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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:
BogRollBOGOF · 18/12/2023 16:14

How did it take me so long to find this thread? 😂

I used "bogs" at school, they were pretty bogging, and some I avoided completely due to all the fag smoke. I tend to associate "bogs" as being less than salubrious toilets.
On DoE we adjusted our vocabulary to "going for a slash" which suited the lack of sanitary ware avaliable.
Generally I stick with loo or toilet.
Bathroom would require a bath.
Dunny makes me think of an outhouse (and Around the Twist)
Restroom always seems odd- not somewhere I'd go to rest!

DepressingChristmasSongs · 18/12/2023 16:17

middle class upbringing here - started saying bog as a child because it was a bit naughty and I found it funny - plus it wound my mum up.

I never did get out of saying it 😬 so I still say bog now but when in company I’ll say toilet (which I’m suprised to see is classed as worse than bog in MN world!!)

ScarlettSunset · 18/12/2023 16:17

I just use the word 'toilet'. If people want to judge me for it then that's up to them. I don't worry whether I'm using the right word for politeness, it's the word that I think is least likely to be misunderstood!

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 18/12/2023 16:39

ScarlettSunset · 18/12/2023 16:17

I just use the word 'toilet'. If people want to judge me for it then that's up to them. I don't worry whether I'm using the right word for politeness, it's the word that I think is least likely to be misunderstood!

A lot of places have a sign up saying TOILETS>

I've never seen BOGS>

I've just asked my work colleague and he says loo.

sunglassesonthetable · 18/12/2023 17:25

I've never seen BOGS>

well we all know it's slang isn't it . Toilet isn't . i don't get your point.

Buddybud · 18/12/2023 17:27

I have no idea but I am from a very working class background and would never say that.

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 17:28

sunglassesonthetable · 18/12/2023 17:25

I've never seen BOGS>

well we all know it's slang isn't it . Toilet isn't . i don't get your point.

There are also sometimes signs saying WC but that sounds weird spoken.

Buddybud · 18/12/2023 17:28

i would say toilet, loo or bathroom even and yes, I am aware lots of toilets don’t have a bath.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 18/12/2023 18:15

thegreylady · 18/12/2023 15:21

What are hereds please?

Hereditary peers - where the title is passed down from eldest son to eldest son (or v occasionally daughter).

As opposed to life peers - where you get your title in return for being mates with the PM-du-jour and it dies with you.

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 18:21

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 17:28

There are also sometimes signs saying WC but that sounds weird spoken.

Show quote history

Don't those signs mean "working class"?

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 18:22

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 18/12/2023 16:39

A lot of places have a sign up saying TOILETS>

I've never seen BOGS>

I've just asked my work colleague and he says loo.

Show quote history

I have, sadly, never seen signs for SHITTER>

I should have sent my DC1 to the local comp.

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 18:23

(As this DC was responsible for introducing this word to our otherwise pleasant household).

Watsername · 18/12/2023 18:27

We used to call the toilets the bogs in my posh private school (in the south) in the ‘90s. I have heard anyone use it since….

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 18:33

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 18:21

Don't those signs mean "working class"?

Show quote history

😂

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 18:35

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 18:23

(As this DC was responsible for introducing this word to our otherwise pleasant household).

“Otherwise pleasant” I read as “otherwise peasant.” Posh DC bringing home the straight talk!

CrapGoat · 18/12/2023 19:25

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 18:35

“Otherwise pleasant” I read as “otherwise peasant.” Posh DC bringing home the straight talk!

Show quote history

There was a thread on here years ago discussing Pessaries and as such, everyone was using the word 'pessary' a lot apart from one woman's autocorrect corrected it to 'Peasant'.

'Well OP I've never had to put a Peasant up my vagina but I'd recommend.... ' Xmas Grin

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 19:33

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 18:35

“Otherwise pleasant” I read as “otherwise peasant.” Posh DC bringing home the straight talk!

Show quote history

The basic fee for his particular school is now £49,989 per year. He clearly spent a lot of time increasing his vocabulary, so it was money well spent.

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 19:33

CrapGoat · 18/12/2023 19:25

There was a thread on here years ago discussing Pessaries and as such, everyone was using the word 'pessary' a lot apart from one woman's autocorrect corrected it to 'Peasant'.

'Well OP I've never had to put a Peasant up my vagina but I'd recommend.... ' Xmas Grin

Show quote history
Grin

I'm not going to try it.

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 19:43

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 19:33

The basic fee for his particular school is now £49,989 per year. He clearly spent a lot of time increasing his vocabulary, so it was money well spent.

Show quote history

I think we have the same school. And yes, it’s definitely vocabulary enhancing. Have you yet been treated to “ I’m just off to desecrate the loo.”

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 19:52

CrapGoat · 18/12/2023 19:25

There was a thread on here years ago discussing Pessaries and as such, everyone was using the word 'pessary' a lot apart from one woman's autocorrect corrected it to 'Peasant'.

'Well OP I've never had to put a Peasant up my vagina but I'd recommend.... ' Xmas Grin

Show quote history

That’s hilarious. I do think mischievous autocorrects deserve a thread of their own.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 18/12/2023 19:52

sunglassesonthetable · 18/12/2023 17:25

I've never seen BOGS>

well we all know it's slang isn't it . Toilet isn't . i don't get your point.

Why so serious?

NonPlayerCharacter · 18/12/2023 19:55

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 19:52

That’s hilarious. I do think mischievous autocorrects deserve a thread of their own.

Show quote history

Ducking right.

Rickenbackergoodgrief · 18/12/2023 20:02

Why is everyone on here obsessed with bloody class?
It's pathetic.

VolvoFan · 18/12/2023 20:03

We're not obsessed. We're taking the piss. Or so I thought anyway.

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 20:06

Rickenbackergoodgrief · 18/12/2023 20:02

Why is everyone on here obsessed with bloody class?
It's pathetic.

Oh come on: it’s just laughing at ourselves as humans really. So many rules about how to name the thing. And none of them really matter. Call it what you will.

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