Blue collar vs. White collar
 

OKAY so I know I am going to stir up some stuff with this post, but one of my friends who I actually dated for a minute(blue collar guy) once said "My friends and I don't do well with blue collar types. We need to hang with apple-martini drinking yuppie types". ANYWAYS~~~~how do you all feel about dating someone who may not have obtained a degree or is not as "professional" as you may be? What do you think the likelihood is of the relationship working out? I think "opposites" may attract but you really need to have things in common for it to work in the long-run. Education is definately something that plays a crucial part in the relationship working in my opinion. (especially if one is educated and one isn't).

It just depends a lot on how you are and how they are. I've met some extremely couth people that didn't have their 4-year degrees and some very uncouth people that did have 4-year diplomas.

I think it's a good upbringing and not necessarily a decent education, people skills, etc. that lead to social sophistication (money doesn't hurt either). A 4-year degree assures you of none of those things. It helps though.

Education isn't as important as intelligence. I don't care if a guy has a PhD, if he doesn't get my jokes or can't have a decent conversation, in my eyes, he's stupid.

I don't think I would be happy dating "down" nor dating "up". Coming from an "intereducational" family, I can tell you that those differences are SIGNIFICANT. If you're up for a challenge, I'd say go for it. I'm currently not up for that challenge.

It's interesting because I have a close friend who is getting her PhD right now. Recently she has begun fighting a lot more with her boyfriend (a H.S. grad) because she feels he should be doing more with his life. He works on Wall St. doing trading. He complains about his job and hasn't really looked for anything else, is 35, and also has stated he really is not the "school type" which is fine. She feels that if HE doesn't get his act together (in her eyes) she is going to end things with him. I think it depends on the situation and what both partners are looking for out of life. I think that for the most part we tend to date people who have had similar experiences and educational background then we have.

One of my parents has significantly more education than the other. One has a white collar job, the other blue collar, however, they both make about the same of money. They've been happily married for over 25 years. I don't think it matters all that much.

It's not about I.Q. It's about E.Q.

A lot of times people cannot relate though if they haven't been through the same experiences. Case in point my "friend" who is always criticizing people who have more education and experience then him.

I also think sometimes people get stuck in a rut and unconciously are resentful of people who have gone on to better their lives.

In terms of making the same amount of money in blue collar vs. white collar, that can be annoying but what are you gonna do?

I work in a profession that will never get paid a lot of money. That is a whole other conversation though.

cosign. It's all about the ability to get along together well, not about nuclear fission.

All of the people on GC are blue collar except me.

-Rudey
--I'm white collar, and blue blooded *pops his collar*

Intelligence is hard to quantify, IQ is known to shift points plus the tests don't work well if the subject has experience of them. Nevertheless, intelligence is one of those things that many believe "I know it when I see it".

We've all probably heard phrases like "I've met plenty of people with doctorates who couldn't find their own ass with two hands and a flashlight. It doesn't mean a thing". I think yes, it can indicate intelligence but an absence of post HS qualifications doesn't simply mean the person wasn't intelligent enough to take formal education further. That's a fallacy.

There are all sorts of circumstantial issues you'd need to take into account. They may not have had the financial support to look at higher education, lack of supportive family etc. Or, a disillusionment with their high school and education generally which could mean if their experiences would've been different then they would have taken things further. Plus, many go back to school later as non-traditional (mature) students. It doesn't for a moment mean they've magically increased in intelligence and until that point weren't worth knowing by someone who had a certificate.

Moving forward, to the supposed class distinction viz. blue collar vs. white collar, I believe such classifications are merely arbitrary ways for one person to feel superior to another and perhaps indicative of people's underlying urge to be part of a unique 'tribe' or communuity. A sort of one-upmanship if you will.
Ktsnake's point was well made.
There are people who can move between these imaginary socio-economic stratas. You can have parents who work in construction/minor administrative work and end up as a futures trader or work your way up in the corporate world from a decidedly blue collar start.

I think a lot of chat about blue collar or white collar people is mere snobbery or inverted snobbery. Again, ktsnake highlighted the issues perspicuously.

I believe I said this already only in less words. A persons E.Q is often more important than their I.Q.

ETA: But you do make some very valid points.

^DORK!^ :p

I have never dated a blue collar guy. Pass the apple martinis. :)

Hey Noreen do you know the person who said that statement? I am not sure if you've been out to anything he has come to but he is the guy I told you about who told me he was on the NYPD but really is a campus police officer. LOL.

I don't think it matters at all.