I agree Toot, when I was doing market research, we always had to define the class of people we went to interview--by what they earned and it always bugged me as many of the "upper class'-- defined by their income-- were real bogans--but snobs--but IMO had NO class at all--and many of the ordinary "working" class were well mannered and much nicer people, so in my own mind thats how I class people, the way they present themselves. Many people are well educated but choose to do the job they do--if it be a council worker or a Dr etc. Also just because you are not WELL educated--ie Uni etc does NOT mean --IMO that you have no class--class in the way that you conduct your self.

PlanB, you are so correct in how people react or respond. Some are nice and others are not nice no matter in what class they are divided.



In the US we are divided by income. There are tables that show the division points. But we also have no royalty, or the way to create royalty types. That is not allowed by our constitution. Theoretically we, the people, are all equal. Sounds just like Australia except for the royalty stuff. We do not snub the royalty that come to visit, we just can not have such titles and observances of personal distinction in the US. But I think some of our politicians would love to become kings if they could.



But as you described there are those in the very rich class that are as common as dirt. They use their riches to help others and become part of the effort. Some are as remote and stuck up as can be and they are likely to be the ones that will readily destroy the US.



Same with the middle class or the lower income folks. Some are just as basic as others and there is no put down for the ever lower earning folks. But there will be those that just hate others and let you know it.



Dividing the population into different groups by income is only good for statistics. It says nothing about the people themselves.

.

.

Yes PB I think you are right, how people present themselves is the key and it doesn't matter a hoot if you are rich or poor. I know from reading about our soldiers in both wars, they were very contemptuous of the class of British officers.

Yes Toot--there are some that are "would be-s if they could be" and they are the very worst snobs. I think you have to be yourself--not try and put on airs and graces. Yes I have also heard that about the British and I know a few also--which I might add don't have a lot to do with as they quite frankly a real pain.

I think that REAL class is in the individual, not the money or power.

An example of real class, is when you get an opportunity to visit

an estate of the old landed gentry, in England & you start a conversation

with one of the gardeners, who you later find out, is Lord so & so.

Thats Class. Billy Connelly once remarked, that when he had dinner

with the Queen, he could have mistaken her for one of his aunties.

Thats Class.

You are so right Innes--our family had a couple that were really good friends and to look at them you would know they had 2 bob but they were very well off and were able to mix with all classes and were very down to earth.



Covered well by this poem>>



If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:



If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,

If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:



If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”



If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!





–Rudyard Kipling

PB, I just love that poem, it brings tears to the eyes.

That one and the following are 2 of my favorites>>











Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.



As far as possible, without surrender,

be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly;

and listen to others,

even to the dull and the ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.



If you compare yourself with others,

you may become vain or bitter,

for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;

it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.



Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;

many persons strive for high ideals,

and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love,

for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,

it is as perennial as the grass.



Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.



Beyond a wholesome discipline,

be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,

no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.



Therefore be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.

And whatever your labors and aspirations,

in the noisy confusion of life,

keep peace in your soul.





With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

All comes down to



“True wealth is what you are, Not what you have”

PB you are a closet romantic and poet.

This is pretty simplistic but true







When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours

>in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar........and the

>beer.

>

>A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in

>front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very

>large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf

>balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed

>that it was.

>

>So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into

>the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open

>areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the

>jar was full. They agreed it was.

>

>The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.

>Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if

>the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

>

>The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and

>poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty

>space between the sand.

>

>The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter

>subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

>

>The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children,

>your health, your friends, your favorite passions--things that if

>everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still

>be full.

>

>"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your

>house, your car.

>

>The sand is everything else--the small stuff.

>

>If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no

>room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

>

>The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the

>small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are

>important to you.

>

>Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play

>with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your

>partner out to dinner. Play another 18.

>

>There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the disposal.

>

>"Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.

>

>Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

>

>One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer

>represented.

>

>The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you

>that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a

>couple of beers."

Not my work Toot but they are the ones I like most and "TRY" to live by ;)

It really has nothing to do with this PlanB, but you have just reminded me of

a time, a few years ago when my younger son called in to tell me, very

happily, that his senior appointment was now safe, because he was very

near indespensible to his Company. I asked him if he would like to join me

on Sunday, to meet some other indespensible people. He said he would

love to, & asked me where? I replied, at the local cemetary.

Oh yes Innes we are all dispensable