How do you define elitism?

[ColbertWatcher]

Many hours of prime television pundit time have been spent bleating the word "elitism" (or "elite").

But, in a country like America is anyone really elite? And, is it a bad thing to be called "elite"?

What exactly is the best way to define this elusive idea?

[panader0]

1. Well, start at $Five Million a year

[ColbertWatcher]

3. But, is it just the money?

What about the lifestyle?

The entitlement?

Or, can elite mean the way the Marines use it, or the way the Olympic athletes are elite?

[Lisa0825]

6. To me, "elite" means "the best in a field," whereas "elitist:

means thinking you are better than others based purely on either wealth or being born into wealth. Wealth itself is not bad, but it can corrupt one's frame of reference. Some people think they can buy and sell poor people like chattel; that their station in life grants them that privilege.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. I was thinking something similar, too.

Isn't it weird how a little change to a word can alter the perception of it?

On the one hand, we have an elite, who excels and everyone aspires to, but an elitist is a person to be shunned.

[Kutjara]

2. I think, for many, "elite" is really just a disparaging term for...

..."intelliegent." We're a country that respects wealth but distrusts intellect, so we will tolerate (and even applaud) any amount of lifestyle excess, but scowl at anyone who seems "too smart." Making a jillion bucks, buying a solid gold Bentley, filling your mouth with diamonds and platinum: that's cool. Admitting to a love of art, literature, good music? That's "elitist" or, even worse, "ghey."

[skooooo]

11. Yep. Critical thinking is bad...

...Education doesn't "mean anything." And if you think otherwise, by some people's definition, you are an "elitist."

[Lisa0825]

4. Feeling like you are better than the masses because you are

in a higher socio-economic class.

[ulysses]

5. the general idea here is "anyone with more money than me"

but I consider myself the superior to quite a few folks who have more money than I do, so I'm probably not the one to ask.

[Lisa0825]

7. It's not the money. It's the attitude.

Not all rich folks look down on the rest of us, but some really do. If your money gives you the feeling that you are better than everyone with less than you, then you are an elitist.

[asdjrocky]

8. If you have more houses than you can count....

You just might be an elitist.

[Breeze54]

10. And if you have more siblings than you acknowledge, you might be an elitist.

;)

[asdjrocky]

14. If you own a privet plane, you might be an elitist.

;)Right back at ya. Hell, we could do this all night.

[magellan]

12. Being called elite can be good or bad

It depends on the context.

There are elite military groups, elite athletes, elite scientists. Usually this means "best in their class".

But it can also be used pejoratively to mean "they think they're better than everyone else".

In fact true elites usually ARE far and away above average than most other people in their particular discipline, so the conceit (if any) isn't necessarily misplaced.

But because some in this world can't stand the idea that anyone knows better than they do, especially if their own opinion is called into question, they dismiss the superior knowledge and all who who accept it as elitist.

So...being elite isn't bad. Being accused of elitism -- take it from whence it comes.

[Snarkturian Clone]

13. Whole Foods shoppers NT

[MicaelS]

15. An elitist

Is someone who thinks that the law does not apply to them because they're special.