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To think that the middle classes are liars and actors?

418 replies

MargaretBrewer · 05/10/2024 12:37

I know this woman who I always assumed was middle class. Everything she says and values is a walking middle class stereotype. The couple live in a nice house, everything is nice. Forgive my surprise, then, when I found out that she was born on a council estate to parents who were often jobless. After some snooping around, I learned that her husband comes from more money, but his father actually began life as a builder - yes, a construction worker! - who rose to manage the (small) company before buying up a number of local estate agents. I never knew what the couple in question did until I learned that they are landlords to some shops in town. Their son went to a private school and struts around like he is prince of the county! When none of his grandparents were posh! And how is it that the husband and wife own so many properties in town?!

It reminds me of a doctor and his wife I know. I always thought they must come from solidly middle class, if not upper class backgrounds, given how they talk and behave. It turned out that both of them come from families that worked in steel!

And and and there is a writer who lives nearish to me. Single woman, carries herself with this gait and artistic flair that I assumed she must come from an UMC background. Turns out her father was a welder.

Why are these people so MC presenting?? I would never have guessed they had come from unglamorous backgrounds, and there are a few other 'friends' I suspect might be similar. Are the middle classes inherently actors? If so their snobbery is alarming to me!

Had to change my name for this.

OP posts:
FKAT · 05/10/2024 13:52

Sometimes it happens the other way round. My DM is the private school educated daughter of a professional sportsman turned managing director and a career woman from a globe trotting military family. As an adult she was a farm worker, cleaner and care assistant and lived all her life in a council flat.

nOasistickets · 05/10/2024 13:52

Ive never come across place like numbers is so obsessed about class. And I come from a country
which actually still (unfortunately) practice it!

CreationNat1on · 05/10/2024 13:51

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

OP, we love to see your family tree? To assess your pedigree. You must be blue blood, with generational wealth from shipping, the slave trade, insurance and banking, no doubt.

MrsPeregrine · 05/10/2024 13:51

Oh, and being in a skilled trade doesn’t automatically make you working class. My dad is a builder and owns a building business which is doing very well (probably not so well after Reeve’s autumn budget kicks in). He’s probably earning more per year than any of the directors do at my place of work. I know he earns way more than I do each year and I’m in a so-called professional role.

anareen · 05/10/2024 13:51

Ensconcedinvelvet · 05/10/2024 13:49

This is up there with "I met a woman outside in the sun and she was wearing sunglasses and isn't that rude?" for batshittery...but at least that OP had the good grace to admit she must be being unreasonable when she got rinsed for it.

I remember that post! 🤣 thanks for that laugh.

Lifeomars · 05/10/2024 13:51

possibly one of the most bonkers things I have ever read on here.

SerafinasGoose · 05/10/2024 13:50

exiledfromcornwall · 05/10/2024 13:21

WTF have I just read?

A lovely creative writing exercise all about the horrors of 'new' money.

How extraordinarily vulgar. Pass the smelling salts! 🙀

Ensconcedinvelvet · 05/10/2024 13:49

This is up there with "I met a woman outside in the sun and she was wearing sunglasses and isn't that rude?" for batshittery...but at least that OP had the good grace to admit she must be being unreasonable when she got rinsed for it.

Dreamingofgoldfinchlane · 05/10/2024 13:49

60% of people in the UK are considered 'middle class' - that's one hell of a lot of liars and actors.

VivX · 05/10/2024 13:49

Are you against social mobility? Or is there some sort of social requirement that if someone are successful but their family can't trace acceptable Middle Class credentials back 5 generations then they should also notify everyone that their grandparents worked in a coal mine or whatever.

"Being middle class" is a strange thing to try and gatekeep.

saveforthat · 05/10/2024 13:49

2921j2 · 05/10/2024 13:47

Why do you give a shit about anyone’s parents’ jobs Confused

mind, our PM was obsessed with telling us his father was a tool maker

Snap 😀

Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 05/10/2024 13:49

You sound jealous as hell.
It's not snobish to have had a good start in life.
But what does it matter what the grandparents started out as.
These people have clearly made it work for themselves.

You're viewpoint is that nobody can better themselves...

shootingstar1 · 05/10/2024 13:48

Why does it matter what their parents did for a living ? Sounds as if your jealous of others lifestyle and apparent "success". Just live your own life and always be grateful of your blessings.

Frazzled83 · 05/10/2024 13:48

I’m from a working class background but now classed as middle class - just off to burn my joules tops and Waitrose card lest anyone think I’m getting ideas above my station 🙄😂

I think what is probably more likely is for those who’ve done ok for themselves, largely because of sacrifices made by their parents, there has been broader exposure to things that wouldn’t have come into their orbit as kids. I don’t think I’m ‘acting’ a certain way, but I am definitely struck by how different my life is when I go back home to visit. It tickles me that my toddler demands stuff I hadn’t even heard of till I was a teenager (bloody avocados mainly 🙄😂)

2921j2 · 05/10/2024 13:47

Why do you give a shit about anyone’s parents’ jobs Confused

mind, our PM was obsessed with telling us his father was a tool maker

MrsWinkly · 05/10/2024 13:47

DustyMaiden · 05/10/2024 13:36

I did worry about DS and his university degrees. I knew he was getting ideas above his station. I was born in the slums of the Elephant and Castle and although I’ve accidentally become wealthy I’m still ever so umble.

Is that you Eliza? 😁

I'm sorry, I simply don't have time to read the thread, I have pressing matters to attend to...
I can't decide whether to chuck my old fridge out into the front garden with the staffies, or whip up some lobster and saffron truffles whilst gently steaming my silk polo necks and marinading my soul with an eclectic mix of freeform jazz and Wagner 🤔

saveforthat · 05/10/2024 13:47

Did you know that Keir Starmer's father was a tool maker?

CrazylazyJane · 05/10/2024 13:46

MargaretBrewer · 05/10/2024 12:49

Okay, the response was as I feared.

I'll reword it a little: I'm simply surprised. Can a person's behaviour and speech shift throughout their life? If so , they must be performing to some degree

Yes. It's not acting it's just that as you have different life experiences, you evolve as a person. Me? Working class background mum, and dad that was in prison a lot. We were on free school meals and uniform grants through most of my childhood but I went to university, mixed with people outside of home town and grew up 🤷🏻‍♀️ I have working class values but most definitely live a middle class, professional life. If I'm 'acting' middle class then pass me my Oscar.

mitogoshigg · 05/10/2024 13:45

As for behaviour and accent shift? How do you think working classes act? My grandparents were dirt poor but kept a spotless home, children went to private schools on full scholarship (assisted places scheme) were they meant to have thick kids???

DoreenonTill8 · 05/10/2024 13:45

Sodthebloodymealplan · 05/10/2024 13:33

Is this the same person who posted the nutty ramble about all private school parents being batshit earlier today?
Got removed for a look behind the scenes.

Ahhh aka Wolfia Smith? POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!
Rise up against the private school children and those who step out of line!!!

To think that the middle classes are liars and actors?
TheMarzipanDildo · 05/10/2024 13:45

How vulgar! Grin

Honestly who gives a shit.

BoundaryGirl3939 · 05/10/2024 13:44

Gosh, I truly do know people who behave superiorly. I had a friend who liked to mingle with friends who had money and property. She wanted to mingle with a certain class. Even though her family had nothing behind the facade. I remember people in school being like this too. Addresses and houses were compared. Disgusting.

Coming from nothing is nothing to be ashamed about. That's the point I'm making. My grandparents were desperately poor but they were decent people. They would not avoid others because of status. Everyone was equal in their eyes.

Turnups · 05/10/2024 13:44

People who care about the jobs of someone's parents or grandparents more than they care about the actions of the person now, or think such things are important, are called "snobs".

OriginalUsername2 · 05/10/2024 13:44

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 05/10/2024 13:12

I’m thinking chip/shoulder (massive).

OTOH it does make a change from decidedly MC people (especially politicians) falling over themselves to claim WC roots. Not that MN is without those saying they’re ‘proudly’ working class. Why ‘proud’, I always wonder? What have you done to achieve it? Or were you asked before birth what class you’d like to be born into - ‘Ooh, working class please! Don’t send me to any horrible MC family - I couldn’t bear it!’

In this context it means not ashamed. Angela Raynor has said she’s not going to smooth her rough edges to be accepted in politics.

Malaguena123 · 05/10/2024 13:44

My grandparents were - gasp - a shipyard worker and a barmaid! And here's me with my three university degrees and professional job pretending I'm middle class. I'll have a word with myself 😂😂

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