I really do not understand the term ‘middle class’. Now the idle rich, I do get, but middle, really? The middle of what? Work is work and for those rich enough to do as they please without paid employment, I also understand. It’s that ‘middle’ that befuddles me and always has done.
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I think I’ve done alright in life. Failed the 11+, so left senior school at Easter of my 4th year, straight into an office as a junior. 3 years later I left to take up a secretarial course, left that job 9 weeks from completion, back to my old firm, now as a s/h typist.
Over the years I worked my way up, to finish as a Principal Secretary in the Indian bank, took voluntary redundancy December 2003, then worked for the NHS. When I retired about 8 years later I was content with how my working life had panned out. I have pensions and money in the bank, and now own my house outright.
Ain’t done bad, I think.
Oh, and I have two GCSE’s, taken in adult education classes. (And I too am an avid reader.)
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It’s a cultural thing. You can be a millionaire and still be culturally working class. In employment, or at least in my own employment experience, there are those at shop floor level, and there are those involved with management. I have seen people “progress” from shopfloor to management, and they have to change in order to fit in. They might be required to attend company events, for example, where their interactions with senior staff make it necessary for them to conduct themselves in a way that is not natural to them. I wouldn’t have liked having to be part of that world.
Ah, right, now I understand. That would put me in the ‘middle’ bracket then. Started at the bottom of the CS while studying via sandwich courses. Once married, accepting short term detached duties at home and overseas; all the time gaining promotions and then to find myself responsible for teams of undermanager’s all pulling towards the same ends for client departments. All that was a very hard and constant slog which is why I considered myself working class. A month in the Falklands or in Belize has to be experienced to understand the true meaning of a difficult posting.
Don’t you think that Bill Shakehisspear knew what he was talking about when he said “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players”
I played one sort of role, when I worked on the docks, and a different one when in an office.
And a different one, again, in courting & marriage.
Don’t we all do that?
Surely, that’s life?
We have to adapt!
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I was like that and it was horrible. 
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Like I said, “working class” is a culture, or mind set, it’s not just about the job you do, or how much you earn. You are putting emphasis on “working”, but that’s not all it’s about.
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Or the other side of the coin is they become totally pissed with power 
I can imagine.
We only have to adapt if we want to participate in a particular sphere of life. The sphere in question here is one I wouldn’t have liked to participate in.
Well that’s another thing. I am uncomfortable with telling people what to do, I always assume they will resent it as much as I do.
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@LongDriver , l suppose it’s because they are not " aristocrats "
nor are they poor LD, therefore they must be in the middle ??
I am on the same page as you!( I think?)
Donkeyman! 
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If your page has dogeared corners, then we are deffo on the same page 
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Started on the bottom rung of the ladder, and progressed steadily sideways from there on in. 
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The British class system is not difficult to understand or live with … all’s fair in love & war.
But life’s corporate greasy poll has no class: pure greed & bitchiness. I never wanted to be a part of that.
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Yep, that’s Harbal alright!
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Without such instructions, the world as we know it would not exist.
Hello, Minx, fancy bumping into you. 
I know, but I think the world will still carry on without my participation. 
A lot depends on luck too being at the right place at the right time .
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