[vjulian]

‘Rich’ is a relative term but my family might qualify as ‘old rich’ and do tend to distinguish from ‘new rich’. The terms are misnomers. People who might be labelled ‘new rich’ or ‘nouveau riche’ do not have the qualities of tastes, behaviours, or values that are handed down and refined over many generations. It is a relatively easy-to-observe distinction.

I am not saying it’s an important distinction to me.

[thrwwmbkpr]

This makes sense, and sounds reasonable. I think people are getting hung up on 'qualities of tastes', believing (I assume) it is a value judgement. I read it as 'characteristics'.

As a result of proximity over time, the 'old rich' have developed unique cultural habits that are easily recognized as different to 'new rich'. Every group does this. Sure, there is good and bad to it, but it's a natural and expected outcome.

[JoeAltmaier]

It's a term made up to embarrass newcomers. Cultural differences are not right or wrong, they just are.

To say someone has the wrong 'qualities of tastes, behaviors or values' is arrogance. Everybody's culture is handed down, that's another weasel-phrase that just disguises bigotry.

[Veen]

That's exactly what a parvenu would say. Not the done thing, old chap. Too chippy. You won't be invited to the best parties with that attitude.

[B1FF_PSUVM]

Bless his heart, poor fellow, I'm sure he means well. Perhaps he's not really a bolshevik.

But anyway ...

[vjulian]

It’s a poor term but one that simply refers to observable differences. It is unfortunate that there may be bigory or judgements accorded. I am inclined to suppose that those people are in the minority.

[nonethewiser]

> People who might be labelled ‘new rich’ or ‘nouveau riche’ do not have the qualities of tastes, behaviours, or values that are handed down and refined over many generations

Such as? 4 dinner forks?

[andsoitis]

> Such as? 4 dinner forks?

It is not about what you do have and what you do, but rather what you don’t do that distinguishes.