Thoughts on why the rich and poor do not mingle together very much

I was recently thinking about why the rich and poor do not mix together very often. Why? Are we not all the same human beings?

Well, the truth is: maybe not. Not in the sense that the rich and poor are not equally valuable, or that poor people should not have access to the same opportunities because they totally should. What I mean is that the culture, tastes, environments and upbringing of these two groups are so different that it is almost like they speak a different language and live in a different world. This is precisely what Pierre Bourdieu noted in his book Distinction. Rich people like certain things whereas poor people like others. Taste is not an individual choice, but a socially constructed marker of class that acts to reinforce social hierarchies. It is like the mating calls of birds. When a bird has a mating call that is in sync with another's, they get along well and form a pair. However, if their mating calls are out of sync, no partnership is formed. This is because relationships are built upon language and communication, so if the two parties cannot understand each other, or the response they get is not what they are expecting, there is friction and ultimately the relationship does not work out.

Even though many differences exist, ultimately we are all the same people. We all have hopes and dreams, strengths and difficulties. We all laugh and and dance and cry and shout. To connect with each other and not be afraid, we need to transcend our differences and try to find commonalities. We need to understand that we are all equally valuable, and that friendships do not have to be formed only amongst people that share our own backgrounds. Rather than feeling afraid, awkward, ashamed or confused about someone's behaviour, have a curious mind and learn more about what life is like for someone else. Understanding the context of a person and the factors that made them who they are are key to unlocking understanding, and understanding is key to unlocking a new friendship!