hey.. how would u guys define lower, middle and upper class

Well, I was kinda kidding. The Dutch don't have much of a class system really, at least not nearly as strongly as in the UK. Dutch people won't accept or respect it. We did manage to shake it off, although not completely. That probably takes a whole lot longer.

 

Over here they are normally guys who couldn't do anything else, and couldn't get into a better high school.
That being said, my family would prefer it if I brought home a poor, University educated man with a more respectable job (although not paid well), than a very rich car repair guy.
But then again, we are just snobby like that.

 

you guys ever consider that it could also be due to the huge difference in the number of cars in the U.S. as compared to Europe?
That has a lot to do with it.
I have known two people who built auto repair shops into multi-million dollar a year business based on volume.
Maybe you guys don't see that kind of $$$ for mechanics simply because there are not enough cars to support mechanics making that much $$$.

Remember, sadly here in the U.S. cars probably outnumber people.

It is funny how the members here from Europe seem to always forget to consider the HUGE differences in our respective populations. It makes a lot of differences in everything.

and yes, here in America class (as defined for this thread) is determined by financial status, not social status.

 

low class: Braddock Pa.
middle class : Perry Hill Top Pa.
upper class: Mt Lebanon Pa.

Google will help u..

 

The number of cars per person is probably more relevant. Most people I know here in the Netherlands have at least one car. Most families of 2-4 have at least 2 cars.

 

That's probably the main difference. Education and family background (good families) matter here a lot.

That is true.

 

Wow. I wouldn't be giving a single thought to what my family prefers. My relationship = my choices. None of them care about what guys do for a living, but one side is incredibly racist. I rarely talk to them, and give zero fucks what they think though.

 

That's because in Europe (at least in the UK and Germany) mechanics are paid hourly or salary. In the US, it's called flat rate. Which means you charge the customer the book time for a given job, if it calls for 6 hours and you do it in 3, you just beat the book and made twice as much. On the flip side if it takes you 9.. you just lost your ass.

If you fuck up cars all the time you will have no business as word of mouth gets around. If you are good at what you do, you will have more business than you can handle and the sky is the limit as to what you make. My shop has 3 technicians and we do $100-150,000 in sales every month. The operating costs is around $60,000.

Cars are very complicated now, the new BMWs connect via satellite to all the computers on the car to do diagnostic work. Anyone who thinks auto techs who are doing serious work on new cars are not smart, is ignorant to the entire industry.

 

Of course I care about what my family thinks....

 

Respectable in what sense? That he gets dirty? I have a university degree but choose to do this. My dad's a jeweler, my mom's a university professor.. Part of the reason I like it is because it weeds out the pretentious females that date based upon occupation. My mom was always embarrassed to tell her colleagues what her son does. I don't need any of that bs in my life, I'd rather do what is stable and I enjoy and find a woman that loves me not my job.

 

Ah well.
Different strokes for different folks.

 

Very true. There is a stigma attached to the industry which used to bother me a lot more, especially when I lived in DC where everyone is white collar. Now I don't really give a shit. And it's funny.. a lot of my friends who were on top of the world 10 years ago lost their jobs, their houses, and now work in $30k per year type jobs. I'm just stacking my chips in a bad economy to get into some form of entrepreneurship which I feel is the only real avenue to true financial independence.

 

Well you are not concerned about what people think, and you are surrounded with like-minded people, so yeah, that's great. I also don't think my way of thinking is wrong, because usually people who want the same things end up together. It's just important to be honest about what one likes and wants.

 

I live in the 2nd richest county in FL.. most people here have the same attitude as you. I'll be at an upscale bar or something and they find out I'm a mechanic and are like 'huh?'

I was just raised by a snobby mom who taught me how to interact very well with rich people, I'm good with money, and I'm good at twisting wrenches.

And I'm not trying to change your mind or anything, I just look at it this way. I'd rather have a woman who was there and stuck by me before I had shit, that way I know she loves me and isn't married to me for security. It's already a little late for that now but I still get blown off by some once they find out what I do mon-fri.

Edit: I should say I'm good with investments. I blow the shit out of money most of the time.

 

Class system is pretty fucked up is my conclusion,although sometimes I fall back on being "middle-class" as a kind of compensatory ego boost when I feel I have nothing,to give me the feeling I have a place or role in society,when I am basically a misfit.I grew up in a "working-class" area and fell in with some bad kids,and into my teens this progressed,but my family are "middle-class" so I would come home and be acclimatised to a "middle-class" culture,so I feel pretty schizophrenic about the whole class issue.Also I think the UK there is more of a difference between working-class and middle-class accents than in the USA,so my accent will change depending on who I'm talking to,not consciously but automatically.This also means you are identified here by your accent,which is another fucked up thing.I just want lots of money basically.

 

In fact,I'll qualify that last statement...I don't really need the money,I just need purpose in life and someone to share it with.

 

the library has computers so that you can get online. they are free to everyone in the town, even them lowly poor people.

the categories could change from country to country also, unless you just generalize about the whole world and say... poor is not enough to get food, middle is having a job, and rich is having your money work for you.

 

Wow..... I see a 'pop up' of this forum and join because I liked the color, Lurk before hand to see what its like, Decide to join and my first post im told 'im the lowest class person on the stick'. I think it will be a short stay here.

BTW I do have thick skin, Im on pirate 4x4 all day and go to general chit chat and see whats up. I thought it was a tad harsh but I guess more my style.

Over here its great, At times, But for the most part I have done more than well some would say.
Deviate pretty much summed it up and what I find the funniest, We are shit to you, Until you 'need' us.

My family has a great name. My great grandfather made moon and was one of the first to have the fed's come for him. His son's and daughters did the same growing up.

Grandfather came back from WWII and started a dealership and it has been ran by all sons who went on their own to his grandson 'me'. It was also my 'choice' to do it, I have a bank account that will never be $0, I guess if bragging on here is the norm, Im a silver spoon/trust fund 'kid'.

I have 'toys' that I purposely try and break and the sum in that vehicle would most likely let a couple if not a few on here from the poll 'retire'.
I do it for the fun and to see if I could. There is no toy that I own that's not paid for in full, Just like my house.

Guess the modern 'hippy' is a fucking prep from high school as we called them and they found each other here. Funny thing is, When the knuckles meet the jaw is where neither is better and I learned fast how to put them away hard.

I guess you better hope you're car never breaks down on the side of the road and talk like that to any who stops unless you are wearing good running shoes.

 

Art Garfunkel has an advanced degree in math from Columbia. He could have been a university professor and become part of the upper middle class but would have made less money.

He forged a less establishment-oriented path as a working-class pop musician and made millions.

Take your pick of whatever class you think he should have been in that seems better to you. Or perhaps neither seems any better.

 

At my age, To be 'set' for life IMO is pretty good. I hate the fact I didn't 'have' to work for it, But chose to. I never 'flaunt' my $$, I live in a humble house and I myself, Hate new cars but own many at the cost dig of the high and mighty.

Didn't mean to offend a woman about knuckles/jaw comment, I did not know it was a woman. But just a saying that neither is better money or anything for that matter. Sorry either way

Yep, Very funny how the ball rolls no matter where in the world you are.