What does 'effortlessly middle class' mean?

paddyann54

Class is just another way of the government dividing the electorate ,the Two Ronnies "class" skit on TV in the 70's was hilarious but sadly how many folk think ,more now than then.The rot starts at the top with royalty and the "honours" system all an artificial way of dividing the nation .I cant abide the so called socialist who accept Empire medals and enter the lords earning more for ONE day than many of their constituents would have earned for a month...its GREED

I don't think politics and class are linked in that way, paddyann. The political system meeds an overhaul, for sure; but I don't blame people for working within it as it stands until that happens. If they didn't, the HOL, which is the only balance against a government elected by a FPTP system, would be made up exclusively of hereditary peers.

I also think that there should be a way for 'ordinary' people to be recognised for achievement, and the honours system goes some way towards doing that. Again, if not for there would be even less representation for sport, the Arts and so on.

So-called 'champagne socialists' don't upset me either. Wanting a fairer system is not, IMO, incompatible with having a few quid of one's own. Should 'the workers' only have other workers in their corner? That would embed inequality even more. I think the idea that people shouldn't 'get above themselves' is outdated and narrow-minded. You hear it all the time about Keir Starmer, who is resented by some for his knighthood and for the fact that his legal expertise (as opposed to a trust fund) has bought him a comfortable life. As someone who has 'worked his way up' from an ordinary background he has for more idea about how people live than the Etonians in government.

The opposite of Hyacinth Bucket?

Blossoming hit the nail on the head.

We all allocate ourselves into different perceived classes. The government doesn't decide it! The honours system is something else altogether.

Class is just another way of the government dividing the electorate ,the Two Ronnies "class" skit on TV in the 70's was hilarious but sadly how many folk think ,more now than then.The rot starts at the top with royalty and the "honours" system all an artificial way of dividing the nation .I cant abide the so called socialist who accept Empire medals and enter the lords earning more for ONE day than many of their constituents would have earned for a month...its GREED

What it means is the person saying it is class conscious and rather a snob.

It all depends upon who said it. Another teacher said that her family (working class) really admired her career. Mine were openly disappointed that I was 'only a teacher'.

When John Prescott said "We're all middle class now" I assumed I was with no effort whatsoever in my part ?

However, it's not true because he's gone up a notch and is a Lord and my family is still working.

To me, it implies that others make great efforts to appear 'middle class' - when they're certainly not. So, a compliment, if middle class is seen as a good thing.

My father (upper class) said that he instantly became working class - when he worked - 'By definition, if you have to work, you're working class, there is no middle class'. So, an insult, or joke, to him.

Do you have to actually try to be any particular class?