Thanks for this very insightful explanation on the "American way", Mal.

You start your argument by saying that the lower classes are the cause of most of the crimes. I think what you mean is just "poor people", regardless of their way of thinking (eg. class-related way fo thinking). Do you think for example that a well-educated person who has lost everything and become one of the Poor would be likely to cause troubles in your example of the park ?

Anyhow, why call economic differences "classes" if you can just define them as the poor, the less poor, the moderately rich and the very rich ? The idea linked to classes is a way of thinking that one acquires in their childhoos and keeps for life. The Beatles were lower class, and insited that they still were even after becoming rich and famous. The point is that they won't change their family, hobbies or way of speaking just because they have become richer (some do, but only because they want to change class, turn their back on their past, on their family and friends and become a new individual - but these are exceptions). That is why it is also possible in Britain to be a scoundrel and a gentleman. Any man born and raised in an upper-class family is a gentleman, but that does not prevent them from committing crimes (why did Lord Archer end up in prison ?).

British people like clubs, because that's a good way of like-minded people, and that is certainly related to classes too. I think that people find it easier to socialise with people of a similar education and sharing similar hobbies than just people sharing a similar income. As you said, the people with good jobs in the park get along, but share little in common. Class in about sharing something in common. If we want to enter stereotypes, we could say that lower and middle class people like football (soccer) and soap operas, while the upper-middle and upper classes like tennis and go to classical music concerts. That's a bit too general, but a gives an idea of the differences. Rich people also watch football and soap operas, and poor people also play tennis and listen the classical music. If a certain number of criteria are met (dress code, manners, education, family background, hobbies, interests, job, money, pronuciation, formality of language, style, morals, personality, etc.) one can be said to belong more to one particular class than any others.

I think it could be difficult to assess what would be your exact class in Britain if you are used to think of class as money related. I think "formality" (of speech, clothing, tastes, style, etc.) is a good way of estimating one's class, the more formal, the higher the class, although the real upper class can be quite unconventional in their formality (quite a few eccentrics).