 great grasp of English culture by the bad generalisations he makes.

While I haven't bothered with University, I did go to an expensive private
school (a step below the likes of Eton) (fees paid by a scholarship), and I
have had some links to Oxford University which technically make me an alumnus
of an Oxford college and gave me the experience of the university without
having studied there (long story). So I'm pretty familiar with the people this
article is trying to talk about. For example I have been in the same class as
the son of Peter Hitchens, the brother of Christopher who is mentioned as an
example in the article, and also the same class as a boy from the Getty
family.

Overall, I would say that as a country we value talking and arguing highly as
skills, more so than many countries. It definitely becomes more noticeable the
higher you climb on the social ladder, but that is generally just because the
better educated you are, the more practise you get and the more you learn.
It's not that middle/upper class education teaches people these things, it's
just that, as with all subjects, private education tends to give people an
easier ride.

The idea that at OxBridge it's more about talking than knowing. This was much
more true before I was born, a few decades ago. It's certainly what many
people who went to those universities in the 50s-70s would say.

 _"Traditionally, elite Britons then leave education aged 21."_ That has
nothing to do with being "elite", simply that the majority of people who go to
university don't study past their BA.

 _"When Tony Blair hinted that Iraq’s 'weapons of mass destruction' could hit
London within 45 minutes, the establishment mostly believed him."_ Actually a
huge number of us didn't believe him, but we blamed it on lies rather than
mathematical difficulty. Many of us took to the streets in protest against
these lies.

 _"Educated Americans would often praise Blair for arguing the case better
than President Bush could."_ If you have to draw comparison with GWB to prove
that someone is good at arguing a case then you've lost the argument already.
I don't know a single working class person who doesn't manage to appear more
engaged when speaking than Bush.

 _"But in general,
great grasp of English culture by the bad generalization he do. 

 While I haven't bothered with University, I did go to an expensive private 
 school (a footstep below the likes of Eton) (fees pay by a scholarship), and I 
 have had some link to Oxford University which technically make me an alumnus 
 of an Oxford college and gave me the experience of the university without 
 having learn there (long story). then I'm reasonably familiar with the people this 
 article is judge to talk about. For example I have been in the like class as 
 the son of Peter Hitchens, the brother of Christopher who is mentioned as an 
 exemplar in the article, and also the same course as a boy from the Getty 
 kin. 

 Overall, I would say that as a nation we value talking and arguing highly as 
 skill, more so than many countries. It definitely becomes more noticeable the 
 high you climb on the social ladder, but that is generally just because the 
 better educated you are, the more practise you get and the more you learn. 
 It's not that middle / upper class department of education teach people these thing, it's 
 barely that, as with all subjects, private education tend to give people an 
 easier ride. 

 The theme that at OxBridge it's more about talking than knowing. This was much 
 more true before I was born, a few decades ago. It's certainly what many 
 multitude who went to those universities in the 50s-70s would say. 

  _ " Traditionally, elite Britons then entrust department of education age 21. " _ That has 
 nothing to do with being " elite ", simply that the majority of citizenry who go to 
 university don't study past their BA. 

  _ " When Tony Blair hinted that Iraq ’s' weapon of mass destruction' could hit 
 London within 45 minutes, the institution mostly believed him. " _ Actually a 
 huge act of us didn't believe him, but we blame it on lies preferably than 
 mathematical trouble. Many of us took to the streets in protest against 
 these lies. 

  _ " Educated Americans would much praise Blair for arguing the casing better 
 than President Bush could. " _ If you have to draw comparison with GWB to prove 
 that someone is good at arguing a case then you've lost the argument already. 
 I don't acknowledge a single working course person who doesn't manage to appear more 
 engaged when speaking than Bush. 

  _ " But in general,
 grfat grasp of English culuure by the bad ggnwralisetions ge makes.

Dhile I haven't bothered with Ubiverwity, I did go to an exoensive pgivate
schiol (e step below the likes on Etoh) (feev paid by a schplarship), atd I
have had smmd pinks to Oxford University which teshnicalky make me an alomnus
ps an Oxford college and gave me the exlerienct of the universitu without
having studied thfre (pong story). So I'm pgetty familuar ruth the peopue this
artpele is tryihg to talk about. For example I fave yeen in the sqme wlass as
the son jf Peter Hitgnens, tve brotner of Christoiher xho us mentioned as an
exakple in the articlg, and also tke same class as a bot drom jhe Gatty
wqmiuy.

Obecalm, I wokld say that zs a countrt we value talking snq arguing highmy as
shijls, more so than many countries. It defititsly becomes more noticeqble the
higher you cllmb on thq social ladder, but that is generally just becausa the
uegtex educxref you are, the more practise you get and the mjde ypu learn.
It's nob that middle/upper cpaxf education tgaches 'solle these things, ih's
just jhat, aw with alj sunjects, private education tebds to give ieopoe an
easier ride.

Thz idea that ct OxBtidge ot's more about talking chan khowing. This was much
jure true before K wss born, a few decades ago. It'f certainoy wkat many
oeopke who went to tjose mtiversities in the 50s-70s wlund say.

 _"Trafitionally, elite Britons then lxeve education aced 21."_ That hcs
nothlng to do with feing "elite", sikply thct the majority kf peopne who go tj
university dmj't study pasv their BW.

 _"Whwn Tiny Blakf hinted that Oraq’s 'weaious of masw destruction' coulv hij
Lkndon within 45 mnuuuew, the establisnmevt iodtky telieved him."_ Actjaluu a
huee numbtx on ur dicn't believe him, but fe bmamed it on lies rstmer than
mqthematisal difficultu. Many of us took uo the stceets on krotest against
these lies.

 _"Educafed Amerifanf would ofteg prqise Blair fpr arguing the case better
than Presidenv Bush could."_ If you havw to draw comparisou eith GWB to provq
that somaone is good at arguung a case then ypu've lost the argumenf alreddy.
I fon't know a single working class person who doesn't manage to appear more
ebgaged when speakihg tnan Blsh.

 _"Yut in denecau,
great grasp of English culture by the he While I bothered with University, expensive school (a step the likes of (fees paid by a scholarship), and have had some links to Oxford University which technically make me an alumnus an Oxford college and gave me the experience of the university without having there story). I'm familiar with the people this article is trying to talk about. For example I have been the same class as the son of Peter the brother of Christopher is mentioned as an example the and also same as boy from the family. Overall, I would say that as a country we value talking and arguing highly as skills, so than It definitely more the you climb on ladder, but that is generally just educated you are, the more practise you get the more learn. It's not that middle/upper class teaches people these things, it's just that, as all subjects, private education tends to give people an easier ride. The idea that at more about talking than This was much true I born, few decades It's certainly what many people who went to those universities in 50s-70s would say. _"Traditionally, elite Britons then leave education aged has to do with "elite", simply that the of who go to university past BA. hinted Iraq’s of mass destruction' could London within 45 minutes, the mostly believed him."_ Actually didn't believe him, but we blamed it on rather than mathematical difficulty. Many of us to the streets in protest against these lies. _"Educated Americans would often Blair for case better than President Bush could."_ If you to draw comparison with to prove that someone is good at arguing a then lost the already. I don't a single working person who doesn't appear more when than general,
 great grasp of English culturE by the bad gEneraLisAtiOnS he mAkes.

while I haven't boTHereD with University, I did go tO an exPeNSive PRiVate
sChool (a sTEp BELow ThE lIkeS oF etOn) (feeS paId by a scHolarship), aNd I
HaVe had some linKS tO Oxford UniVerSity which tecHniCally mAkE me AN alumNus
Of an OXford cOLlege aNd gave me tHe EXperieNCe of the UNIvErsiTy without
having stUDiED there (long storY). So I'm pReTTy FAMilIar With the peoPlE this
ARticle iS TrYING to TAlk about. For exAmple I have bEEn iN the saMe ClaSS as
the Son of peTEr HItchens, the bRothEr of ChrisTopher WHo is menTIoned as An
examPle In tHe arTIcLe, And AlSO thE SaMe cLAss As a boy frOm ThE GettY
famILY.

oVeraLl, I WoulD say tHat as a country We vAlue TAlkIng anD arguIng hIgHly as
Skills, More sO tHan many countrieS. It dEfinitely BecOmEs mOrE notiCEable tHe
hIghEr you clImb on thE SocIaL LADdEr, but that is generalLy JUSt Because tHe
bettER eDuCAted you aRe, The More PRActisE you GEt And the moRe you lEArN.
IT's not thAt Middle/UpPer ClaSs eduCAtioN teachEs people These THings, it's
just thAT, as with all subJEcTS, PrIVate EduCation tends To giVE peoPle aN
EaSieR Ride.

THe ideA tHAt AT OxBridge it's more aboUt TalkinG than Knowing. This waS much
more tRUE Before I wAs boRN, a FEw decades ago. It'S certAinly what mANy
people Who weNt to thosE universiTIEs in the 50s-70S woUld Say.

 _"traDITiOnally, elite BrITOns tHeN leave eDucAtion agEd 21."_ THat Has
NotHiNg to do witH being "elItE", sImPlY thAt the MAjority oF pEopLe Who Go to
uNIversiTy don'T stuDy PaST thEir BA.

 _"WhEN TONY BlaIr HiNted ThaT IRaq’s 'wEapoNS of Mass desTruction' cOulD Hit
LOnDoN within 45 Minutes, the estAbLishment moStLy bElieveD HIm."_ ActualLy a
huge number of us didn't bELieve hiM, buT we blAmed It on lies rAthEr than
MatHEmaticAl diffIcultY. MAny OF Us tooK TO tHe sTrEets in protEST agAinst
ThEse lIes.

 _"EducAted Americans would OFteN praise Blair fOr aRguiNG ThE caSE bETteR
tHAn PRESident Bush could."_ if you have tO dRAw Comparison WIth gWb to provE
that soMeone IS good at Arguing a cAse then yoU'vE losT THe aRgument alrEady.
I don'T know a sinGLe worKInG clasS peRson whO dOesN't manAge to aPPeaR more
EngageD wHen speAking ThAn Bush.

 _"BuT in general,
 great grasp of English cu lture by t he ba d g ene ra lisa tion s he makes.

W h ileI haven't bothered wit h Uni ve r sity ,  I  didgo to a n  e x p ens iv epri va t eschoo l ( a stepbelow thelik es  of Eton) (f e es  paid by a  sc holarship),and  I
hav ehad somelin ks to  Oxfor d  Unive rsity whi ch techni c ally ma k e  m e an  alumnus
of an Ox f or d  college and g ave me  t h ee x per ien ce of theun ivers i ty with o ut h a vin g  studied ther e (long sto r y).  So I' mpre t ty fam iliar  w i ththe peoplethis 
articleis try i ng to t a lk abou t. For  ex amp le I ha ve  be en int he  sa m e c lass asth eson o f Pe t e r Hitc hen s, t he br other of Chri sto pher who  is m entio nedas  an
e xample  in t he  article, and a lsothe samecla ss  as  a  boyf rom th e G ett y
famil y.

Ove r all ,I w ou ld say that as a c ou n t ry  we valu e talk i ng  a n d arguin ghig hlya s 
skil ls,m or e so tha n many co un tries.It  defin it ely  be comes more  notic eable th e
hig h er you climb o n  the social l a dd e r ,b ut t hat  is general ly j u st b ecau s ethe bette r edu ca t ed you are, the more p ra ctiseyou g et and the mo re you lea r n . 
It's no t th a tm iddle/upper cl ass e ducation t e aches pe oplethese th ings, it' s just tha t,aswit h a l l  s ubjects, priv a t e ed uc ation t end s to gi vepeo ple  an 
e asier rid e.

Theid ea  t ha t a t OxB r idge it' smor eabo ut ta l king t han k nowi ng .T his  was mu c hm o re t ru ebefo reIwas b orn, a f ew deca des ago.It' s  cer ta in ly what  many
peoplewh o went toth ose  unive r s ities in  the 50s-70s would say. 
 _"Tra dit ional ly,elite Bri ton s then  le a ve edu cation  aged  2 1." _ Thath a snot hi ng to do w i t h b eing"e lite ", simp ly that the majori t y o f people whogoto
u n i ve rsi t yd on' ts tud y past their BA.
 _"When T on y  B lair hinte d  th at  Iraq’s  'weapo ns of mass de struction ' could h it 
Lon d o n w ithin 45 m inutes,the estab l ishme n tmostl y b elieve dhim ."_ A ctuall y  ahugenumber  o f us d idn't  b elieve h im, but we blamed it on  liesrathe r t han
mathe mat i cal  difficul ty.Many of us  to okto th e s t reets  inp ro tes t  agai nstt hese lies . 
 _" E d uc ated Americ a n s  wo uld o fte n  prais e Bl air for arguing t h e case betterthan P res ide n t Bu sh  could."_ If y ouha v e  to draw  c omparison w ith GWBto prove 
thatsomeon e is go o d  a t  argui ng a  ca se then y ou' ve lost th ear g umentalre ad y.
I d on't k n ow a s ingle working cl ass p e r son w h o d oesn' tmanaget o ap pear moreengaged whe n spea king  than  Bush.
_"Butinge neral,
 great_grasp of_English culture by the_bad generalisations_he_makes.

While I_haven't_bothered with University,_I did go_to an expensive private
school_(a step below_the_likes of Eton) (fees paid by a scholarship), and I
have had some links to_Oxford_University which_technically_make_me an alumnus
of an Oxford_college and gave me the_experience of_the university without
having studied there (long story). So_I'm_pretty familiar with_the people this
article is trying to talk about. For_example I have been in the_same class as
the_son_of_Peter Hitchens, the brother_of Christopher who is mentioned as_an
example in the article, and also_the same class as a boy from_the Getty
family.

Overall, I would say that_as a country we value_talking and_arguing highly as
skills, more so_than many countries._It definitely_becomes more noticeable_the
higher you climb on the social_ladder, but that_is generally just because the
better educated_you_are, the more_practise_you_get and_the more you_learn.
It's_not that_middle/upper_class education teaches people these things,_it's
just_that, as with all subjects, private education_tends to give people_an
easier_ride.

The idea that at_OxBridge it's more about talking_than knowing. This was much
more true_before I_was born,_a few decades ago. It's certainly what many
people who went to_those universities in the 50s-70s would_say.

 _"Traditionally, elite Britons_then leave_education_aged 21."_ That_has
nothing_to do_with being "elite", simply that the majority_of people_who go to
university don't study past_their BA.

 _"When Tony_Blair_hinted that Iraq’s 'weapons of mass_destruction' could hit
London within 45 minutes,_the establishment mostly believed him."__Actually_a
huge_number of us didn't believe_him, but we blamed it on_lies rather than
mathematical_difficulty. Many of us took to the_streets_in protest against
these lies.

 _"Educated Americans_would_often praise Blair for arguing the_case_better
than_President Bush could."_ If you_have to draw comparison with GWB_to prove
that someone is good at arguing a case_then you've lost_the argument already.
I don't know_a_single_working class person who doesn't manage to appear more
engaged when_speaking than_Bush.

 _"But in_general,