A freelance writer and editor who “makes enough to get by” told a story that illustrates this kind of classism, the belief that material success is an indicator of a person’s value. He was talking with his nephew, a law student. The uncle was concerned about his nephew’s incessant drive to win every competition, to be better, smarter, faster than anyone else. I gently informed him that his competitive attitude would in the end work against him—be counterproductive—because it consistently alienated the people surrounding him—both family and friends. He was most often described as obnoxious. His
...more
