The term Chattering Classes is an essentially
British expression, seldom heard
outside the UK. It was invented by
British journalist Oberon Waugh (he really couldn’
t stand them) but was
later taken up by pundits and political commentators to describe a group of the “metropolitan middle class”. Generally though it’s used as a derogatory tag for those who are politically active, socially concerned and ‘highly’ educated; especially those with political, media or academic connections. Its original meaning has now changed somewhat and now it usually refers to WOFS, Londoncentric pseudo-celebrities who talk a lot about social injustice, disaster relief, third world aid and all the other fashionable causes but do absolutely fuck all to help.