How Thick Is Your Bubble?
In his forthcoming book, Coming Apart, The State of White America, 1960–2010, Charles Murray writes about the perils of the upper-class elite setting policy that affects regular Americans, with whom these elites have little to nothing in common. Because their bubble is so thick, the elites are vulnerable to making huge policy mistakes, despite their best intentions.
To help you determine how thick your bubble is, Murray has produced a quiz whose score will place you into one of the following categories:
- A lifelong resident of a working-class neighborhood with average television and moviegoing habits. Range: 48–99. Typical: 77.
- A first-generation middle-class person with working-class parents and average television and moviegoing habits. Range: 42–100. Typical: 66.
- A first-generation upper-middle-class person with middle-class parents. Range: 11–80. Typical: 33.
- A second- generation (or more) upper-middle-class person who has made a point of getting out a lot. Range: 0–43. Typical: 9.
- A second- generation (or more) upper-middle-class person with the tele- vision and moviegoing habits of the upper middle class. Range: 0–20.Typical: 2.
Three of the Young Guns crew have thus far taken the quiz, and I was shocked to discover that with my score of 26, I have the biggest bubble. When I protested to the group that Californians need a separate quiz, Meghan Clyne responded, "No, I think that's the point--to live in California (at least, northern California) is to have separated oneself from the mainstream of the rest of the country." Touché.
Take the quiz here (questions begin on page 103), and report back with your score.
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Comments :
Apr '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
When do we get to see Rob "Nine-Point" Long's score? And all the rest of the Ricochet contributors?
Jul '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
Lucy Pevensie
But that is my point and Bryan's. After all, Diane, whose mother was a nanny and her father a house painter, got one of the lowest scores on here. · 5 hours ago
Lucy I think you make my point for me.
You believe the scoring is incorrect because Diane Ellis gets a low score. I on the other hand think that Diane Ellis from California who was raised by an immigrant mother made citizen in the 90s and was educated by same mother next to rich kids her mother was a nanny for. Who went to private Ivy League Dartmouth College majoring in Russian, that worked as a research assistant for Peter Robinson at the Hoover Institution, the Associated Producer of Uncommon Knowledge, and presently as the Lead Editor of Ricochet has had very different set of life experiences than the average American and thus her score truly represents this difference.
Dec '10
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
A respectable 42. But, bullet 2 doesn't describe me, nor does bullet 3. My father was a college educated small businessman. My family are Roosevelt Democrats who, regardless of the evidence, will never change their religion. I grew up in Queens and couldn't wait to move to Manhattan. Graduated college with a degree in political philosophy but went to work in the garment center for $100/week so I could cross the 59th bridge back in 1974. I became a conservative because Jimmy Carter was such a screw up and George Gilder's "Wealth and Poverty" happened at the same time. If you ask me, the biggest difference between conservatives and liberals is that conservatives love people with a healthy skepticism about humanity and liberals love humanity and dislike people (especially if they're having fun). Everything else is just taste.
Feb '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
49. But I will complain that I don't have TV (why pay to have advertising pumped directly into my home?) and I almost never eat out. I've worked in a factory and ridden Greyhound, but I thought Branson might have to do with Virgin Airlines. Oh well.
As a true conservative, I will sniffingly say that I place no credence in this quiz and prefer to judge people on their actions and the substance of their ideas, rather than who they know or what they spend their leisure time doing. (But I still wasted my time taking the quiz and posting my score, I know...)
Aug '10
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
87 - I would have edged Astonishing by 2 had I purchased my dad his Miller Genuine Draft when he came to visit for Christmas this year. Can't stand the stuff so I had Sam Adams instead.
Apart from beer I have never been to a Kiwanis meeting. I did have to check the 2009-2010 TV shows because I did watch a significant portion of the DeWyze-Bowersox battle - but that was the only prime time OTA TV I watched.
May '10
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
Galt:
I scored 30, but I am not in a bubble. If the test were valid, it would have asked about what someone does for a living. I wager I know more about what it means to be poor than most people, since that is a population I work with all the time.
Aug '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
64. Can I get bonus points if the pickup truck is not running at the moment? Because I lost out big on the TV shows. I thought that the gender options on the Jimmie Johnson/Avon question were funny. I'll bet that the majority of women who buy Avon know who Jimmie Johnson is. But I'm from the South--NASCAR may not translate equally to all parts of the country.
Mar '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
Bryan G. Stephens: Galt:
I scored 30, but I am not in a bubble. If the test were valid, it would have asked about what someone does for a living. I wager I know more about what it means to be poor than most people, since that is a population I work with all the time. · 23 minutes ago
Perhaps you do, perhaps it is not so. I do believe that is the point Mr. Murray is attempting to make. Many who have the power to dictate the lives of their fellow citizens imagine they understand them far more than they do. Is that correct? or is he postulating nonsense? I look forward to reading his work and evaluating his arguments, Mr. Murray has earned the right to a full hearing.
Jul '10
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
Only if It's on cider blocks in the front lawn.
Edited on Jan 28 at 9:02pmOct '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
47 - Teacher at an international private school, though I have worked a factory and a farm job. Parents were a stay at home mom and an avionics engineer. I have always lived in a city over 50,000.
May '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison. And I went to pick her up in the rain.
Edited on Jan 28 at 10:15pmMay '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
The quiz isn't a better than or worse than metric. ( even though I lost out on the biggest redneck title...dang it) It is simply a way, albeit a flawed way, of seeing how closely your life experiences mesh with the " average American". I scored quite high yet I have a degree, am married to a Ob/Gyn and can recite John Donne poetry from heart. I also have family that raises "show cows" and I can make any firearm you hand me sing. I can tie a bowline and a windsor knot. To me, the greatness of America is that those who build and run the factory, respect the folks who work the factory. And those that work the factory admire the owners, and want to someday own the factory. If you hold the ideal of all men created equal in your heart then you are my countryman whatever your status or station. And I will stand with you no matter what. But I will still grate at losing out on being Ricochet' s biggest redneck.
Apr '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
Bryan G. Stephens: Galt:
I scored 30, but I am not in a bubble. If the test were valid, it would have asked about what someone does for a living. I wager I know more about what it means to be poor than most people, since that is a population I work with all the time. · 4 hours ago
Being intimately familiar with the circumstances of the underclass is not the same as sharing life experiences and cultural references with the masses of the non-elite middle class.
It is ironic that the underclass might score rather low: no factory floor experience; no uniform; those restaurants don't locate in the slums or the boonies; Kiwanis, parades, fishing?; Branson (Hunh?!?!?).
That said, it is explicit that the survey itself identifies one's risk of being in an elitist bubble, especially if he is raised upper-middle-class and got the education and employment to stay there. Even so, one can get out and get around.
Feb '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
Instugator: 87 - I would have edged Astonishing by 2 had I purchased my dad his Miller Genuine Draft when he came to visit for Christmas this year. Can't stand the stuff so I had Sam Adams instead.
Apart from beer I have never been to a Kiwanis meeting. I did have to check the 2009-2010 TV shows because I did watch a significant portion of the DeWyze-Bowersox battle - but that was the only prime time OTA TV I watched. · 10 hours ago
We buy Genessee Cream Ale for my dad. He loves the stuff...
Oct '10
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
58 and without any gun questions
Aug '10
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
So any guesses as to what Obama 's score would be ?
May '10
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
It still smacks of the "privilege walk" to me.
IF we have less government, who cares how disconnected people are? The only reason it is even an issue is the current loss of liberty.
How would George Washington have scored? Thomas Jefferson? Did they live lives of the common man?
It is not how you live, but how much you think you should direct the lives of others. Take that away, and this is meaningless.
Aug '10
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
All this dissing Branson....it doesn't deserve it. A couple of points:
first, this menu from my favorite restaurant in Branson
second, the trout fishing is astounding, especially when this guy is driving, taneycomo maybe the best trout fishing in the country.
so branson isn't all heehaw and bad food, there's plenty if you don't care, but there is alot of cool there.
ok ,travelogue over
Aug '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
Jimmy Carter
Only if It's on cider blocks in the front lawn. · 12 hours ago
Edited 12 hours ago
No blocks!
Aug '11
Re: How Thick Is Your Bubble?
Bonus points if you can tie your bowline one-handed. That would put you over the top.