Different kind of a NOVA "social class" question... (Hampton: middle-class, skateboarding)

[Phoenix2017]

Had somewhat of a different kind of a NOVA "social class" question, that I was hoping I could seek input from some of the C-D NOVA forum experts on...

The question: although I realize that to a certain degree, social class stratification may be universally inevitable, I was just wondering how "open" in general you think NOVAns are, to making friends and/or dating someone outside of their own direct social class standing? (Not really talking here about upper-upper-class mixing with lower-lower-class necessarily -- say just for example, how open an upper-middle-class NOVAN would tend to be, to befriend or date someone, who was say middle-middle-class, or even one degree lower?) Do you think it really might be possible, for potential feelings of friendship or love, to trump base class standing, in the NOVA area?

Any thoughts or comments anyone might have on this would be deeply appreciated!

(Honestly just curious to see what others think about this topic?)

[normie]

IMO, if you have interests in common that's more important than anything else. Especially when you're talking about dating. My kids dated other kids from a variety of backgrounds. OTOH, when they settled down they tended to pick mates that had similar backgrounds to theirs.

My son once had a 2-year relationship with a girl from Great Falls who was from a very wealthy family. "Let's spend the weekend on the yacht in the Hamptons" type of wealthy. That relationship finally fell apart but it was because of an argument over kids skateboarding on public property, not because of their economic differences.

[algia]

Are we still in the 1800's and I don't know?

I think this entire "social class" discussion is irrelevant & if ppl are still stuck on that is just ridiculous!...everyone is FREE to do whatever they want, so if someone from the "lowest class/income" wants to advance in society I don't know what is stopping them? per what I've seen so far, there are options for advancement at every level of society, the only draw back is at "individual" level and "personal will" to advance. If someone is "happy" in a trailer park, I don't know how you will ever get them to appreciate Van Gogh!

The way you describe this, I can picture a Hispanic telenovela (no offense) where "the poor maid always falls in love with the "master"!!!!

Seriously?

I think people should stop judging others by the things they buy...isn't this a free country? why can't we be free to buy whatever we can without being judged by the neighbors, co-workers etc? it's the "drama" isn't it? we as people just can't live without it! OY!

Originally Posted by Knight2009

Had somewhat of a different kind of a NOVA "social class" question, that I was hoping I could seek input from some of the C-D NOVA forum experts on...

The question: although I realize that to a certain degree, social class stratification may be universally inevitable, I was just wondering how "open" in general you think NOVAns are, to making friends and/or dating someone outside of their own direct social class standing? (Not really talking here about upper-upper-class mixing with lower-lower-class necessarily -- say for just example, how open an upper-middle-class NOVAN would tend to be, to befriend or date someone, who was say middle-middle-class, or even one degree lower?) Do you think it really might be possible, for potential feelings of friendship or love, to trump base class standing, in the NOVA area?

Any thoughts or comments anyone might have on this would be deeply appreciated!

(Honestly just curious to see what others think about this topic?)

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by algia

Are we still in the 1800's and I don't know?

I think this entire "social class" discussion is irrelevant & if ppl are still stuck on that is just ridiculous!...!

Just read the NY Times wedding announcements (what my wife refers to as "the sports page") and you'll see class based relationships are still alive and well. Now though it's generally based on merit rather than hereditary standing. For instance you'll see two Harvard trained lawyers marrying whose parents are or were bus drivers or secretaries.

[Phoenix2017]

In response to algia: lol, please understand I honestly wasn't trying to sound obnoxious or flippant, or anything like that, by the earlier question

I guess one of the main reasons I asked was just b/c although it tends not to be publicly or openly discussed so much, I have kinda always felt or "perceived", in some ways, that class potentially does still remain an indirect issues, in terms of how well-liked or regarded people are in this area. Just for example in my own exp., it really felt like when I moved from Burke to McLean some years ago, some people there and some neighbors in particular almost went out of their way, to emphasize and bring home the point (albeit almost always indirectly), that they felt I "didn't belong in McLean". Several particularly vocal elderly couples even said to me within audible range of hearing, that I should allegedly "go back where you came from", while passing by my property. And yet, I never did anything, to hurt or ever mistreat them in any way?

Originally Posted by algia

Are we still in the 1800's and I don't know?

I think this entire "social class" discussion is irrelevant & if ppl are still stuck on that is just ridiculous!...everyone is FREE to do whatever they want, so if someone from the "lowest class/income" wants to advance in society I don't know what is stopping them? per what I've seen so far, there are options for advancement at every level of society, the only draw back is at "individual" level and "personal will" to advance. If someone is "happy" in a trailer park, I don't know how you will ever get them to appreciate Van Gogh!

The way you describe this, I can picture a Hispanic telenovela (no offense) where "the poor maid always falls in love with the "master"!!!!

Seriously?

I think people should stop judging others by the things they buy...isn't this a free country? why can't we be free to buy whatever we can without being judged by the neighbors, co-workers etc? it's the "drama" isn't it? we as people just can't live without it! OY!

[claremarie]

Originally Posted by Knight2009

[color=black][font=Verdana] say just for example, how open an upper-middle-class NOVAN would tend to be, to befriend or date someone, who was say middle-middle-class, or even one degree lower?) Do you think it really might be possible, for potential feelings of friendship or love, to trump base class standing, in the NOVA area?

That depends. Is the lower-status person the owner of an artisan bakery? Or a former Olympic athlete who is working as a personal trainer for Ironman triathletes? Or a classics teacher at an exclusive private school? Then the answer is "yes."

However, if the lower-status person is a customer service rep at the DMV, or a a cashier at Giant, or a plumber, then probably not. Even if he/she actually earns more than the folks in the first group.

[CAVA1990]

Originally Posted by claremarie

However, if the lower-status person is a customer service rep at the DMV, or a a cashier at Giant, or a plumber, then probably not. Even if he/she actually earns more than the folks in the first group.

[Unfolds camp chair, waits for fireworks to start]

[normie]

Originally Posted by claremarie

That depends. Is the lower-status person the owner of an artisan bakery? Or a former Olympic athlete who is working as a personal trainer for Ironman triathletes? Or a classics teacher at an exclusive private school? Then the answer is "yes."

However, if the lower-status person is a customer service rep at the DMV, or a a cashier at Giant, or a plumber, then probably not. Even if he/she actually earns more than the folks in the first group.

LOL, good point... but don't forget the appeal of dating someone who ticks off your parents. Nothing like bringing home the service rep from the DMV to put Daddy into a stew!

[algia]

OK, To me this whole social class thing makes little sense because of the following:

While we are all free to do whatever we want, NOT everyone can be a successful lawyer, or doctor or ballerina...so, we should stop calling it "social classes" because it is just not fair based on everyone's personality, ability etc..... ballet dancers make little money and have to have several jobs to pay the bills, THAT however doesn't make them low class! so, from the financial stand point, a ballet dancer as good as Baryshnikov for example, will never make as much money as a Harvard Educated Lawyer! does that make the ballet dancer stupid? low class? NO, it doesn't...people need to stop associating someone's WORK with the PERSON! Just because I choose to be a photographer because I know I couldn't be a successful Prosecutor going to Harvard twice...doesn't make me low class!

We all go: " ohh, marry a doctor so you have status" in the end you end up all alone because of their crazy hours! (surgeons etc).....you see my point? so your status is: "lonely" at best! in that scenario...other jobs produce the same scenario...I marry the person, not their job!

[Phoenix2017]

Agreed algia

I'm definitely not trying to say that people within the lower-bracket middle classes are any less of a valued human being, or any less worthy of happiness than those of the upper-middle classes.

No worries...based on my income from my job, I am technically upper-middle-class myself, but if I liked someone as a friend, or loved or cared about someone romantically, who were in any of the lower MC income brackets, class alone would certainly never stop me from liking and caring for them, in those ways

Originally Posted by algia

OK, To me this whole social class thing makes little sense because of the following:

While we are all free to do whatever we want, NOT everyone can be a successful lawyer, or doctor or ballerina...so, we should stop calling it "social classes" because it is just not fair based on everyone's personality, ability etc..... ballet dancers make little money and have to have several jobs to pay the bills, THAT however doesn't make them low class! so, from the financial stand point, a ballet dancer as good as Baryshnikov for example, will never make as much money as a Harvard Educated Lawyer! does that make the ballet dancer stupid? low class? NO, it doesn't...people need to stop associating someone's WORK with the PERSON! Just because I choose to be a photographer because I know I couldn't be a successful Prosecutor going to Harvard twice...doesn't make me low class!

We all go: " ohh, marry a doctor so you have status" in the end you end up all alone because of their crazy hours! (surgeons etc).....you see my point? so your status is: "lonely" at best! in that scenario...other jobs produce the same scenario...I marry the person, not their job!