And what a pragmatically named site it is. Thanks, Tom.

I'm wondering if part of my disconnect with that story is because my knowledge of "downstairs" is either British or with slavery. Not saying that it would be out of place to have the fair haired help down there like that. Just that it doesn't ring my bells right away.

Amazon says that my BSG dvds have been delivered!!!

Also, Fringe fansite and Forum - i.e., for fans of the JJ Abrams new show Fringe.

Perhaps, Mr. Rich Guy wasn't as high class as he thought - so the "downstairs" wasn't as striated as it would be, say in the house of the real old money.

Sumi may have a point there. Remember when he walked into the kitchen with the servants? That's not something that the real high class wouldn't do. (unless that was his MO to get to know the young girls)

American society was always less stratified than British and as I understand it, an urban household might have both slaves and hired girls. The whole duel thing was ridiculous, though. A gentleman wouldn't accept a duel from a servant and it's pretty unlikely that it would ever occur to a servant.

The storyline smacked of...well, I just felt someone should have gotten the shit beat out of them before it reached the end it did. I can't work out if it's because I'm used to seeing those households with slaves or the more solidified British strata where the lines were nice and tidy.

There was a lot of wiggle room here.

Is it possible that a coachman was a different kind of servant? sort of a hybrid?

Also, I thought that maybe the reason why he accepted the duel is that Amsterdam did it in front of a bunch of people, so that he couldn't back down.

I thought that maybe the reason why he accepted the duel is that Amsterdam did it in front of a bunch of people, so that he couldn't back down.

If it's a broaching of the class lines I'd think he was less held to it, rather than more. They seemed way too on par with each other, somehow.

I swear there was a Bones ad during this showing, and seeing DB's face in the middle of the "cursed but for true love" show messed with my head.

Black slaves were frequently coachmen in the North. I don't know of coachmen and grooms having any special status.

If it's a broaching of the class lines I'd think he was less held to it, rather than more.

true. I thought that it was more that he was an arrogant prick, and he was provoked into accepting, so his pride wouldn't let him back down (which is why he said "I'm prepared to accept your apology" in an attempt to get out of it)

"I'm prepared to accept your apology"

Shows what a lousy uppercrustian he was. Apology? From the help?

I just saw that Arthur C Clarke has died. In my head, he's more like...well, not ascended, but drifted on upwards.