4 ms·

what? Maybe we are working from different definitions of middle-class, but my family is decidedly middle-class and we shop at Apple and Williams & Sonoma - not

what? Maybe we are working from different definitions of middle-class, but my family is decidedly middle-class and we shop at Apple and Williams & Sonoma - not often admittedly, but often enough.

aklemm 8y ago
"my family is decidedly middle-class" Why are you so sure? What are the numbers? It's possible you're in a middle income bracket within a rich region, but if you're shopping at Apple and Williams Sonoma on the regular, I'd guess that puts you in the top 20%. I guess we have to define middle class too...maybe the 25%-75% household income bracket?
- Spivak 8y ago
  I think they could be pretty darn sure if their income was between $55k and $65k since that's right around the median.
  - ggggtez 8y ago
    The root of the problem of definition here is that there is no concrete definition of "middle class". Median income is related, but not required to be middle class. Besides, in San Francisco, making less than $59k per year is considered poverty level, and $100k+ is still "low income" [0]. [0]: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44725026 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44725026
- michaelt 8y ago
  According to https://siderea.dreamwidth.org/1237182.html https://siderea.dreamwidth.org/1237182.html "In the US, we have a rule: to describe a person as "lower class" is an insult; less obviously, to describe them as "upper class" is as well. To describe something as "lower class" or "upper class" is to denigrate it, and to attribute a "lower class" or "upper class" thing to some one is to denigrate them. It is the designation "middle class", alone, which is virtuous – a fact which explains in a nutshell why, famously, all Americans arrogate the term to themselves."
  - aklemm 8y ago
    This is the reality, but of course it's absurd. I'm going to be brave and admit I'm not middle class from now on, though I'm sure all my peers would easily accept any claim that I am.
- sillyquiet 8y ago
  we are in the top 15% I think? which I guess puts us in the upper middle class ? We aren't 'high income', for sure, we make a bit south of $130,000 / year jointly.

what? Maybe we are working from different definitions of middle-class, but my family is decidedly middle-class and we shop at Apple and Williams & Sonoma - not often admittedly, but often enough.

aklemm 8y ago

"my family is decidedly middle-class" Why are you so sure? What are the numbers? It's possible you're in a middle income bracket within a rich region, but if you're shopping at Apple and Williams Sonoma on the regular, I'd guess that puts you in the top 20%. I guess we have to define middle class too...maybe the 25%-75% household income bracket?

Spivak 8y ago
I think they could be pretty darn sure if their income was between $55k and $65k since that's right around the median.
- ggggtez 8y ago
  The root of the problem of definition here is that there is no concrete definition of "middle class". Median income is related, but not required to be middle class. Besides, in San Francisco, making less than $59k per year is considered poverty level, and $100k+ is still "low income" [0]. [0]: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44725026 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44725026
michaelt 8y ago
According to https://siderea.dreamwidth.org/1237182.html https://siderea.dreamwidth.org/1237182.html "In the US, we have a rule: to describe a person as "lower class" is an insult; less obviously, to describe them as "upper class" is as well. To describe something as "lower class" or "upper class" is to denigrate it, and to attribute a "lower class" or "upper class" thing to some one is to denigrate them. It is the designation "middle class", alone, which is virtuous – a fact which explains in a nutshell why, famously, all Americans arrogate the term to themselves."
- aklemm 8y ago
  This is the reality, but of course it's absurd. I'm going to be brave and admit I'm not middle class from now on, though I'm sure all my peers would easily accept any claim that I am.
sillyquiet 8y ago
we are in the top 15% I think? which I guess puts us in the upper middle class ? We aren't 'high income', for sure, we make a bit south of $130,000 / year jointly.