I took this quiz ("inspired by American Enterprise Institute scholar Charles Murray's new book, "Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010," which explores the unprecedented, class-based cultural gap in America. How culturally isolated are you?") and scored a 13-to-16 out of a possible 20.
Those results mean that I don't even have a bubble. However, I'll admit I could not name the NASCAR guy. Maybe you can.
I would guess that most of my immediate co-workers are pretty bubble-free, as well. Of my less immediate State Department co-workers, and especially among the more rarefied types of FSO, I suspect the class-based cultural gap bubbles get much, much, thicker.
In my experience, a good quick indicator of class-based cultural position is whether or not a person can drive a stick-shift. (This test is not applicable in Europe, where manual transmissions are common, but it works just fine among Americans.) Pretty much the only stick-shift drivers left in America are blue collar men and rich old geezers. Cultural book-ends, as it were. The Mustang GT drivers, and the Porsche Club of America types.
By the way, most BMW drivers are excluded since the large majority of beemers on the road in America - or bimmers, to use their enthusiasts' preferred term for the BMW car versus the motorcycle - are automatics.
That automotive range pretty much defines my personal class-based cultural odyssey, as well. Having been born a Mustang guy, I am now shopping for an entry-level Porsche hobby car with which to entertain myself in my senior years.
18 comments:
TSB: Since I never bought an automatic and I can't remember anyone's name but i love Charles Murray I must be one of those bubble-free geezers always lookin for that "Free Bubbleup!"gwb
TSB: How are your cognitive elite readers supposed to find the quiz?
or does asking that question mean I will never find it? gwb
GWB: didn't the link ("this quiz") work for you?
The stick shift comment made me laugh. Interesting quiz.
oops! Thanks! I'm not cognitively impaired... I'm visually impaired!
gwb
TSB: I got 13-16 but I did cheat on the Nascar guy: I don't know who he is but I think his name might be Ricky! (lol) gwb
This quiz smacks of elitism in and of itself. I don't care if you have three PhDs and drive an Alfa Romeo, if you live in the South, you better get at least a 13 out of 20. Seems to me that bubble exists only in cities outside the South.
TSB: How did you celebrate Australia Day??
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2092021/Julia-Gillard-rescued-Australia-Day-Aboriginal-protesters-shes-dragged-safety.html
Julia told the Aborigines it was time for them to end the 40 year protest and then got a little backlash! I wonder how she would do on the 20 Questions? gwb
LeishaC,
I think you're right. The pickup question alone is a tip-off that the quiz was written by a Northern urbanite.
GWB: I had no idea it was Australia Day, or else I'd have celebrated with a Fosters.
TSB: Have a Fosters and take a look at those pictures of the Prime Minister! That has to be the oldest Occupy Movement on the planet. And how come no arrests?
gwb
I see it's called the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, so I maybe the occupiers have diplomatic immunity???
That would probably be it, but we should check with diplopundit. I was hoping to see some photos of these terrorists! (I'm picturing Zulu's with spears). Maybe they want a casino, and a Fosters named after them. gwb
Casinos sound like the perfect solution! The Aboriginals' actual demands are even bigger - they want ownership and oil/mineral rights to big parts of Australia. We should send advisers from our wealthier tribes to teach them how to work the much more lucrative tax-free angles.
Leisha's spot on - I'm from Arkansas and the only reason my score of 10 isn't more like 12-13 is because I've not spent more than a few weeks in Arkansas since I joined State (many of the things that have time limits on them I've done before, just not recently!).
Harrumph.
Hannah,
It's an unavoidable consequence of the Foreign Service. Living overseas will thicken your bubble over time.
Best wishes to you, and congratulations to Eric!
TSB: It was fun skimming thru the new "Coming Apart" kindle version last nite til it conked me in the head. It is amazing how different the world was in 1963 (when I was upper middle class and had everything in common with all kinds of people) compared to today when I can't figure out what is going on with anyone! What do you think so far? gwb
GWB: I haven't gotten to read it yet, but I agree with what I know of Murray's premise. However, I also think the fragmentation of the old common culture is not completely due to economic segmenting, but is also an effect of the information age.
The first half of the 20th Century had mass markets, mass communications (just three TV channels), mass manufacturing, etc., and all that brought about cultural homogenization. Today we have e-markets, 'narrowcasting' (podcasts and internet for self-selected news, hundreds of narrow-market cable channels, iPods for personalized music), etc., which breaks up the old common community. Today you can be your own community.
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