To ask what is so noble about nobility?

[BettyCrockerLover]

Just that, really.

I want to know why 'nobles' are considered a cut above the rest. What is it that they have personally achieved to inspire such awe and reverence?

Basically, the charity I volunteer for is having this big fundraiser in a month and they'll be inviting the patrons of the charity for dinner afterwards, this is relatively a new charity and they have not hosted an event this size before. One of the patrons is an earl (who happens to be single) and he will be at the event for the first time and this is causing such pathetic sycophantic behavior in the office.

So today some of the employees, two single women one in her mid twenties and one in her early thirties come up to me and the other woman who volunteers with me and ask us what we are doing to get ready for the earl.....I give them this look and ask what they mean. Turns out they have both signed up to this boot camp thingy and they are going on a cleanse and beginning a tanning regime....I am so embarrassed for them. WTF do they think will happen?

But back to my AIBU, I also want to know what does noble mean anyway?
This is 2013 ffs not 1568. Are nobles better than other people the 'serfs' and 'commoners' because of their blood? If so, I think that is v outdated and regressive. Even the term grates me - noble....what does that make the rest of us then? ignoble?

(please don't say things like you are just jealous that YOU are not a 'noble' - because it is untrue and will dilute the discussion)

[CanadianJohn]

I organized an event a couple of years ago, with the mayor of this small city as a guest speaker. I was advised by his office "The Mayor is usually addressed: His Worship Mayor Eddie Francis".

So, I announced him that way, but after that I called him "Eddie". He's about 30 years younger than me. I ain't gonna worship him. This is Canada in the 21st century, I don't have to worship nobody.