Aristocracy, why don't they achieve more?

Aristocracy bad for aristocracy. Has anyone noticed how what ever the aristocracy does is hyped up. There achievements are blown out of all proportion. The fact is that titles make people achieve less. That's right the aristocracy lack achievement: they do not seem to realize the shear amount of people who have and can do what they do, and given the advantages they have you would expect more. Oh for sure there are a few who achieve largely based on their advantages but still achieve. But how about the bulk where getting a degree is seen as a great achievement when for them it really shouldn't, or if they play any sport this is hyped beyond belief. You never see footballers hyped to the same degree: the media only has bad things to say about them. What do footballers do that is so bad, they get drunk act irresponsibly, just like many members of the aristocracy. Do you ever get the feeling that they let England down? Perhaps they really cannot achieve much: there titles do after all represent achievement of someone else a very long time ago.

Yes but the Queen wears nice hats and has fantastic jewelery and regalia for us peasants to marvel at

What do you mean by ''achieve'' ?

From a materialistic point of view, the aristocracy already have everything that the hoi polloi strive for. Why should they bust a gut to ''achieve'' things which they already have in abundance ?

Originally posted by Sherlock Holmes
What do you mean by ''achieve'' ?

From a materialistic point of view, the aristocracy already have everything that the hoi polloi strive for. Why should they bust a gut to ''achieve'' things which they already have in abundance ?

Yes and also they are descendent's of a divine bloodline with Gods permission to rule over us inferiors
We should be grateful and doff our caps

This is the second such thread about the "aristocracy" in England from the OP and I am not getting what he is trying to say...

Most "aristocrats" these days are inbred buffoons and there aren't that many around. They certainly have little power and the bulk of them are quite poor, to the point where they have to sell their family seats, or have the IR bankrupting them.

The idea that they are all broke is only that, an idea not reality. If they have a large estate they receive great incomes given by the state to aid farmers. The idea that a person can be poor while worth millions of pounds is crazy, but so accepted that no one questions it. Aristocrats are a lot of the richest people in the uk.

reply to post by s12345


Whatever dude. Why do you think the vast amount of stately homes are now owned by the national trust, or if they have remained in private hands, most are either open to the public as some sort of attraction or converted into a hotel or such.

And no, "most of the richest" in the UK are not aristocrats, but self made business people.

Me thinks this whole "aristocrat" thing you have is a personal issue and you have woefully got the wrong end of the stick.

Actually I didn't say most of the richest people I said a lot of. However as for their homes being national trust, a lot are but this causes them to have a mansion with no repairs to live in by them and their family forever. I would say that national trust saves the aristocracy from losing money. Also there are lots of their mansions that are privately owned: you still pay to enter, for example Alnwick castle. There are lots others, the thing is you cannot see these large stately homes from the road: we only see that nearest the road with most of the land unseen as we drive by.

reply to post by s12345


Dude......

Why do you think they can't maintain they're manors? Why do you think many were sold or left in wills to the Trust?

Why do you think the Duke of Northumberland only lives in part of Alnwick and opens the rest to the public? In fact, it is in part maintained by a National lottery grant and other charities....

It's because they can't afford the upkeep. Most private manors these days will be owned by "new" money people, not old.

EDIT: On the 100 Richest in the UK, only around a dozen are "aristocrats" and even then, their money is largely from private business interests.

The duke of Northumberland has a net worth of £315 million, he is in both local and the times rich list. He is one of the wealthiest people in the uk. The reason they open their houses is because these houses are expensive to run: anything given enough time will fall apart. They are not stupid, just as you and I would wish to reduce this expense, so do they. If you had a major cost you would either sell or find a way to make it pay for itself. They will not simply sit and watch their net worth decline: they are not cretins. The houses being open and not living in all the house is just reducing a cost. You and I would most likely do the same thing if we felt we could not sell and in a similar circumstance. Lots of them are still very rich. Remember farmers also claim poverty while being worth multimillion pounds. This enables them to gain grants: in this case money not needing to be pais back: of approximately £150,000ish a year: figure taken from approx. in year 1997.

Also you state that money from lots of aristocrats comes from private business interests: if truly wealthy you by definition become a business person. Money in private business does not mean it comes from business. Some people make themselves businessmen, some are so rich they have it thrust upon them.