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The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,578 posts)

17. That's an awfully, awfully low threshold for upper class.

Tue Mar 27, 2012, 09:46 PM

Mar 2012

By your definition I'm in it, which is beyond ludicrous. I'm retired. I had to retire early because my job went away, but I have enough of a vested pension/401K and some other assets that (if I start drawing Social Security) it looks like I might be able to squeak by without having to get another full-time job. That's upper class? Please. I can assure you that my lifestyle is not upper class by any definition of that term. I live in a small, somewhat run-down old house in an older part of my city. I can't afford to travel much or eat in fancy restaurants and I don't buy anything I don't need beyond the occasional book. I think you're going to have to redefine upper class if your analysis is to have any validity.

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How do I define privilege? Here is a scale I put together and you can score yourself [View all] stevenleser Mar 2012 OP

A privi-ledge is a toilet seat mounted on the brink of a precipice slackmaster Mar 2012 #1

LOL nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #2

Lovely burrowowl Mar 2012 #9

Thanks for the edit. I was having trouble finding how to get to 15. flvegan Mar 2012 #3

Last minute alterations before posting ruined my total! LOL stevenleser Mar 2012 #4

Well, in practice, this is pretty hard to apply. NYC_SKP Mar 2012 #5

True, there is an AOTBE (All Other Things Being Equal) aspect to this stevenleser Mar 2012 #7

You got that right. That Noot has any success at all, for example... NYC_SKP Mar 2012 #24

How do you define upper class vs. middle class vs. lower class? The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #6

Well, I purposely put 'wealth' in that slot rather than income. stevenleser Mar 2012 #12

That's an awfully, awfully low threshold for upper class. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #17

There are exceptions as you get over 50 and approach retirement stevenleser Mar 2012 #25

5 points don't equal 5 points izquierdista Mar 2012 #8

Can you list out which points Geffen and Larry get? I just want to see it laid out... stevenleser Mar 2012 #28

Wait a minute, you changed it on me.... izquierdista Mar 2012 #48

Yep, sorry, I've been adjusting it based on a lot of helpful input from folks... stevenleser Mar 2012 #53

Being attractive or tall should count for some points. n/t FSogol Mar 2012 #10

Yes, I agree. I will have to modify my table and scale. nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #15

This message was self-deleted by its author freshwest Mar 2012 #11

I hope that isnt the impression that people get. To me priviledge is the relative challenge your stevenleser Mar 2012 #14

"Privilege" doesn't have a "d." The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2012 #20

Thanks, I need to remember that. :-( stevenleser Mar 2012 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author freshwest Mar 2012 #26

Thank god I'm an atheist then... Ron Obvious Mar 2012 #13

Depends from where you are an immigrant stevenleser Mar 2012 #21

But how do you define class and wealth? Ron Obvious Mar 2012 #30

See my discussions above with Velveteen Ocelot in messages 12,17,25 but basically stevenleser Mar 2012 #35

How does Jeremy Lin fit into your formula? Lasher Mar 2012 #16

Wouldn't he be a 13? Why do you think he would disagree? stevenleser Mar 2012 #18

Wealth should be rated a lot higher. More like 7 or 9 for Upper Class Zalatix Mar 2012 #19

Perhaps. But I am thinking gender needs to be edged up too. nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #23

Not really - working class men don't get much of an advantage anymore. Zalatix Mar 2012 #63

Believe it or not, wealthy females still get sexually harassed, and they dont get taken as seriously stevenleser Mar 2012 #67

Fixed. nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #33

I think it over simplifies and treats society as well as "privilege" as monolithic. They aren't. Warren DeMontague Mar 2012 #27

I agree guitar man Mar 2012 #38

See my #53 nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #55

YES! I beat Oprah Winfrey! Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #29

How about now after the update? nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #32

Updated the table/scale to increase wealth benefit for u/c, for males and add physical beauty nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #31

How many points for being able to spell? nt Dreamer Tatum Mar 2012 #34

22 for being able to spell, -22 for those who can't. So, I'm done! stevenleser Mar 2012 #36

I think this is really close but perhaps a little off... Ohio Joe Mar 2012 #37

I got a 12.... unkachuck Mar 2012 #39

I need one more edit... hang on... nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #40

OK, I adjusted the definitions of each score to what I think is more appropriate. stevenleser Mar 2012 #41

yes, I think that's better....but one more edit, Total Privilege, 19-22....n/t unkachuck Mar 2012 #44

p.s., no one is ugly. stevenleser Mar 2012 #42

That is so spot on. themadstork Mar 2012 #69

Good, but what about individuals with disabilities? antigone382 Mar 2012 #43

I've been wondering about that too. Have to think on it. stevenleser Mar 2012 #45

I rated a 4 Marrah_G Mar 2012 #46

How does that square with your perception of privilege vs other people? Does it work? stevenleser Mar 2012 #47

I think it probably is pretty close Marrah_G Mar 2012 #49

OK, that prompted me to adjust the privilege scales stevenleser Mar 2012 #51

I think thats fair :) Marrah_G Mar 2012 #54

Oooo, lost big on the religion and beauty questions Canuckistanian Mar 2012 #50

Yeah, but you live somewhere where you are guaranteed free great healthcare. That is +7!!!!!!! stevenleser Mar 2012 #56

Yes, there is that Canuckistanian Mar 2012 #73

10 Odin2005 Mar 2012 #52

Paris Hilton rates a 14. My unemployed brother in law with MS rates a 15. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #57

Privilege is only the calculus of the general challenges you face, not the ultimate outcome stevenleser Mar 2012 #60

And Hilton herself takes the brunt of some pretty nasty sexism. themadstork Mar 2012 #72

That's it in a nutshell. stevenleser Mar 2012 #77

No he doesn't. He has NOTHING going for him. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #75

In terms of privilege, which as I said, is not the final word, he has a lot going for him. stevenleser Mar 2012 #76

Because of his gender, he was 50% less likely to go to college. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #83

There is nothing to your response to me but misquotes and straw men. I stand on previous posts nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #84

I'm not sure this is completely balanced. hughee99 Mar 2012 #58

I am going to mess with it some more tomorrow. I originally had wealth at 3 then 7, then... stevenleser Mar 2012 #61

I think there's even a 4th category for wealth. hughee99 Mar 2012 #65

I'm a 13. Kurska Mar 2012 #59

Yet, I am sure you will agree that being gay presents occasional challenges stevenleser Mar 2012 #62

You forgot one big thing. I am white, a christian woman, but am DEAF. Any "handicap" should be GobBluth Mar 2012 #64

Yep, Antigone mentioned that one upthread. Going to have to decide how much to give that one stevenleser Mar 2012 #66

just think how many people have looked at you and judged you as unfairly 'privilaged', bart95 Mar 2012 #80

First of all, anyone with an awareness of privilege wouldn't do that because she is a woman stevenleser Mar 2012 #82

nice try, but no sale nt bart95 Mar 2012 #85

Nothing to sell, it is what it is. nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #87

it most certainly is nt bart95 Mar 2012 #88

Either an 18 or 15, themadstork Mar 2012 #68

Being an atheist gives me 0 points, but it's never been the slightest handicap in my life. Johnny Rico Mar 2012 #70

I agree with this themadstork Mar 2012 #71

I got a 4 LadyHawkAZ Mar 2012 #74

I deserve guilt, shame and penalty bart95 Mar 2012 #78

Where did I say that? I never said or even hinted any such thing in any way. stevenleser Mar 2012 #79

I'm a 7 MrScorpio Mar 2012 #81

I think Atheists should get more points. mainer Mar 2012 #86

Cisgender versus transgender should probably be added. ZombieHorde Mar 2012 #89