The Caste System? Self Induced?

[Sparky Kronkite]

The Caste System. Or, a system of Caste.

Most Americans would say that it/one doesn't exist here in the US. My hunch is that most people, from all parts of the world might say that too. Then again they probably all think about Caste as it pertains to Indian/Hindu society, a very harsh example of Caste.

Caste; over simply is - social classes with distinct separations via birth, blood and profession.

Nope, really don't have one here in the US - we can't - right? It's against the law. Well, yeah but…….

Let's talk about "social comfort" - who "you" are comfortable hanging around with. Your chosen peers. This is self-induced but it manifests itself in a unique little Caste system - that you (the one who creates it) lives out your life under.

Living in Manhattan and formerly (still part-time) in DC - and working in my profession, which is basically, creative technical services in the communications, news/entertainment end of things - I rub elbows with all different types of folks. From the richest of the rich, to the folks who work the street. From the biggest egos on the planet, to the most humble.

In a professional atmosphere - I must attempt to maintain comfortable communications - with anyone involved in what I am doing professionally - with a wide variety of individuals.

When I'm not working (being way less that professional) and hanging out with "friends," whom I can choose - the variety of people I must communicate with is greatly paired down. I work hard, I work long hours - the stress in working with some folks can be very difficult. So in my very miniscule amounts of "free time" (whatever that phrase means) I like hanging with - you guessed it - ah come'on didn't you? With folks more like me. It's more comfortable.

And this is interesting - since, when I'm off and I prefer comfort, hanging around with comfortable people of my choosing - as opposed to hanging out with folks that may produce stress in me - this then works to the "detriment" of my professional career. Essentially I pass up opportunity after opportunity, "to hang" at cocktail parties for instance, with some pretty high rollers - actually some really high rollers, you see them on the nightly news nearly every night - and what do I do? I generally try to steer away from'em.

Why? Again, it's simple - comfort or lack of it. I don't feel comfortable making small sports talk, or small political talk, or any small talk with people I don't feel comfortable with. I like to make "big" talk - and it usually scares people.

So, the big question is - why can I impress these folks in the professional arena and yet feel so uncomfortable in the social arena? What is it about them? Or is it about me? Or both?

I just don't trust them. I've seen too much. Heard to many things I'm not supposed to hear.

On the surface many of these folks are great, which makes professional communications with them easy (but that's on the surface) - and most were once "regular folks" which you can easily see within them frequently and like what you see. And as for professionally, these folks are usually outstanding. They didn't get where they are by being non-professional.

But deep down, over time (most of these folks aren't exactly young) they have changed - and they are clueless to any changes at all. They are all guarded. They are secretly secular. And it's interesting - they don't easily trust themselves either - not socially. Yet they hang together in a common bond…….. money!

And guess what Mr. Thor? And everyone else who is just so, so happy with the way things are……….

They run everything!

And this is where the Caste system is - where it is working - and where it will continue to work - until some grand upheaval exposes it.

 

[Aranian]

I think groups of people hanging about with others of their profession hardly constitute a caste system. Social classes are largely in the eye of the beholder.

 

[CreamyLady]

I'm afraid Marx and Engels are going to need a really good PR person, Sparky, to upset the class system (I don't like caste; many of these people weren't born to it).

I worked in a law firm once; a recent Secretary of State was the managing partner. He was professionally pleasant; one of the few member of the firm who was not a complete putz to the staff.

Professionally pleasant was as far as it went. That guardedness, and an almost deliberate distancing, did much to put me off him as a human being, and I was not overjoyed when he was named as Secretary of State, either.

I'm socially introverted, and prefer my own company, or the company of a very few people, to large groups. You could say I'm selective; you could also say, with perfect truth, that I'm a snob.

But if comfort is what allows me to digest my food properly, and maintain mental health, I'll go with comfort.

 

[Myrrdin]

I think what you were trying to say Sparky. Is that you would rather be a big fish in a small pool , than a small fish in a big pool.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Agree me Lady of Cream....

I guess I too could be a snob - in it's purest form.

Strange though how society measures success (or seeming success) as it relates to "who you know" or "who you hang with." Look at Sean Combs. Look at the mentor system. All the mentor's I've known and all the stories about them relate to, basically - secrets to deal with this invisible Caste system.

By the way - I've worked with a couple of former S of S's (HB for one) - and same deal - this "distance." However, I often get very, very close to them - very small private weddings (I've been the videographer) - backstage, in green rooms - in people's homes and their bedrooms wiring up all kinds of electronic gizmos - driving with them, sometimes long distances in foreign countries, to the airport - and even though conversation can often get rather intimate - "my daughters fucking a security guy" - "that bitch trustee, daughter of a former President is as dumb as they come" - "is it true so'n'so is fucking so'n'so behind so'n'so's back? In a little stairwell office behind the Rotunda guard station?" That kind of stuff.

But when it comes to really talkin' deep shit, alone over a bottle of Jack - it just don't happen.

I guess I'll never be left in any rich persons will. Shit!

 

[CreamyLady]

The thing is, I didn't want to be his good buddy or best friend or anything like it. I just wanted a glimpse of a human being, an acknowledgement, if you will, that his pants were put on one leg at a time.

It just didn't happen, and the deliberate denial of the humanity of self, and others, is frightening. It turns people into objects, and objects are disposable.

THAT is what is really scary.

 

[Sparky Kronkite]

Interesting -

That's, I think, exactly where I diverge, from the majority - putting ones pants on - you see, I don't ever wonder if they put there pants on one leg at a time - because there is no doubt in my mind - I absolutely know that they do. I know they sit on the pot and they stink up the bathroom - and that they pick their nose - and that they look ugly fat - and can have bad breath. I don't give a crap who the hell it is - anybody - that's the way I think of them.

Sittin' on the shitter.