Tuesday 2 October 2001

Pic of the day: Talking with someone who understands me. Screenshot from The Sims, since it rarely happens in real life ...

Got class?

"If you hadn't been single, you'd be working class" as my ever insightful friend SuperWoman informed me once upon a time. Ah, but I am, and I guess this places me in the lowest possible middle class.

Today, as I took a walk in the lunch break, I reflected on the stereotypes of social class. Does such a beast really exist, except in the feverished minds of the few remaining marxists? And if it does, has the reality any similarity to our stereotypes?

***

They do stand out. Especially around the middle. The guys look like they're 12 months pregnant, with their enormous beer bellies. They're unshaven; not like they try to grow a beard, they just happen to forget to shave unless it's the weekday where they have sex. (Usually Friday, I think.) Their clothes are shabby, but I guess they should consider themselves lucky to have clothes at all with that untrendy shape of theirs. So what if they don't have more than one set? They can always wear them every day until the weekend; a few ketchup stains have never hurt anyone.

It is the Norwegian underclass male. He starts out as working class, but at some time in his adult life he has to give up his attempts at working. Perhaps he gets some illness; perhaps he's just laid off and nobody needs a guy with no education and no contacts. Or at least they don't call him, and he has no idea where to go. So eventually he gets a disability pension. It doesn't happen when he's 20, but at 40 there is a good chance that he's out of the game. We don't need you, kiddo. Go home and drink your beer; that's what you do best anyway. Loser. (No, we don't say that. We don't need to.)

***

In contrast, you have the urban upper middle class. There are two age groups: Before and After. Those of the old economy wear suits, I suppose their peers can instantly recognize the suit and know how much they paid for it. They are well fed but without the beer belly, and a bit reluctant to walk too far from their plush car.

Those of the new economy are mostly younger; they are slim and trim and tan. They may sport some small amount of beard, just not enough to cover up their smiling faces. They wear informal clothes which just for some reason happen to cost quite a bit too. They come out of the coffee bars either two and two or talking in their mobile phone. They certainly have a car, but they're not afraid of parking it for hours at a time; they're in good shape, and they have no need to prove that they have money.

***

And as for my humble self, I sit on the lowest rung of the middle class ladder and dangle my legs over the abyss. I don't have the beer belly either, but there is definitely a swelling there. I wouldn't get into the most trendy clothes even if I could afford them. I do however wear those timeless classic clothes, or Marlboro Classic as they are actually labeled. Stuff like that. And while my face is almost always fuzzy or shady, I don't go to work with a full porcupine beard.

Back when I was younger, I wore only the cheapest clothes I could find, and I wore them till they started to fall apart. I would carry a plastic bag to work. Poor SuperGirl (she was just a girl at the time) was horrified, as was probably all of her upper middle class family. They spent quite a bit of time teaching me their brand of civilization. Some of it has stuck, at least for the time being.

I guess it was kind of illogical in their eyes, a genius in moron clothing. Oh, but then again I am not their type of genius. I must admit that I love talking to SuperWoman (and other smart people too, some of who are probably reading this. Hi!) - but there is a big difference. I consider thinking a goal in itself, not a way to earn money. I'd prefer to have a rather simple work, where my thoughts were free to fly. Farming served me well that way, because I was raised on a farm and knew most things without having to think. I could leave it all to my body, and let my spirit soar. But as you know, this path was denied me by my allergies at the very least. So I have to live by my brains. I don't overdo it, though! :)

Oh yes, you can convert smarts into money. It is not quite as easy here in Norway, because our tax regime punishes the intellectuals harshly. But it's still possible to make a good deal if you choose the right path. You must however be willing to pour a lot of brainpower into your job. If you're lucky, you still have enough left for some hobbies.

But do you have enough to realize that you're playing a role playing game, that you have chosen a class just like a gamer creates a character of "warrior class" or "thief class" or "druid class"? As all good gamers know, once you have chosen a class, it limits you. You have your strenghts, but you also have your weaknesses. You have to play along with the rules for your class.

Yes, the class society is frighteningly real - for those who believe in it. Think of it as a self fulfilling prophecy. And think of yourself as an eternal spirit, playing a role playing game on Earth.