Why does society hate lower class persons?

[Sanghyeok]

"Unintelligent", "lazy", "dirty". There are no lack of negative adjectives with which people around us often describe the poor and working class in our society. Studies have shown that we consistently have negative views of the less fortunate, often attributing their failure to having poor work ethic or addictions despite evidence to the contrary, and even claiming they don't deserve to be paid a minimum wage. Classism, defined by Oxford dictionary as "prejudice against or in favor of people belonging to a particular social class," seems prevalent in our society, particularly against the poor. So, NSG, what is the cause of such discrimination and what can be done?

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I think much of the hatred towards lower class persons has been intentionally spread by capitalists to turn "middle class" people against their lower class fellows, breaking class solidarity and benefitting the top of society's pyramid by causing infighting.

[Borderlands of Rojava]

Because they want the world to be just. They want to pretend that people are only poor and are only criminals because they're stupid because then they can say the system is fine as is and not horrific and cruel.

[The Reformed American Republic]

Because then poor people's demands for a more just society can be dismissed if the powers that be install the idea that they're just lazy in people's heads.

[Whitemore]

It's pretty simple, it's because of the hundreds of years of Propaganda pushed by the Upper Class to divide and pin Society against the people who make everything.

[Westacaucasus]

not relying on capitalist education which is basically propaganda in favor of the status quo, instead, doing your own research from reliable academic sources should be encouraged if we want to curb the divide and rule policy.

[Disgraces]

Those are right wingers tho

[Alcala-Cordel]

The bourgeoisie hate the lower classes because they feel superior and the people below them don't do as their told, and lots of lowe class people hate other lower class people so as to help maintain the system. A divided people can't fight their oppressors nearly as well, so they create false soldidarity through race and borders as well as telling them that they too can become bourgeois if they try harder than their lazy peers.

[Sanghyeok]

Those are right wingers tho

There are certainly still some classist liberals, although I do think right-wing parties are a bit more open about their dislike of the poor.

[Major-Tom]

I feel like that's too easy a question, the real question is how can we stop all these fellow working-class people from being duped into believing that they're somehow not working class? That there is an American Dream for them to chase? That's what I'd like to know.

[Sanghyeok]

I feel like that's too easy a question, the real question is how can we stop all these fellow working-class people from being duped into believing that they're somehow not working class? That there is an American Dream for them to chase? That's what I'd like to know.

I agree I asked a rather broad question, but I know there will be people who even dispute our answer here. Some of them might say classism exists due to different reasons, while others may deny it altogether.

[Major-Tom]

I feel like that's too easy a question, the real question is how can we stop all these fellow working-class people from being duped into believing that they're somehow not working class? That there is an American Dream for them to chase? That's what I'd like to know.

I agree I asked a rather broad question, but I know there will be people who even dispute our answer here. Some of them might say classism exists due to different reasons, while others may deny it altogether.

Sure, I'm not dismissing your question at all, it's still an important one. But elitism is simpler than it seems, in my view at least.

[Bombadil]

There is a lot of need for personal self-esteem through:

a: thinking you're responsible for your position in life, thus so are others.. ergo you are better than them
b: identifying with those you perceive to be above you by distancing yourself from those below

So though these are certainly seized upon by various interests to achieve whatever it is they want to achieve - they start from the individual. It's also why a more equal society is a happier society.

[Repubblica Fascista Sociale Italiana]

Iteration number one-hundred something of this same exact thread premise

To restate my answer every time this thread is posted, a combination of just world fallacy combined with outdated concepts like the American Dream

The concept of the American Dream was developed in a time where one could basically pack their bags and go west, find a plot of land, and become rich, doesn’t apply anymore

[Resilient Acceleration]

Well, I guess human psychology. There are studies that measures the relationship between income and happiness, and it found that happiness (or more importantly, unhappiness) is heavily correlated with your income/wealth in comparison to your peers. You're not happier with a monthly salary of $1mn if your colleague, neighbor, or fellow club member make $5mn.

But this suggests that the reverse is also true, and especially if you feel that you've personally put high effort in advancing your career. Whether your put more effort than the ordinary retail worker or not is irrelevant since you'd have no idea of knowing.

[Comerciante]

I figured it's a distraction.

If we put down those people less fortunate then us, we can distract ourselves from considering our own crappy positions. It's easier to.

[Alcala-Cordel]

On a related note, when the United States was increasing its dependence on slavery many of the lower classes sympathized with them. The wealthy slaveowners regognized that and begain telling white sharecroppers that they were above their black comrades and furthered institutionalized racism by worsening the conditions of the slaves.

[Alcala-Cordel]

Iteration number one-hundred something of this same exact thread premise

To restate my answer every time this thread is posted, a combination of just world fallacy combined with outdated concepts like the American Dream

The concept of the American Dream was developed in a time where one could basically pack their bags and go west, find a plot of land, and become rich, doesn’t apply anymore

It was only a dream then, too. Most people who went west didn't get rich, and the competition for new land was fierce.

[Comerciante]

I'd also say it's safer to talk trash about people beneath you then it is about people above you. Talk shit about the old dude sitting in an alley, what's he gonna do? talk shit about your boss? or your bosses boss? You'll be joining that dude in the alley soon enough.

[Valentine Z]

Reminds me of this story of a CEO and a Janitor/Custodian.

If a CEO does not come to office for a day and his place is locked, there is little to no issue. You can simply chime him in via conference call and have a meeting as per normal if he is needed. Ahh, then when the Janitor does not show up for work just for 30 mins, the whole place is screwed. No one to clean or unlock the toilets, the former no one else wanting to do.

I would call them physical work (or blue collar as the official definition), but they are by no means low-class or unworthy/dumb/lazy/whatever they are going with. I really do love schools and places that appreciate janitors/custodians for the many jobs that they have done over the days. Cleaning by itself is a skill - there is a difference between a cleaner that is thorough and efficient, and ones who are not, and we probably only appreciate that difference if the toilet has gone down the crapper (i.e. got super dirty).

And not to mention most of them are very down-to-Earth if you open up to them, which can be as simple as a small genuine smile to them and appreciating their work. It's unfortunate that they got called low-class, but hey, these "low-class" people are the reason your bathrooms are clean, and trash cleared on a daily basis! ♥

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Reminds me of this story of a CEO and a Janitor/Custodian.

If a CEO does not come to office for a day and his place is locked, there is little to no issue. You can simply chime him in via conference call and have a meeting as per normal if he is needed. Ahh, then when the Janitor does not show up for work just for 30 mins, the whole place is screwed. No one to clean or unlock the toilets, the former no one else wanting to do.

I would call them physical work (or blue collar as the official definition), but they are by no means low-class or unworthy/dumb/lazy/whatever they are going with. I really do love schools and places that appreciate janitors/custodians for the many jobs that they have done over the days. Cleaning by itself is a skill - there is a difference between a cleaner that is thorough and efficient, and ones who are not, and we probably only appreciate that difference if the toilet has gone down the crapper (i.e. got super dirty).

And not to mention most of them are very down-to-Earth if you open up to them, which can be as simple as a small genuine smile to them and appreciating their work. It's unfortunate that they got called low-class, but hey, these "low-class" people are the reason your bathrooms are clean, and trash cleared on a daily basis! ♥

This! Always respect the custodial staff, for they are vital to the function of society.

[UniversalCommons]

Because a large percentage of the population of people is sociopathic or psychotic. It is easier to be reckless and take advantage of the poor then other populations. It is easy to see manipulation and reckless behavior as hatred. It is more taking advantage of people because of their situation and keeping them down so they can take more advantage.

[Saiwania]

Most people here have given crap reasons for why the poor are hated. Class conflict goes both ways, only the rich and middle classes broadly speaking, have more resources or leverage to get their way over poor people. Poverty exists to begin with, because simply put; people are unequal in terms of outcomes or capabilities and effort and so on. It is arguably one of those problems with no solution. Like how nations want to occasionally go to war with eachother every so often.

[Alcala-Cordel]

Reminds me of this story of a CEO and a Janitor/Custodian.

If a CEO does not come to office for a day and his place is locked, there is little to no issue. You can simply chime him in via conference call and have a meeting as per normal if he is needed. Ahh, then when the Janitor does not show up for work just for 30 mins, the whole place is screwed. No one to clean or unlock the toilets, the former no one else wanting to do.

I would call them physical work (or blue collar as the official definition), but they are by no means low-class or unworthy/dumb/lazy/whatever they are going with. I really do love schools and places that appreciate janitors/custodians for the many jobs that they have done over the days. Cleaning by itself is a skill - there is a difference between a cleaner that is thorough and efficient, and ones who are not, and we probably only appreciate that difference if the toilet has gone down the crapper (i.e. got super dirty).

And not to mention most of them are very down-to-Earth if you open up to them, which can be as simple as a small genuine smile to them and appreciating their work. It's unfortunate that they got called low-class, but hey, these "low-class" people are the reason your bathrooms are clean, and trash cleared on a daily basis! ♥

This! Always respect the custodial staff, for they are vital to the function of society.

Exactly, the world wouldn't run without janitors, garbagemen, construction workers, truckers, and all the other "low" jobs. The bourgeois are horrible all around, but there's no excuse for looking down on a fellow proletarian for their job. We're all just people trying to get by.

[Western Fardelshufflestein]

Bourgeois just refers to the middle class; the term in question is bourgeoisie, which, while it can refer to the middle class, also refers to the people who have most of the wealth/means of production. The latter could be used to refer to the capitalist elite, while the former is just for the middle class.

[Cordel One]

Bourgeois just refers to the middle class; the term in question is bourgeoisie, which, while it can refer to the middle class, also refers to the people who have most of the wealth/means of production. The latter could be used to refer to the capitalist elite, while the former is just for the middle class.

Bourgeois is the singular term for bourgeoisie as well.