this post was submitted on 22 Jan 2024
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[–] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 26 points 9 months ago (2 children)

That's a definition of "working class" but not generally what people outside certain academic contexts mean when they say that phrase; using the more common definition does not indicate "confusion about your class status."

[–] Neato@ttrpg.network 35 points 9 months ago (1 children)

As with many terms describing social class, working class is defined and used in many different ways. One definition, used by many socialists, is that the working class includes all those who have nothing to sell but their labour. These people used to be referred to as the proletariat. In that sense, the working class today includes both white and blue-collar workers, manual and menial workers of all types, excluding only individuals who derive their livelihood from business ownership and the labour of others.

Emphasis mine. I'm not sure how the OP differs in this definition. If you HAVE to work to survive, you aren't earning a livelihood from ownership and the labor of others (passive income).

[–] iopq@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

So the poor CEO making a few million a year who is only selling his labor to the company, is working class. The guy who retired at 70 is upper class because he's living off his investments

[–] Neato@ttrpg.network 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Only if he needs that job. But he probably has enough stock options he could retire.

[–] iopq@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

So now some random office worker with stock options is upper class? Tech companies often offer them as part of compensation, not sure about other ones

[–] Kichae@lemmy.ca 7 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Buying into strategic labour divisions perpetuated by the ownership class for their benefit does not convey a comprehension of the language.

[–] hakase@lemm.ee 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah, insisting on using a nonstandard definition exclusive to a tiny minority of speakers, so that you can then talk past your interlocutor, wasting both of your time until they finally realize you're intentionally being an uncooperative speaker, makes way more sense. 🙄

I guess at least this way you get to feel a smug, undeserved sense of superiority in the process though, so who's to say which way is really better.

[–] the_post_of_tom_joad@sh.itjust.works 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Ok ok guys let's drop the 5 dollar words eh? Im rate limited i can't be looking up all this shit.

But for real b, "working class" means you exchange your time for money, no cap. White collar vs blue collar shit is designed to separate the working class yo. Looky here, we like wikipedia right? Lemme link that shit

Members of the working class rely exclusively upon earnings from wage labour; thus, according to more inclusive definitions, the category can include almost all of the working population of industrialized economies, as well as those employed in the urban areas of non-industrialized economies or in the rural workforce

Now if you wanna argue the point, sure it can and does mean what youre talking about, but if you take a minute to think about it, which distinction makes sense?

Both definitions are alright, i personally think the inclusive definition is best, but everyone should be aware of both so we can all know what the heck the other's talking bout