3 ms·

I really enjoyed reading this. I had a relatively blue collar american upbringing, but more or less since the day I left for college I've been predominately su

I really enjoyed reading this. I had a relatively blue collar american upbringing, but more or less since the day I left for college I've been predominately surrounded by people from white collar lifestyles, and this article really resonated with me. As illustrated in the article, the difference between the cab driver and the highly educated professional taking the cab is not as great as the latter would often like you to believe it is. Life is a lot easier when you stop pretending that things like sports or certain types of music are "below you".

eldavido 12y ago
(American here) I'm not sure why we lionize "the common man" so much in the US. The entire subtext of the article is that (1) we should have a shared culture, (2) such a "shared national culture" should reflect the taste and values of the "middle class" and that (3) people of taste/affluence/etc. should make an effort to reach out to others in the name of "connection" or "bonding" or something else. I freely admit not being a "middle-class" American. From my cushy software job on the 11th floor in SF, I really don't have any idea what it's like to earn minimum wage, be a single parent, go to a country music concert, or eat at McDonald's. But I don't think any of this makes me "better" than anyone else, and I still treat people with respect, dignity, and compassion -- I just don't feel the sense of guilt or need to conform, that this article seems to espouse. I fight with my dad about this all the time, who works in a factory in Illinois, and loves reminding me how out-of-touch I am, even as he asks me what I think of Chicago sports, even though (1) I don't live in Illinois and (2) I don't like sports. ;)