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Scipio · 02-17-2004, 11:18 PM

http://advancement.uark.edu/pubs/Res...eature3.6.html

Class is a rather broad idea. Depending on what level of analysis you look at, there are any number of identifiable cultures in the country. There are commercial agencies that keep databases of the various commercial cultures that make up the US. If you want to sell titanium golf clubs, they can pinpoint 1 or 2 or 3 of the 40 some-odd sub-cultures (or however many) they have identified in the country, determine what tv shows they like to watch, and push your product in that time slot. These cultures are things like urban gays, who are more likely to consume expensive wine, or rural white men, who drive pick-up trucks, drink bud light, and who are more likely to buy work boots. I always found this kind of consumer research interesting.

But we're talking about economic class, aren't we? Surely a difference in means of money acquisition isn't a huge deal, though occupation is an important determining factor (or is it an indicating factor!) of culture.

Suppose we fix a variable. A cheap lawyer, making $70,000 a year, and a civil engineer making about $65,000 a year are in similar classes. Both are educated and live comfortably, however, the social life of the attorney is probably rather different. There are differences in temperament and interest that drive the choice of profession.

Suppose the attorney is a blue chip ivy league graduate in a big firm making $350,000. Compared to the civil engineer, he's in a rather different class.

Then again, perhaps its means as in salary vs inheritance vs investment vs starting a business. We then would have an engineer, a rich kid, an investor, and a small business owner. Culturally, we are slow to respect the rich kid, as he didn't earn his money. We question the investor, as he might have made his money by "working the system." (though the "day-trader" took on near mythical status in the late 90s) We respect the engineer for choosing a safe life, playing by the rules, and profiting from it. We honor the businessman for taking calculated risks and getting rich doing it (hopefully).

I don't know. It's a slippery concept, and I don't know that it demonstrates anything worthwhile.

02-17-2004, 11:18 PM	#36 (permalink)
Scipio Mencken Location: College	http://advancement.uark.edu/pubs/Res...eature3.6.html Class is a rather broad idea. Depending on what level of analysis you look at, there are any number of identifiable cultures in the country. There are commercial agencies that keep databases of the various commercial cultures that make up the US. If you want to sell titanium golf clubs, they can pinpoint 1 or 2 or 3 of the 40 some-odd sub-cultures (or however many) they have identified in the country, determine what tv shows they like to watch, and push your product in that time slot. These cultures are things like urban gays, who are more likely to consume expensive wine, or rural white men, who drive pick-up trucks, drink bud light, and who are more likely to buy work boots. I always found this kind of consumer research interesting. But we're talking about economic class, aren't we? Surely a difference in means of money acquisition isn't a huge deal, though occupation is an important determining factor (or is it an indicating factor!) of culture. Suppose we fix a variable. A cheap lawyer, making $70,000 a year, and a civil engineer making about $65,000 a year are in similar classes. Both are educated and live comfortably, however, the social life of the attorney is probably rather different. There are differences in temperament and interest that drive the choice of profession. Suppose the attorney is a blue chip ivy league graduate in a big firm making $350,000. Compared to the civil engineer, he's in a rather different class. Then again, perhaps its means as in salary vs inheritance vs investment vs starting a business. We then would have an engineer, a rich kid, an investor, and a small business owner. Culturally, we are slow to respect the rich kid, as he didn't earn his money. We question the investor, as he might have made his money by "working the system." (though the "day-trader" took on near mythical status in the late 90s) We respect the engineer for choosing a safe life, playing by the rules, and profiting from it. We honor the businessman for taking calculated risks and getting rich doing it (hopefully). I don't know. It's a slippery concept, and I don't know that it demonstrates anything worthwhile. __________________ "Erections lasting more than 4 hours, though rare, require immediate medical attention."