Charles Murray has written a new book called Coming Apart which details how over the last 50 years our society has become more stratified, with the smart, rich and well to do moving away from living anywhere near the not-so-smart, poor and disadvantaged.
I'm going to get it and read it.
But first I took this quiz which supposedly measures the thickness of the cocoon I've wrapped myself in.
Sample question: "Have you ever participated in a parade that did not involve global warming, gay rights, or a war protest?"
My score was 7-20 and I have the certificate to prove it. It comes with the advice: "You need to get out more."
Fishtown, here I come.
14 of 20.
ReplyDeleteThe cigarette question was weird, no? I don't care either way was not an answer.
I mean if your dad was a Steamfitter, chances are you grew up in neighborhood that didn't have many degrees in it. If you were in the service, you wore a uniform.
But I now have a certificate in what???
13 out of 20. My notes:
ReplyDelete-I didn't see Transformers 3 because the first two sucked, does that make me culturally insignificant?
-I worked at a deli/restaurant, i stocked shelves, I labored, I delivered several paper routes, but I never worked on a facotiry floor.
-I don't stock domestic beer because, yes, I am a beer snob. I'm sorry. The domestic craft market is incredible right now and I wouldn't have it any other way
-I don't get the Oprah question - why Oprah? It's on at 4, I'm never home anytime near 4. And no, I don't have DVR (Gotta save money somewhere)
-Cigarettes? I don't get it either - tolerance for those who smoke, maybe?
13 out of 20 for me.
ReplyDeleteCould be 14 if coach's shirts could be considered a uniform.
Danny, I'm guessing we burst Bob's bubble.
I scored 13-16. Sorry Jake,but according to this, I have no bubble. Therefore, I have no bubble to burst. I didn't know the Nascar guy, never marched in a parade, no close evangelical friends, never saw the movie.
ReplyDeleteOh, and Gil can attest to the fact that I have friends with opposing political views, and that I will voluntarily hang out with smokers.
ReplyDeleteBTW, what's interesting, and what Gil left out of his original post, is the complete title of the book.
So, at the risk of being accused of race baiting by Jake, here it is - "Coming Apart. The State of White America from 1960 - 2010."
Gil - Did you read the book that I lent you? "Ethnic America"?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSteve - what was the comment that accompanied your score?
ReplyDeleteNot sure what you're asking, Bob, my score and comments are above.
ReplyDelete13 of 20. Lot's of doubts about significance. Oprah?
ReplyDeleteI didn't serve but I did try to enlist in a Marine program in 1971 and was turned down due to poor eye sight.
Question for you as a new comer. Besides Jake and Gil, are you guys using your real names?
8 - Thats my name. I think you'd better double check Jake. Not so sure about that one.
ReplyDeleteI find all these scores scary. I'm obviously blogging to a pretty low-brow crowd.
ReplyDeleteBob, what happened to the last four questions? You could've beaten Danny for the Thinnest Bubble Award. And no. The book is on my desk, gathering dust.
Steve, I say, restaurant work doesn't count for being sore at the end of the day. Sounds like you missed the comment with your quiz results.
8pounders, Jake is not Jake's real name. But Bob's is. And Bohne has two syllables. Steve and Danny, real names. I'm guessing yours isn't.
Steve - At the bottom of the page there should be a little something. Like Gils said "You need to get out more" Mine said "You don't even have a bubble"
ReplyDeleteJakes said "WTF?"
Gil- I answered all the questions! I'm thinking that we're not quite understanding the scoring method. Try answering yes to every question and see what kind of score you get. Like I said, they gave me a score of 13 to 16, and the caption read "You don't even have a bubble"
ReplyDeleteI am thinnest!!!!!! I don't hear that to often!!
ReplyDelete8pounders? Don't we ride Harley's together?
Gil,
ReplyDeleteActually, I missed one - I spent summers as a laborer tearing down a few stores in malls. Definately back breaking. In addition, I used to spend weekends carring two golf bags at a time caddying 18 holes and walking the whole thing.
Bob, gotcha. Mine was the same as yours : 'You don't have a bubble"
Honestly? Mine didn't say nothing. I downloaded my Certificate. What a loser I am....
ReplyDeleteSorry Bob, I misunderstood. I get your score now.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Spencerblog got 8 out of 20. And was told that though she may be a new member to upper middle class, she's a wide and varied connection to the rest of society.
I can vouch for that.
Danny, based on your score "you don't have a bubble."
ReplyDeleteI started off as 8pounders. Going honest now.
ReplyDeleteSorry I offended Steve a while back with capital gains issue. I do view myself as rather conservative, but while enjoying your blogging for the past year or so, I probably fit in between the majority and Bob.
I have LMAO so many times enjoying your conversations.
And I always enjoy Gil's printed columns.
RusStahl@yahoo.com
Welcome aboard Rus
ReplyDeleteThank you. I hope I can bring some humor and food for thought into your lives as you have done for me.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Rus.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy everyone on here, even though we don't always agree!
Rus - Welcome to the asylum.
ReplyDelete"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Ben Franklin
ReplyDeleteAsylum enough?
Rus - The four most beautiful words in our common language: I told you so.
ReplyDeleteGore Vidal
"...you scored at least 17.
ReplyDeleteIn other words, you're so embedded in mainstream America that you need to visit the bubble once in a while."
I guess it kind of explains where my ability to find the funny in everyone's beliefs comes from.
Transformers, Ophrah and Nascar suck, so I missed on them.
www0710
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ReplyDelete