I reject the entire concept. I'd puke on anyone who thinks that they have class if I actually cared enough to do so.
We're all just slightly evolved monkeys eaking out insignificant lives for an infantesimally small amount of time relative to time itself.
We're all worm meat regardless of what labels we apply to ourselves in life.
Live and be happy.
Clearly, you and I have different concepts of what constitutes class.
Class is treating everyone with equal dignity and respect. Rudyard Kipling said that class "can walk with kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch." Class never tries to build itself up by tearing others down. Class is a cocoon of values: commitment, respect for learning, respect for accomplishments, respect for feelings of others.
"Class" is style, wit, manners, intelligence, the type of people one spends time with.
Class is all in how you come across, how you present and express yourself. If you have to tell people that you're classy, you've already defeated the purpose.
Some ways to show class:
1. Be Authentic. If you have class, live in a way of which you should be proud. If you have to be phony and deceptive then you should consider why. A person of honor and integrity never needs to hide behind a facade. If you can't show your true self to the world then who will people see?
2. Be independent. You must be courteous, but do not bend over backward to please others. If you do, you may find yourself being taken advantage of in the future. Limit your time and availability and draw boundaries with others so that they are aware of your limits.
3. Be assertive. Avoid passive-aggressive thinking; this is likely to trip you up eventually. Assertiveness demonstrates maturity, thoughtfulness, and confidence. Class requires balance, and assertiveness is a prime example of this concept.
4. Don't feign knowledge. When your group or date are speaking about a subject you don't know or understand it is prudent to either state that you don't know much about the subject at hand, or if you want to carry the conversation, ask for more information about the subject. Not only does this show maturity, but it also shows that you are keeping an open mind.
5. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. The Golden Rule truly is a time honored guide for treating adults and children with class. Giving others advance notice before cancelling dinner invitations, speaking up for those who cannot stand up for themselves, calling your parents to update them on yourself, checking in with friends; these are all simple gestures that demonstrate your class and authenticity. Ensure you choose friends who share your values.
6. Do not insult, gossip, or slander. When necessary, voice your opinions appropriately and constructively. This encourages your audience to listen carefully when you speak.
It has been my experience that knowing how to have class is the easy part. Doing what it takes to show class in any given situation is the hard part, where I have very often failed.
