Why are some people convinced that wealth automaticly makes them a better person ?.

Do you think it does, or do the wealthy just ride on the backs of the working classes ?
If there were no working classes,how would the wealth of these so called better people be generated ?.

Not true in many cases. A lot of rich people get that way by A) working damn hard and B) being inventive and imaginative. You really can't take anything away from these people.

Having said that, you do find plenty of snobby people in Sheffield who've inherited their money, married into it or been succesful on the back of their parents. How you can look down on other people when every privelege you've got has been given rather than earned is beyond me. I find it very easy to fall out with this sort...

I agree on both counts there.

If wealthy people think that, then they are deluding themselves! Some people respect them because they have power obviously. Others may envy their wealth, and some may suck up to them cause wealthy people can sometimes make things happen for you but respect per se? Nah. And I think in their heart of hearts people with dosh kinda know this.

A few things here. Firstly, wealth doesn't always define class, so don't confuse the two. e.g. a working class person from a council estate could manage to land a well paid job or win the lottery, but wouldn't suddenly become middle class. Conversely, a middle class person might be made redundant from their management post, or they may own a business which has gone bankrupt, but wouldn't suddenly become working class. Don't always assume money and social class go hand in hand, even if it is usually the case.

Furthermore, at the risk of sounding like the PC brigade, you are making generalisations about wealthy people. If a wealthy person made generalisations about poorer people, e.g. all people on council estates are vandals and layabouts, then that person would be persecuted and told not to generalise. It has to work both ways, so don't generalise about wealthy people - some are nice, some aren't.

Lastly, I fail to see the specific relevance to Sheffield in this thread? Maybe a moderator should move it to General Chit Chat.

Wealth isn't and should not be regarded as the only symbol of how succesful you are in life. We'd all like to be wealthy, but often circumstances get in the way, and some of the nicest people end up in poverty for reasons beyond their control. An ex neighbour of mine had a child with severe mental disabilities, which meant that she had to give up work to care for it. Under the strain of those circumstances, her marriage broke down, and she's left with nothing in terms of money. Yet she still cares for her child. In contrast, you get the complete spanner who gets a new car every birthday from mummy and daddy, and a healthy house deposit to set them up in a nice area, and they act like they're royalty. I know which person is the better of the two.

Originally posted by t020
Furthermore, at the risk of sounding like the PC brigade, you are making generalisations about wealthy people. If a wealthy person made generalisations about poorer people, e.g. all people on council estates are vandals and layabouts, then that person would be persecuted and told not to generalise. It has to work both ways, so don't generalise about wealthy people - some are nice, some aren't.


I actually agree with t020 on this. And I'm not being rude tango2, but maybe your attitude towards wealthy people could do with a re-evaluation? Not all people with money are idiotic and care soley about their wealth, and look down upon those who do not have money. Many are thoughtful, caring, generous and wise. Can you blame the person who is born into money for having wealth they didn't work for? No - in the same way you cannot blame the person who is born into squalor for poverty they do not deserve... it's what's inside that counts. Surely!

Wealth, in the true sense of the word, can be defined as being in a comfortable and healthy financial position. But give me a jackpot lottery win and it would ruin my life: I simply would not know how to handle the fame and the money.

A nice £250,000 win would be nice, I could cope with that. No more financial worries. No more overtime at work. Just steady.

I don't want to be wealthy. I just want carry on as I am.

Personality is more important than wealth (or lack of it). Idiots come from all walks of life.

And can we not talk about people in terms of class? It's awfully Victorian, and I don't think it's a good idea to stereotype in this way.

I earn a low wage, but I haven't many outgoings, which means I can do what I want when I want. My job is also quite low pressure, so in a way I've got the best of both worlds. The only thing that'll ruin it is a wife and kids!;)

Sorry but it was meant to be wealth in sheffield,my mistake.

I was not having a go at any paticular class of people,it was a general question regarding a topic that was raised with myself today.
Respect is due for both classes,I know in general the middle classes have in most cases worked very hard to to get where they are,they also continue to do so to maintain the standards.
This also goes for the working classes,in both cases you will also get the odd arse,but the attitude towards the working classes can be somewhat down putting.
Even on this forum I have seen occassions where certain classes have been pigeon holed,people have assumed all working classes live on council estates and all wealthy people live in paticular areas.

Wealth is nothing to do with it, you generate respect by the way you live and the example you give to the World. If a rich person lives an evil life then no amount of money will make them a decent human being!!!

Originally posted by halevan
Wealth is nothing to do with it, you generate respect by the way you live and the example you give to the World. If a rich person lives an evil life then no amount of money will make them a decent human being!!!


That is so true

Yay! We're all in harmonious agreement on this thread! Group hug!