job.

scarlettsmummy I don't usually feel the need to discuss class, only on threads on discussion forums that ask about class
Actually despite all the 'badges' of typical middle class that I now wear, as soon as I open my mouth it's pretty obvious to all that I am from a (northern) working class background. Still call my evening meal 'tea' and that's the biggest giveaway of all!

Hmmm. It's a combination of money, background, education, outlook, interests, etc., isn't it? In varying degrees each component makes up the sum of the parts which amounts to more than the total of the sums (Gestalt theory).

I had the "naice" education and the well off family but nobody on my mother's side had been to uni - but they could all ride and shoot and swear and were and are all happy to get their hands dirty.

DH went to the local comp and his parents were a teacher and an engineer and in many ways have much more precious views than my side. But his parents were the first generation in their families not to be exceptionally poor and they regard themselves as working class and although educated are very very chippy. That rubbed off on DH, whom I had to teach to use a knife and fork, deal with an invitation, etc. and he feels (not so much now) working class and his mother still makes comments about "people like us" - whilst being excrutiatingly rude and sniggery about her uneducated hairdresser .

DH was the one who went to Cambridge; DH is the one who funds our lifestyle, DH still regards himself as working class - even though his idea of a good night out is listening to Wagner's Ring Cycle . I, on the other hand, could keep us in the style of a teacher but can kiss an Earl or two on the cheek with alacrity and feel perfectly at ease wherever I am. On the other hand I bumped into the stinking rich daughter of a baron today and she looked as common as muck. .

mellow birds

how many acres kim?

that's so true WAD, people's given names and names for things too, I could purposefully make my brother wince by saying 'lounge' and 'toilet' although to be honest 'toilet' makes me wince a little too, my poor kids are so confused......
they call it the 'shitter'....lol.

In the sense I use it her to describe DDs primary school.

Just not rich enough to afford private primary school, a few do move at Y5 or after to private secondary.

Good jobs and value education.

Definitely well off enough to afford ballet lessons and football clubs, meals out and holidays.

Well off enough to forget that some people can't afford things. A bit smug and complacent.

Behind the scenes some are obviously scrimping and saving like mad given the financal climate, but they don't let it show.

Produce an atmosphere that is very very difficult for the small no. of much less well off DCs at the school.

I went to a very mixed Welsh rural school and they make me cross.

Nelly - 'shitter' is more UC than toilet!