The BBC has come up with a new social class definition and to see where you would fit in try this simple test:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22000973

How classy is TV?

As I always suspected, but nonetheless a fact that has gone underappreciated by others, I am an elite.

I come out as Traditional Working Class. Those who know me will laugh.

My family always regarded itself as firmly Middle Class. On the principle of 'up one, down one', I now consider myself Impoverished Gentry.

OK, this is funny.
NOW, living in Thailand as "retired", I get Traditional Working Class.

My previous life, Elite.

I grew up definitely upper middle class.

The BBC caters to the chattering classes of Islington.

Class in Britain is still well established, but the working class unfortunately has turned into the benefits class.

Upper class still owns most of the wealth of the country, but will of course exclude these upstart bankers and others in trade. We have land, property and directorships in major industrial enterprises.

The middle class is a broad-spectrum co-operative that pays the taxes that keep the shirking class and the upper class in the manner to which they are accustomed.

Then there's the foreigners ...

What the rather silly Beeb test ignores is that class in the UK has not yet morphed into the US style class system based on wealth alone, but is on a lagged basis of 1or 2 generations. Ie newly minted wealthy people acquire for their children and grandchildren class by means of private education, speech (both in terms of accent and words used), and occupation.

Thus the upper class person goes to the top private schools, speaks RP, says sofa rather than couch or settee etc, and works in a profession and/ or in the Army ( only some regiments, not the Navy and certainly not the RAF). Eccentricity is encouraged and designer labels avoided at all cost together with most forms of ostentation.

See link below re speech patterns:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1535768,00.html

Yes, yes, and yes.... but during and just after the war, old boys (never alumni) from my school ran the RAF, and we'll thank you not to denigrate it.

Eccentric: fine by me. Designer clothes: can't afford them. Ostentation: no, it comes naturally.

What the rather silly Beeb test ignores is that class in the UK has not yet morphed into the US style class system based on wealth alone

It seems to me that test is mostly based on income and property ownership.

What the rather silly Beeb test ignores is that class in the UK has not yet morphed into the US style class system based on wealth alone

It seems to me that test is mostly based on income and property ownership.

If you mean the BBC one they have added in "cultural and social capital" items, but have missed some of the key elements. If you are referring to the US class system you are spot on.

I mean the BBC test.

Yes, yes, and yes.... but during and just after the war, old boys (never alumni) from my school ran the RAF, and we'll thank you not to denigrate it.

Eccentric: fine by me. Designer clothes: can't afford them. Ostentation: no, it comes naturally.

No intention of denigrating your alma mater, but the RAF, with a few exceptions ( often hailing from the AAF{that's Auxiliary not Australian} and even ATA), has been and remains the domain of aspirational middle class folk.

I'd like to apply to become Elite, but I fear that even if I had the financial clout I would not be indigenous enough.

I'd like to apply to become Elite, but I fear that even if I had the financial clout I would not be indigenous enough.

The Brits have always welcomed foreign injections, the upper classes have actively sought out foreign sources of income, see the Countess of Grantham (aka Lady Cora) in Downton Abbey.

So how did you score on the test?

Wow, not being British (or is this an English test?), my result was:

Established middle class

Is that good, bad,or normal (GBN)? At least, these attributes are correct:

• Enjoy a diverse range of cultural activities
• Went to university
• Are comfortably off, secure and established

But then, define "comfortably off".

Wow, not being British (or is this an English test?), my result was:

Established middle class

Is that good, bad,or normal (GBN)? At least, these attributes are correct:

• Enjoy a diverse range of cultural activities
• Went to university
• Are comfortably off, secure and established

But then, define "comfortably off".

Probably more of an English thing, as the upper classes tend to include few non English. Being "established middle class" means you like golf but are not quite happy with your position in life!

"Comfortably off" means exactly that....are you comfortable in your lifestyle and give it little thought, if yes you are "comfortably off"...

Wow, not being British (or is this an English test?), my result was:

Established middle class

Is that good, bad,or normal (GBN)? At least, these attributes are correct:

• Enjoy a diverse range of cultural activities
• Went to university
• Are comfortably off, secure and established

But then, define "comfortably off".

Probably more of an English thing, as the upper classes tend to include few non English. Being "established middle class" means you like golf but are not quite happy with your position in life!

"Comfortably off" means exactly that....are you comfortable in your lifestyle and give it little thought, if yes you are "comfortably off"...

Speaking as an American, the British obsession with class is one of the least attractive things about that culture. It is equally unattractive amongst "posh" citizens and "proud members of the working class."

vhen i told my wife zat i am "british elite" it took her kvite zome time to stop the hysterical laughter vhich confused my dogs.

What the rather silly Beeb test ignores is that class in the UK has not yet morphed into the US style class system based on wealth alone

It seems to me that test is mostly based on income and property ownership.

What work you base it on? How much beer Chankg you drink and how low electric is?

vhen i told my wife zat i am "british elite" it took her kvite zome time to stop the hysterical laughter vhich confused my dogs.

Yes... I was commiserating with my Gamekeeper about that very thing just the other day. He suggested I put the matter in the hands of my Master of the Hounds.

vhen i told my wife zat i am "british elite" it took her kvite zome time to stop the hysterical laughter vhich confused my dogs.

Yes... I was commiserating with my Gamekeeper about that very thing just the other day. He suggested I put the matter in the hands of my Master of the Hounds.

I am a pheasant plucker apparently even though i failed to tick the Opera box. No doubt Naam flies into Italy twice a year for his dose of Elite culture.

vhen i told my wife zat i am "british elite" it took her kvite zome time to stop the hysterical laughter vhich confused my dogs.

Yes... I was commiserating with my Gamekeeper about that very thing just the other day. He suggested I put the matter in the hands of my Master of the Hounds.

I am a pheasant plucker apparently even though i failed to tick the Opera box. No doubt Naam flies into Italy twice a year for his dose of Elite culture.

i missed the culture plus points except listening to classical music including italian operas. but i haven't been to Italy since 1993 when i got (very politely) arrested at 0600hrs and released at 0915hrs with 10 minutes of (very politely) excuses "mila scusi signore, youra nama isa very similare to one ofa de tedeschi Badere-Meinhofe terrorista. anda only whena Roma headquartere switcheda ona de computere at hore nina we founda outa that youra data of birtha is molto differente."

sitting full three hours in police station with a crying wife consoled by a lady police officer but also several cups of great espresso and some fresh croissants.

Yes... I was commiserating with my Gamekeeper about that very thing
just the other day. He suggested I put the matter in the hands of my
Master of the Hounds.

Now, now old boy, it's Master of Fox Hounds (MFH).... of which there are 163 in N.America, see map below for distribution in USA. Just goes to
show that the class system is alive and well globally, be it UK, USA or
even Thailand.
url="http://www.mfha.org/hunts-map.html"]http://www.mfha.org/hunts-map.html[/url]

vhen i told my wife zat i am "british elite" it took her kvite zome time to stop the hysterical laughter vhich confused my dogs.

Yes... I was commiserating with my Gamekeeper about that very thing just the other day. He suggested I put the matter in the hands of my Master of the Hounds.

The Master of the Hounds has been put out to pasture, due to those damned interfering Socialist types who banned fox-hunting, don't yer know.

I took the test and all it said was..."You are obviously from the US."

I think it's impossible to be "elite" on that test if you live in Pattaya.

I think it's impossible to be "elite" on that test if you live in Pattaya.

I think it's impossible to be elite in ANY test if you live in Pattaya!

I think it's impossible to be "elite" on that test if you live in Pattaya.

I think it's impossible to be elite in ANY test if you live in Pattaya!

Yeah the only "opera" I'll be attending is watching Somchai watch a Thai soap opera at the billiards hall. Museums you say? Does Ripley's count?

Jomtien is the new Shoreditch.....

Jomtien is the new Shoreditch.....

Instead of Shoreline?

And it's possible to be 'elite', even in Pattaya, if you have one of Taksin's old cards. Whatever happened to that scheme? Was it ever officially abandoned, or just die a natural death?

Jomtien is the new Shoreditch.....

Instead of Shoreline?

And it's possible to be 'elite', even in Pattaya, if you have one of Taksin's old cards. Whatever happened to that scheme? Was it ever officially abandoned, or just die a natural death?

That's not elite, HB, even though they call it that; it's just filthy rich.