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While cronyism and nepotism are probably significant factors, beyond those I don't know if what your parents earn matters as much as it may be an indicator of y

While cronyism and nepotism are probably significant factors, beyond those I don't know if what your parents earn matters as much as it may be an indicator of your manners, knowledge of social customs, proper grammar, etc.. Perhaps those raised in wealthy homes tend to know better how to behave among wealthy people than those who come from poor backgrounds. All else being equal, those who comport themselves better are more likely to get ahead.

fredley 10y ago
> Comport themselves better I have to disagree, manners are not a linear scale from bad to good, certain behaviours will ingratiate you to certain groups while ostracising you from others. If you (as some people do) consciously decide to mimic the behaviours of richer groups then yes, this may help your ROI. I'm in Britain, and the class system here is probably a lot more linear than most. One of the issues with just behaving better is that there's a huge amount of snobbishness (from everyone, at every level), and many of the defining behaviours of the upper classes require having a great deal of money to even participate.
frobozz 10y ago
In the broad middle, I don't think there is much of a manners/customs/grammar distinction. Any well-brought up middle class child should be perfectly capable of interacting with all but the wealthiest nobility. Of course, there are a few upper-middle class snobs who will think less of you for your lack of oenological prowess or your off the peg suit, but such people are not a common direct influence on that many people. There are other factors: * One thing is simply understanding the opportunities available to you. The idea that "People like me don't (go to university | start companies | go for promotion beyond a certain level)" is quite harmful. * It is not uncommon that people go into the same field as one of their parents, simply because of how big an influence they are on your life as a child. If one is a doctor, and the other a barrister, then if you follow one of them, you'll make more money than if they are both in minimum-wage jobs. * If you do follow your parents in their careers, you will have had early exposure to some of the concepts. You may therefore perform better at university intake interviews, and the relevant prerequisites. They will also know about how to progress through the career in the best way. * Regardless of nepotism, your parents' friends are another source of examples to follow in a similar way, and may be able to dispense similar advice. * Even if you don't follow your parents in their careers. Having a parent who graduated from a competitive course at a prestigious university (which might be indicated in their lifetime earnings) means that you still have an example to follow, and their experience to draw on. One of the reasons for poor state school intake at Oxford is that most youths don't actually know how to apply. Also, if you know what to expect from such a place, you can make more of it, particularly in terms of the extra curricular offering - e.g. networking, bursaries and careers service. * A youth with wealthy parents may be able take better advantage of low-paid and unpaid internships. If your parents can't support you through university and early career, then you may have to make more short term decisions - e.g. taking a low-paid summer job at a bar, instead of a lower or even unpaid job at a law firm, or working evenings and weekends instead of studying. * At the extreme end, a child in poverty is likely to have fewer books and poorer nutrition when those things matter most.

fredley 10y ago

> Comport themselves better I have to disagree, manners are not a linear scale from bad to good, certain behaviours will ingratiate you to certain groups while ostracising you from others. If you (as some people do) consciously decide to mimic the behaviours of richer groups then yes, this may help your ROI. I'm in Britain, and the class system here is probably a lot more linear than most. One of the issues with just behaving better is that there's a huge amount of snobbishness (from everyone, at every level), and many of the defining behaviours of the upper classes require having a great deal of money to even participate.

frobozz 10y ago

In the broad middle, I don't think there is much of a manners/customs/grammar distinction. Any well-brought up middle class child should be perfectly capable of interacting with all but the wealthiest nobility. Of course, there are a few upper-middle class snobs who will think less of you for your lack of oenological prowess or your off the peg suit, but such people are not a common direct influence on that many people. There are other factors: * One thing is simply understanding the opportunities available to you. The idea that "People like me don't (go to university | start companies | go for promotion beyond a certain level)" is quite harmful. * It is not uncommon that people go into the same field as one of their parents, simply because of how big an influence they are on your life as a child. If one is a doctor, and the other a barrister, then if you follow one of them, you'll make more money than if they are both in minimum-wage jobs. * If you do follow your parents in their careers, you will have had early exposure to some of the concepts. You may therefore perform better at university intake interviews, and the relevant prerequisites. They will also know about how to progress through the career in the best way. * Regardless of nepotism, your parents' friends are another source of examples to follow in a similar way, and may be able to dispense similar advice. * Even if you don't follow your parents in their careers. Having a parent who graduated from a competitive course at a prestigious university (which might be indicated in their lifetime earnings) means that you still have an example to follow, and their experience to draw on. One of the reasons for poor state school intake at Oxford is that most youths don't actually know how to apply. Also, if you know what to expect from such a place, you can make more of it, particularly in terms of the extra curricular offering - e.g. networking, bursaries and careers service. * A youth with wealthy parents may be able take better advantage of low-paid and unpaid internships. If your parents can't support you through university and early career, then you may have to make more short term decisions - e.g. taking a low-paid summer job at a bar, instead of a lower or even unpaid job at a law firm, or working evenings and weekends instead of studying. * At the extreme end, a child in poverty is likely to have fewer books and poorer nutrition when those things matter most.