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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this a middle class saying?

478 replies

Toblecorleone · 17/12/2023 19:36

Light hearted!

earlier today DH and I took DD to a small petting zoo type place. Not many people there and at one point it was just us and another woman with a girl aged about 3. Woman seemed quite posh, well spoken, both dressed rather posh - the woman was explaining something about guinea pigs to her daughter and then broke off and said “do you want bog?”

The girl said she did so off they went to find the toilets. I was quite suprised by the this phrase from someone who seemed so well spoken but DH says it’s a very middle class saying and he’d have thought “toilet” would have sounded more “common”.

I totally disagree!! Before anyone starts I know it doesn’t matter, I’m just amused by it and interested in how others would perceive this saying?!

YABU - Bog is very middle class
YANBU - bog is common talk

OP posts:
Walkaround · 17/12/2023 22:17

“Do you want bog?” just sounds like a phrase that is used within the family, probably because the girl being addressed used to say that as a very young child when she needed the loo/toilet/bog/bathroom/WC/to pee/have a slash/poo/defecate, and they all just got used to saying it.

jemenfous37 · 17/12/2023 22:17

Lavatory is the only acceptable word!

Walkaround · 17/12/2023 22:19

Any word is acceptable if it enables you to get to the receptacle before you wet yourself.

Ramalangadingdong · 17/12/2023 22:24

Bog is common as muck.

HarlequinsPants · 17/12/2023 22:27

CharlotteSometimes1 · Today 19:44

Using the word toilet indicates your class, those in the know are aware it’s ‘common’ as are many words that aren’t traditionally English. Many people think it’s perfectly acceptable, they don’t know they’re signaling that they’re not middle class. Therefore given the choice between bog and toilet, bog wins.

You may think this is all nonsense, but that’s the class system for you. See Nancy Mitford U and NonU.
Yup. Anything designed to sound euphemistic, French or generally prettified is Non U. So serviette ( instead of napkin), pardon ( instead of “what?”) or toilet ( instead of loo or … I guess bog) are all a bit gauchely demure.

Yes. This.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 17/12/2023 22:29

MrsMitford3 · 17/12/2023 20:16

I loathe the word toilet

Why?

Where do you come from?

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 17/12/2023 22:37

I've just looked at the Next website and they are selling toilet seats. What are the posher shops selling? Bog or Lòo seats?

LBFseBrom · 17/12/2023 22:39

I think they probably advertise 'toilet seats', too but when speaking, they would call them, 'lavatory seats'.

Pelham678 · 17/12/2023 22:40

Wolvesart · 17/12/2023 21:21

It’s also an old fashioned kinda man-speak phase. Just one rung above ‘I’m going for a slash”.

I usually struggle with phrases or words that used to be less accepted when I was little. For example, nobody would ever call their ‘tummy’ a ‘belly’ even though it did have a ‘belly button’ - so I still wince at ‘belly’. The worst one for me thought is ‘pee’ - it was considered really vulgar to say pee or piss but ‘wee’ was acceptable. I still think pee sounds awful.

Yes, it's weird that. I wince at belly or pee but am fine with tummy/stomach and wee. No idea why.

Corgiowner · 17/12/2023 22:42

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 17/12/2023 22:37

I've just looked at the Next website and they are selling toilet seats. What are the posher shops selling? Bog or Lòo seats?

Hmmm interesting I say bog brush but loo seat!
I think “posher shops” would probably sell lavatory seats.

Roiesin57 · 17/12/2023 22:42

Bog was never said by posh people when I was younger. In fact a lot of the kids who I would have considered as being a bit "rougher" said bog. ( nb I'm a bit more aware now & do not consider other kids as being "roughrmer")

Imagwine · 17/12/2023 22:43

The lack of “the” in the middle upsets me the most. That seems commoner than toilet or bog.

LBFseBrom · 17/12/2023 22:43

Reminds me of an old song which goes (something like) :
"Ma's out, Pa's out, let's talk rude
Pee, po, belly, bum, drawers.
Let's play in the garden in the nude
Pee, po, belly, bum, drawers."

CurlewKate · 17/12/2023 22:43

I'm quite posh. I don't like bog, but it's better than toilet! I particularly don't like "want bog" I wouldn't have a problem with "want the bog" But toilet is the worst....

sunglassesonthetable · 17/12/2023 22:45

The lack of “the” in the middle upsets me the most. That seems commoner than toilet or bog.

I think it's because the little girl is 3.

user1473878824 · 17/12/2023 22:45

My poshest friend used to visibly shudder if she heard the word toilet. But “you want bog” is barely English.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 17/12/2023 22:45

Honestly my mind is blown. I'm from the Midlands. Toilet is a normal word. Bog is common so is Lav.

Thedogscollar · 17/12/2023 22:46

CurlewKate · 17/12/2023 22:43

I'm quite posh. I don't like bog, but it's better than toilet! I particularly don't like "want bog" I wouldn't have a problem with "want the bog" But toilet is the worst....

I find this amazing that anyone would think bog is better than toilet.
You might think your quite posh but bog is as common as dirt.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 17/12/2023 22:47

Thedogscollar · 17/12/2023 22:46

I find this amazing that anyone would think bog is better than toilet.
You might think your quite posh but bog is as common as dirt.

Show quote history

I agree.

Just1MoreMinute · 17/12/2023 22:49

Doesn’t matter that she’s 3, you can still talk to her using proper sentences. Yes, for me it’s the omisión of the ‘the’ that gives it (the class) away….

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 17/12/2023 22:51

Toilet is DEFINITELY the commonest.

Bog is perfectly acceptable amongst upper middle and upper classes. You might not say it to your grandmother, but 'why the hell does no-one ever replace the bloody bog roll in this house' would not be in the least bit unusual.

And agree that in the OP's phrase - the real issue is the lack of definite article. DD's nursery used to say 'do you wanna go toilet' 😳

Shutthefookup · 17/12/2023 22:53

The correct word to use is WC if you are gentry.

Bog, toilet, lavatory, lav, loo, bathroom, restroom etc are all for the middle and lower classes.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 17/12/2023 22:54

Why is toilet worst when shops use it? Toilet Roll. Do posh shops sell Bog Roll?

Walkaround · 17/12/2023 22:54

HarlequinsPants · 17/12/2023 22:27

CharlotteSometimes1 · Today 19:44

Using the word toilet indicates your class, those in the know are aware it’s ‘common’ as are many words that aren’t traditionally English. Many people think it’s perfectly acceptable, they don’t know they’re signaling that they’re not middle class. Therefore given the choice between bog and toilet, bog wins.

You may think this is all nonsense, but that’s the class system for you. See Nancy Mitford U and NonU.
Yup. Anything designed to sound euphemistic, French or generally prettified is Non U. So serviette ( instead of napkin), pardon ( instead of “what?”) or toilet ( instead of loo or … I guess bog) are all a bit gauchely demure.

Yes. This.

🤣Those in the know also know that Nancy Mitford was being tongue in cheek and laughing at the aspirational middle classes who might actually be stupid enough to try to follow her “rules,” as though this made any difference to the opinion the upper classes had of them. To care is to be non-U.

IDoughnutKnow · 17/12/2023 22:54

Pee is fine.

Wee is a bit childish.

Toilet is completely unacceptable.

One of my DC has just added "having a wazz" and "curling one out", for good measure. My money has clearly been well spent.