I am currently working in a small shop in a working class area, working with working (no ****) class people. It is quite an experience, as I consider myself middle class in many respects.
From the outset I must say that most of the working class are genuine, friendly, hard working and sincere people. However, there are some glaring disparities between them and us middle class people.
Very few have received further education, let alone higher education. Gaining a grade C at A level in a soft subject is treated as winning a Nobel prize. The few who have received a university education seem to have attended low ranked unis, almost as low as the class and rigour of the subject they got their degree in. Everyone seems to have a tattoo. So much that it's noticeable. There is only so much skin that is tatooable, sadly for some people it seems. Everyone seems to smoke like it's the 1940s and the medical opinion is that smoking is advantageous to ones health. People seem to have multiple kids outside of marriage. If there is a marriage, it is done in a registry office, not a church of course, keeping up the centuries old tradition. Then there is high rates of home ownership. By that I mean the landlord or housing association who actually owns the home that's rented
. There seems to be gambling on the scale of Las Vegas, yet taking the form of punts on a scratch card "scratchie", where any meager winnings are instantly recycled and lost. Then we come to the diet. People seem to be addicted to fast food. Someone needs to tell them that the 5 a day is not a reference to 5 carcinogens a day. I didn't know this but it seems the more artificial flavours and flavours, the better you know. Fresh fruit and vegetables can illicit an allergic reaction. Then there's the obsession with social networks and reality TV...
I could go on and on. It's just been such an eye opener to me, a BBC 2 viewing, non-Poundland frequenting, Russell Group educated lad from the leafy suburbs.