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The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

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Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#61

Post by gibb0n »

redisman wrote: post #31
6chars wrote: post #29

I don't think the author really understands the characterization of Michael Scott. I can't imagine the hypothetical scene of Michael Scott taking pride in knowing how to use chopsticks. That sounds way more out of character to me than having him not know how to use them. Hard for me to take the article seriously when it has to make up character traits for Michael Scott to make its point. I believe that the type of pe…

Right, Michael Scott would tell someone he of course knows how to use them and then end up in a Japanese restaurant with that person and be found out to be the fool once again.

Michael Scott would make fun of the chopsticks, use them to play drums etc. say something racist, and then search for a fork or spoon.

Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#62

Post by midasuni »

perrygeo wrote: post #55
mr_cyborg wrote: post #35

The Gervais Principle is a great read for fans of The Office and/or people who work at large companies. Nice to see it get a shout out. https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-...

This. The OP is effectively a re-wording of the Gervais principal - same idea with slightly less words in blog form. It's a bit ingenious to claim a whole new theory.

Did you mean ingenious or ingenuous?

Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#64

Post by akhilcacharya »

redisman wrote: post #23
ryan-duve wrote: post #2

This is a really well-written article. I am not sure if this spin on the cited references is novel but it is the first I am seeing any of it. I am jarred how well it describes the "middle" of society, including how many of my own behaviors/beliefs are captured. One thing I am having trouble with is the connection between Michael and the "educated" ladder, even though a big portion of the article is dedicated to that.…

The metaphor definitely breaks in the middle ladder. Why not just do labor, middle management, owners like in the first part of the piece? I get that everyone hates NYT opinion writers but that’s like 20 people - not a social class. Also do software engineers fall into upper middle class or high skilled labor? I think they’re in both. Or maybe I just don’t have any interactions with the middle ladder in real life and…

I'm convinced software engineers can be part of either of the 3 ladders, but most are in the upper middle class set.

Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#65

Post by vlunkr »

6chars wrote: post #29

I don't think the author really understands the characterization of Michael Scott. I can't imagine the hypothetical scene of Michael Scott taking pride in knowing how to use chopsticks. That sounds way more out of character to me than having him not know how to use them. Hard for me to take the article seriously when it has to make up character traits for Michael Scott to make its point. I believe that the type of pe…

The other part is that Micheal doesn't posturetalk to his employees. He desperately wants them to be his friends, because he has none. It's one of his defining characteristics.

Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#66

Post by superbcarrot »

pk_kinetic wrote: post #47

I was hoping for some payoff, like if it was possible for me to somehow hop over to the elite ladder and ascend to the level of barbarian.

According to the article you can be a loser, a sociopath or Michael Scott. And the harder you're trying, the more likely it is that you're Michael Scott.

Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#67

Post by monkeycantype »

There are disagreements here about whether the details are correct, but if you stick to the concept of languages, I think this is brilliant. I work in an environment with extreme wage disparity between the stratified layers described here, with me in the clueless zone, and the languages described here are mandatory in order to deflect analysis and discussion of the power structures and the trivial and grotesque ways they are routinely abused.

Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#68

Post by themodelplumber »

This kind of social class theory is unfortunately not one that yields a lot of leverage, while simultaneously promising to cause a lot of hurt. (It also reads as if it betrays some hurt feelings on the part of its creator, IMO). I think this is why it's traditionally, historically, so incendiary to talk about class theory.

Also, here we are at the point in history when even reclusive billionaires are starting to change and improve the way they contribute to the world. Some are even giving away all their money before they die, which was once seen as a feat the bible itself couldn't envision.

Michael Scott is also given occasional but shy credit on the show for being someone whose values freely interconnect with those of his workers, which to me was an understated win of the series.

The fact is, Michael can't be the best of everybody, even though he tries. But he can sure reflect their good back onto them, even when he's completely exploding an otherwise harmless situation! It's an underrated gift. We need more of that good-reflecting in the world, and less criticism of the kind that reflects a hopeless situation.

Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#69

Post by gibb0n »

redisman wrote: post #23
ryan-duve wrote: post #2

This is a really well-written article. I am not sure if this spin on the cited references is novel but it is the first I am seeing any of it. I am jarred how well it describes the "middle" of society, including how many of my own behaviors/beliefs are captured. One thing I am having trouble with is the connection between Michael and the "educated" ladder, even though a big portion of the article is dedicated to that.…

The metaphor definitely breaks in the middle ladder. Why not just do labor, middle management, owners like in the first part of the piece? I get that everyone hates NYT opinion writers but that’s like 20 people - not a social class. Also do software engineers fall into upper middle class or high skilled labor? I think they’re in both. Or maybe I just don’t have any interactions with the middle ladder in real life and…

High skilled labor. A lot of Software Engineers think they are highly educated intellectuals but are in reality skilled tradespeople on the tools.

Re: The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class

#70

Post by krrishd »

_2d30 wrote: post #32

I found myself mildly nodding along to this waiting for the moment of clarity where he describes more fully the elite ladder but he doesn't and so I have no idea how to contrast this middle tier with the upper tier to see distinctions. What's an example of the Elite behaviors/language? How would I know Powertalk when I see it? What would an Elite do/have to show their true status? I definitely accept that I'm not an…

The Gervais Principle (which this article is a riff off of) covers what you’re looking for (and what the author here left implicit): https://www.ribbonfarm.com/2009/10/07/the-gervais-principle-...

specifically the “Sociopath” as described in the Gervais Principle == the elite

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