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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:
Rickenbackergoodgrief · 18/12/2023 20:12

Every other thread is a hand wringing class obsessed one.
It's ridiculous.

PhulNana · 18/12/2023 20:48

TheAverageJoanne · 17/12/2023 23:07

Ha ha I say that too!

Show quote history

We say those things too, and also that Mister (or Miss) Smelly is lingering in the bathroom. Sometime we go in after the other one has done a no. 2 and make a big act of choking and saying 'it gets you at the back of the throat'.

IDoughnutKnow · 18/12/2023 21:08

Calliopespa · 18/12/2023 19:43

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.”

Show quote history

😂

As it happens, desecration has been mentioned on more than one occasion.

Did/does the name of your son's school begin with an E?

My DC have all been profoundly mature this evening and have been zeugmatically hurling socks and insults at one another. Further proof that all that money was well spent.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 18/12/2023 21:25

sunglassesonthetable · 17/12/2023 21:23

On a shopping list I write "bog roll"

yes! Bog roll!

Yes, we usually call it bog roll.

I’m reminded of a friend’s very posh bloke (landed gentry) who was once heard to say (she was calling him while he was on the bog) ‘Oh, do go away, darling - I’m doing big jobs.’ 😂

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 18/12/2023 22:38

It's funny how the posh kids thought it was hilarious to say bogs.

LBFseBrom · 18/12/2023 23:11

'Bog' is a slang word which transcends class. People either use slang or they don't.

We always used to say, "Bog rolls" :-).

My mum always said she was going to 'The Houses of Parliament'. A nun of my acquaintance would say, "I'm going where the Queen goes alone".

I like the way the Americans say things like, "I let my dog out into the yard to go to the rest room".

'Toilet' is the most common name for a WC pan, even though it really means ablutions. I tend to say, "Loo".

GymBergerac · 19/12/2023 00:00

I think in ascending order

Shitter
Bog
Khazi
Loo
Toilet
WC
PowderRoom/Facilities/Necessities (insert alternative twee description as required at this point)

HTH

😂

WhatWouldJeevesDo · 19/12/2023 06:32

GymBergerac · 19/12/2023 00:00

I think in ascending order

Shitter
Bog
Khazi
Loo
Toilet
WC
PowderRoom/Facilities/Necessities (insert alternative twee description as required at this point)

HTH

😂

Ascending order of what?

Flamesatmytoes · 19/12/2023 08:36

GymBergerac · 19/12/2023 00:00

I think in ascending order

Shitter
Bog
Khazi
Loo
Toilet
WC
PowderRoom/Facilities/Necessities (insert alternative twee description as required at this point)

HTH

😂

If that ascending order of ‘posh’, I think plenty would disagree.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 08:44

What do people say instead of toiletries?

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 08:53

'Bog' is a slang word which transcends class. People either use slang or they don't.

I use slang and have used bog but it's not something I say day to day.

DepressingChristmasSongs · 19/12/2023 09:48

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 08:44

What do people say instead of toiletries?

Bogetries?

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 19/12/2023 10:14

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 08:44

What do people say instead of toiletries?

'Bath stuff'

If going to the supermarket, I'd ask does anyone need any bath stuff, or specify shampoo, shower gel etc.

If packing to go away, I'd say wash bag or wash kit.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 10:58

DepressingChristmasSongs · 19/12/2023 09:48

Bogetries?

Show quote history

😁

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 10:59

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 19/12/2023 10:14

'Bath stuff'

If going to the supermarket, I'd ask does anyone need any bath stuff, or specify shampoo, shower gel etc.

If packing to go away, I'd say wash bag or wash kit.

Show quote history

Ooh, how the other half live.

OhCrumbsWhereNow · 19/12/2023 11:06

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 10:59

Ooh, how the other half live.

Show quote history

Waitrose own brand obviously... 🙄 😁

MincePieForMe · 19/12/2023 11:23

How ridiculously snobby. Only people who perceive themselves to be middle class care about stuff like this. I've never known anyone in real life concern themselves about whether they use middle class sayings, or that other people might think they are lower class. Absolutely pathetic.

WhatWouldJeevesDo · 19/12/2023 12:38

MincePieForMe · 19/12/2023 11:23

How ridiculously snobby. Only people who perceive themselves to be middle class care about stuff like this. I've never known anyone in real life concern themselves about whether they use middle class sayings, or that other people might think they are lower class. Absolutely pathetic.

But people are ridiculous. That’s the human condition. It’s amusing. Why should it upset you?

sunglassesonthetable · 19/12/2023 12:51

There's a difference tbh.

I don't care what other people say. But I do know what I say.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 13:06

sunglassesonthetable · 19/12/2023 12:51

There's a difference tbh.

I don't care what other people say. But I do know what I say.

What? 😃

Mumof2teens79 · 19/12/2023 13:09

If they were middle class and remotely we'll spoken she would have said "the bog" not just bog
But no the word is not middle class.

Are you sure that's what was said?

GymBergerac · 19/12/2023 13:35

Sorry - in order of what folks who think they're posh/middle class might deem appropriate.
I was once judged as a young mum when my eldest (aged about seven) said he'd been "to the bog"
It was suggested it wasn't a very pleasant word, and almost along the lines of profanity 🙄

sunglassesonthetable · 19/12/2023 14:03

What? 😃

I mean it's only " ridiculous snobbery" if you make a value judgement about someone because they say bog or toilet or whatever.

Discussing what people say isn't ridiculous at all. I'd call it quite interesting if you're into that sort of anthropology.

There's all the usual knee jerk telling offs on here.

sunglassesonthetable · 19/12/2023 14:04

If they were middle class and remotely we'll spoken she would have said "the bog" not just bog

I still think she said go bog? because she was speaking to a small child.

GonksAreNotJustForChristmas · 19/12/2023 14:28

sunglassesonthetable · 19/12/2023 14:03

What? 😃

I mean it's only " ridiculous snobbery" if you make a value judgement about someone because they say bog or toilet or whatever.

Discussing what people say isn't ridiculous at all. I'd call it quite interesting if you're into that sort of anthropology.

There's all the usual knee jerk telling offs on here.

I do find it interesting.

I wouldn't say Want bog? to a small child. I would say Do you need the toilet?