Exploring Social Class in the U.S.

How much do you think social class matters in the U.S. today?

After reading through the stories on the "People Like Us" page I was suprised to find someone who lived similarly to me. Karen's father was in the military and traveled around the world, she also had to change her social status which each move and she moved to Western PA and then to a VA suburb, both of which my family did too. One difference is my dad was enlisted and her dad was an officer so we didn't do country clubs in PA. I think social class matters a great deal in the U.S. today. Unfortunately I wish it didn't. Even though Karen's father moved to VA and couldn't afford to do the more expensive things they did in PA they would've still looked at my family differently because at that time my father hadn't graduated from college. Before retiring after 20 years, he finally recieved his B.S., took a job consulting at the Pentagon and moved into the upper middle class. Although he enjoys some luxuries, coming from a working class he knows what it is like and doesn't believe in giving in to social class boundaries and enjoys the company of people on all levels of the social classes.

Changing Social Connections?

Do you think Americans today are more isolated due to technology?

I'm not sure I would believe that Americans are more isolated due to technology. In fact, technology gives people the ability to communicate to those who they would otherwise lose ties with. In fact, even agoraphobics and introverts alike can maintain friendships without leaving the comfort of their home or physically engaging in social functions. There will always be people that would rather stay in on a Friday night and play with video games than hang out at a social gathering but these types of people have existed even before technology is where its at today.

The Criminal Justice System

Do you see some of the proposed solutions (such as community policing or shaming) as good ideas for dealing with crime in the U.S?

I think they proposed solutions are good ideas for other countries but would be hard to implement in the U.S. Japan, with one of the lowest crime rates in the world, have been using the shaming principle as part of their heritage. The U.S. is a melting pot of different religions, ethnicities and backgrounds and, especially in urban areas, shaming would be near impossible. I think community policing may work in the smaller communities and in more rural or suburban areas of the U.S. but I'm not sure how well it will work in the urban areas. Neighborhood Watch has been a successful program in many suburban areas in the U.S.

Nature vs. Nurture and Socialization

I agree nature is a factor in determing the evolution of human thinking but would side with the nurture side as the main ingredient. More often than not good, honest, trustworthy people come from wholesome families that have a strong influence on the individual's personal growth. Individuals who are raised in a less than great atmosphere or who are raised by their peers may be more likely to have social or violence issues. Nature will, of course, take its course and a child will turn into a man or woman with different thinking and thought processes but how that person was raised will determine the way he or she thinks.

Understanding How American Culture Looks to Outsiders

The BBC clips shows that Americans are full of themselves and create music that really has no meaning. I'm not really sure of the comedic properties of the British guy punching the American...does he hate Americans? Or does he hate American music? I would seem to think that Brits find the American culture annoying, we have so many fads in America and do so many things that irritate other countries.