Paul M. Cray
@pmc.bsky.social
"A plain, unvarnished Preston man." Permanent resident alien in Seattle, Wash. Interests: AGI, books, food, futurology, historiographic metafiction, ideas, sf, technoeconomic paradigm shifts, the Technological Singularity, writing
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Nah. She’s middle/lower middle. I come from the same place she did. I know people who went to school with her. It’s a place that pretends to be better than it is but it’s all ‘new’ money with pretensions.
November 11, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Nah. She’s middle/lower middle. I come from the same place she did. I know people who went to school with her. It’s a place that pretends to be better than it is but it’s all ‘new’ money with pretensions.
But it's the particular flavour of the class awareness and identity that comes from 15 years of private education that I think characterises the middle-middle and upper-middle classes in the UK
November 11, 2025 at 2:03 AM
But it's the particular flavour of the class awareness and identity that comes from 15 years of private education that I think characterises the middle-middle and upper-middle classes in the UK
Well, private schools are factories for instilling class consciousness in their attendees. It's true enough that state schools are middle class and hierarchical as institutions (as I recall one of the tutors saying at S. Martin's when I was doing my PGCE there in 1991-2)
November 11, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Well, private schools are factories for instilling class consciousness in their attendees. It's true enough that state schools are middle class and hierarchical as institutions (as I recall one of the tutors saying at S. Martin's when I was doing my PGCE there in 1991-2)
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
I’m 66, and I left the UK in 1995, so my reference points are likely out of date. Middle class used to be a hybrid of education and white collar employment, including “professions” - teachers, solicitors, doctors. Many, but not all, middle class people were university educated.
November 11, 2025 at 1:43 AM
I’m 66, and I left the UK in 1995, so my reference points are likely out of date. Middle class used to be a hybrid of education and white collar employment, including “professions” - teachers, solicitors, doctors. Many, but not all, middle class people were university educated.
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Respectfully, I don’t think this can be right. Some 7% of British children are educated in public schools, and obviously many families send more than one child to public school.
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Respectfully, I don’t think this can be right. Some 7% of British children are educated in public schools, and obviously many families send more than one child to public school.
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Tell me you're english without telling me you're english
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Tell me you're english without telling me you're english
Of course, some UMC and MMC don't go to private school and some LMC people do, so it's just a useful heuristic
November 11, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Of course, some UMC and MMC don't go to private school and some LMC people do, so it's just a useful heuristic
Yes, that seems about right to be as the lower middle is much larger,m 20-25% perhaps (or more?), but the middle-middle and upper-middle aren't a large fraction of the total
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Yes, that seems about right to be as the lower middle is much larger,m 20-25% perhaps (or more?), but the middle-middle and upper-middle aren't a large fraction of the total
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
I mean, it’s only 7% of people.
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I mean, it’s only 7% of people.
A good question! I think we need an expert ( @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com, perhaps). For instance, what about the haute bourgeois? Do they map closely to the British upper middle class?
November 11, 2025 at 1:32 AM
A good question! I think we need an expert ( @youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com, perhaps). For instance, what about the haute bourgeois? Do they map closely to the British upper middle class?
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
(As an outsider) Does lower-middle-class equate to a French/German petit bourgeois? And maybe there is cross-contamination in the concept?
November 11, 2025 at 1:11 AM
(As an outsider) Does lower-middle-class equate to a French/German petit bourgeois? And maybe there is cross-contamination in the concept?
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Imx a near-50/50 between the Perse and Netherhall
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Imx a near-50/50 between the Perse and Netherhall
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Yep, but maybe also transgressing class distinctions in order to seem aspirational.
November 11, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Yep, but maybe also transgressing class distinctions in order to seem aspirational.
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Indeed. That's advertising people getting subtle class distinctions wrong.
I have watched the ad several times now looking for signs. I am thinking skilled working class, the clock on the mantelpiece particularly
I have watched the ad several times now looking for signs. I am thinking skilled working class, the clock on the mantelpiece particularly
November 11, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Indeed. That's advertising people getting subtle class distinctions wrong.
I have watched the ad several times now looking for signs. I am thinking skilled working class, the clock on the mantelpiece particularly
I have watched the ad several times now looking for signs. I am thinking skilled working class, the clock on the mantelpiece particularly
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
OK, but the British Pork weird joint psychodrama family are lower middle, maybe skilled working class, aren’t they?
November 11, 2025 at 1:08 AM
OK, but the British Pork weird joint psychodrama family are lower middle, maybe skilled working class, aren’t they?
Dons might send their kids to Hills Road Sixth Form College, but where do they go before the sixth form?
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Dons might send their kids to Hills Road Sixth Form College, but where do they go before the sixth form?
Pretty much. I'd argue that private school is pretty much expected for middle-middle and upper-middle unless you either have access to a very good school or you are truly committed to public education (which some people are)
November 11, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Pretty much. I'd argue that private school is pretty much expected for middle-middle and upper-middle unless you either have access to a very good school or you are truly committed to public education (which some people are)
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Lower middle - white collar job , uneasy relationship with tradespeople
Middle middle - father emotionally distant with children, weird psychodrama over carving the joint, possible private school
Upper middle - much less upright than middle middle which is the most uptight, calls dinner supper
Middle middle - father emotionally distant with children, weird psychodrama over carving the joint, possible private school
Upper middle - much less upright than middle middle which is the most uptight, calls dinner supper
November 11, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Lower middle - white collar job , uneasy relationship with tradespeople
Middle middle - father emotionally distant with children, weird psychodrama over carving the joint, possible private school
Upper middle - much less upright than middle middle which is the most uptight, calls dinner supper
Middle middle - father emotionally distant with children, weird psychodrama over carving the joint, possible private school
Upper middle - much less upright than middle middle which is the most uptight, calls dinner supper
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Or living in a van by choice.
November 11, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Or living in a van by choice.
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Middle class is being able to afford a massive TV but not having a massive TV.
November 11, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Middle class is being able to afford a massive TV but not having a massive TV.
But even the best (selective, presumably) state school is never going to give you the social cache of Merchant Taylors' or Northwood College
November 11, 2025 at 12:29 AM
But even the best (selective, presumably) state school is never going to give you the social cache of Merchant Taylors' or Northwood College
Reposted by Paul M. Cray
Ah, but the real middle class move now is to be ABLE to send your kids to private school but to choose not to (because you have an expensive house near a good state school)
November 11, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Ah, but the real middle class move now is to be ABLE to send your kids to private school but to choose not to (because you have an expensive house near a good state school)
Thus lower-middle class people are arguably not really middle class at all because they can't afford to send their kids to private schools
November 11, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Thus lower-middle class people are arguably not really middle class at all because they can't afford to send their kids to private schools