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AIBU?

In getting irritated with people who indirectly mock poor people?

177 replies

dontcallmehon · 14/11/2012 00:00

I have an acquaintance who constantly comments on how much she hates Iceland frozen food and how cheap it is and how disgusting it must be. It seems to be a running joke with her and all her friends. Acquaintance is well off and I can't help thinking her jokes are not funny and actually some people might need to buy the cheap food Iceland offers. AIBU?

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SoleSource · 14/11/2012 00:05

I do not shop there but the Christmas food advertised does not appeal to me either.

Poor people shop everywhere.

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LucieMay · 14/11/2012 00:06

Yanbu. Same way some people mock people buying the value ranges at supermarkets, with disgusted remarks and oh my gosh I only buy heinz/wouldn't feed my child that shit.

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WorraLiberty · 14/11/2012 00:07

YANBU

Most people are just a redundancy away from much cheaper food that they wouldn't necessarily buy if they had more money.

Is she mocking though or just stating her disgust for it?

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amarylisnightandday · 14/11/2012 00:09

Yab a bit u. I don't think it's indirectly mocking poor people I think it's mocking a shop/marketing campaign. There were deprived groups before there were Iceland and primark etc (I mock primark - was looking for an equivalent example).

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dontcallmehon · 14/11/2012 00:10

I think a bit of both. I know lots of poor people don't shop there and are fabulous frugal cooks etc. But let's face it, they do not target the wealthy and well educated consumer.

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Graciescotland · 14/11/2012 00:10

They do have fairly crappy adverts, is it not just a reaction to the "all good mums go to iceland" bollocks that they come out with?

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dontcallmehon · 14/11/2012 00:12

I just think, mind your own. People buy it, so they must need it. She has posted things on FB before about people on benefits etc, so I think it's an extension of that.

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Fozzleyplum · 14/11/2012 00:16

She's probably just too concerned/impressed with her own comparative wealth. IME, people in that position often bang on about how they shop for food only at Waitrose and M&S. I find it vaguely pathetic, but I'd hope most people would see her snobbery for what it is.

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dontcallmehon · 14/11/2012 00:18

Yes, I know what you mean about the irritating ads. Maybe. But still, I hate that some people can't make ethical and healthy choices and might feel mocked for it.

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ArbitraryUsername · 14/11/2012 00:19

I would mock Iceland because their advertising is just dreadful. That's not mocking poor people; it's mocking a brand image. And I don't shop there because I don't buy much frozen food; the food they usually feature in their ads looks pretty horrific generally.

I mock apple too, because their advertising/brand image is also ridiculous. I'm particularly amused by the current headphones one, where they point out that the headphones that they've been supplying for years (and charging a fortune for) are shit because they're the wrong shape for your ears. Good stuff apple. Despite this, I own far too many apple products.

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MrsGrieves · 14/11/2012 00:19

Is she mocking poor people? Or just those that buy ready made frozen food from Iceland? She sounds like a bit of a knob tbh, but some of the food they sell is minging and some delicious.

Tbf though the frozen ready made crap from Tesco and M&S, Waitrose is just as bad.

We used to do a full weeks shop in Iceland because I could never be farted with online shopping, I honestly wonder how we did it, because there isn't a great deal of choice.

Still buy stuff from there, the greggs stuff is marvellous as are the pizzas and frozen lasagne.

If she is just mocking the food and not people who shop there then I take back my knob comment, it's fair game. Also Iceland is not really that cheap tbh, some things are, but Tesco/Asda value is usually cheaper.

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WorraLiberty · 14/11/2012 00:20

Do you pull her up on it?

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dontcallmehon · 14/11/2012 00:21

I'm tempted to. It's mainly on FB she does it.

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ArbitraryUsername · 14/11/2012 00:23

You can't really complain about people mocking a crappy brand image, just in case some people might feel bad about making poorer or less ethical food choices. You can buy equally poor and unethical food in sainsbos, and their advertising is all irritating nostalgia for the middle classes.

Has anyone noticed how similar sainsbos adverts are to Rice Krispies adverts at the moment?

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WorraLiberty · 14/11/2012 00:23

Well if she's only an acquaintance, you might as well.

If she blocks you, it doesn't sound as though it's going to be a particular loss.

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dontcallmehon · 14/11/2012 00:25

I just don't see how you can make such a fuss about the food without also casting aspersions on those who buy it. She is a dreadful snob.

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dontcallmehon · 14/11/2012 00:27

I have to see her everyday and it could be awkward for the dc(school) so not worth it. She has made comments to me before, like: 'a career isn't for everyone,' when I left my job to go self employed. She just isn't v nice.

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ArbitraryUsername · 14/11/2012 00:33

Well she may be an arse, but there is still plenty of crap food featured in Iceland advertising that deserves to be mocked, purely for the amazingly crap way they present it. I always think, 'if a food stylist could only achieve that for an advert, imagine what it actually looks like when you take it out the box at home'.

I also think that about McD's advertising. The burgers look badly thrown together, which means it'll look like slop spread all over the box if you actually buy one. That said, the happy meal advertising is from the same irritating middle class nostalgia school of advertising that sainsbos and race krispies are so fond of right now. I think they all use the same filter in post-production.

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Fozzleyplum · 14/11/2012 00:38

I'd just leave her to it. No doubt if she starts spouting this sort of opinion outside of Facebook, someone will headbutt her put her right. Oh, and I'd unfriend her on Facebook.

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CaliforniaLeaving · 14/11/2012 01:36

She's an idiot and a snob. She may well find herself in need one day.
I used shop iceland once a month to stock up when I was living in UK. Not everything they sell is crap, I bought lots of frozen veg and Ds loved the Plaice when he was little, and was such a fussy eater I used to give him that fish a couple times a week. We never bought the frozen pizzas or any ready made meals/food as that is a bit crap for you no matter where it's from.

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nokidshere · 14/11/2012 02:25

I'm not poor and I buy stuff from Iceland (when I can be bothered to make the trek) frozen veg is frozen veg wherever you buy it from so it might as well be cheap! And my boys tell me that the pizzas are the best frozen ones they have had.... So £3.49 in the big chains and £1 in Iceland? No contest!

I'd ignore your friend to be honest If she wants to be a snob that's her prerogative.

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TheUnsinkableTitanic · 14/11/2012 02:46

nokidshere, i was just drooling thinking about their veggie £1 pizza :)

haven't had one in years as i no longer live beside an iceland

don't call me hon, can you just hide her news feed?

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midseasonsale · 14/11/2012 05:32

well I dislike all processed crap food! I don't care if it is from Iceland, Tescos or Waitrose.

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Latara · 14/11/2012 05:57

YANBU.

Some of Iceland's food is actually very nice & good value too. A lot of frozen food is healthy - especially fruit'n'veg as it's frozen when picked, therefore leaving the goodness in it.

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maddening · 14/11/2012 06:51

Are we allowed to mock Harrods or would rich folk be offended?

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