General Discussion

Ron Obvious

(6,261 posts)

30. But how do you define class and wealth?

Tue Mar 27, 2012, 10:06 PM

Mar 2012

I was fortunate enough to be able to retire as a relatively young man during the nineties because of stock options, but I come from a solidly middle-class family one generation from the land and never adopted a flashy lifestyle.

Class in America is a confusing thing to me. In some countries your accent places you into your class, no matter how wealthy you might be. In this country, it seems to be the quality of your teeth that places you into your class. People who think America is a classless society are deeply mistaken.

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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