Thread:Recludam/@comment-16241899-20161211100835/@comment-29664475-20161211205348

@Piko, @TheCrabShack: Oookay... Yeah, the main contention does seem to be whether or not those with only non-hereditary high-standing qualify as aristocrats, and while I still believe that they do, you are right: those are the two contending stances.

I think people are conflating the all-encompassing high societal term 'aristocracy' with its much more distinct cousin British 'nobility', which makes sense, due to Dishonored's British influences. I've been trying to prove a point on the grounds of aristocracy – which could be socially climbed into in similar fashion to Delilah's rise, regardless of birth pedigree. The aristocracy precedes nobility, and there really is no 'archaic' variant of it. It's just a fancy word for "high society". I've been discussing this on that ground, as there has typically never been hereditary segregation amongst the aristocracy. If you make it, you make it. No matter your background; no matter people's opinion of your social standing.

Britain, however, was/is a bit more eugenic about their high society, to my knowledge. All points brought up against non-hereditary positions of influence in British nobility are reasonable. As the noble class was highly exclusive, most of these people wouldn't qualify as nobles at face-value. Even then, however, commoners attaining nobility through whatever means were far from unheard of.

Both 'aristocracy' and 'nobility' are highly interchangeable, in my opinion. However, the former is a more general term for "high society" ("the upper echelon of society") and the latter a more closed case. In both cases, high social standing could be attained, as I still believe it was with Sokolov, Jindosh, Delilah and Corvo. (Valid points have been made against Breanna and the High Overseers' exclusion, but as a result, I feel GRags' aristocratic status should be discussed; I don't see how she's an aristocrat anymore.)

As the world of Dishonored is its own starkly different realm and only very loosely based on Britain, among many other inspirations, I think the more fluid, inclusive definition of 'aristocracy' is more apt for the universe; they seem at least willing to recognize lowborn as aristocrats if they so manage to rise to the occasion.

That's just my understanding of the situation after Piko fleshed it out, however. I could be wrong, but I do believe we are pushing for two similar but markedly different social statuses.

@Geist: Nah, that was no more attitude-driven than "Yeah, no..." or any of your many passive-aggressive remarks. I don't do filters and a small instance of spunk in my junk doesn't warrant all of that pitchforking on your part. I'm bleeding enough as it here! Since we're in the practice of cherry-picking and exaggerating every sliver of spunk in comments, I must inform you: It's a bit too soon to be hawk-eying me like you have. Take me out to a restaurant or something first. I'm not easy. I'm a classy lady. ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

@Grizzhly: Most of those people have attained significant reach and influence in the high society of the Isles still, wouldn't you say? Their birthing has no bearing on their aristocratic standing.