[lbo-talk] U.S. working class: functionally literate

[Wojtek Sokolowski]

Yet another example of dumbing down that does not involve between-class
differences.

Retail sales, especially hardware stores. Virtually all sales associates
working there are working class.  You can get useful information on various
products and know-how from older associates (say, 40+), but if you ask
younger ones (20+) a question, the chances are you will get a dumb look and
either "I dunno" or he will read to you the product's label.  

Wojtek