to be pissed off at people's attitude towards "poor people"?

[WriterofDreams]

We are in the process of buying a house and of course we've been chatting about it with a few people. I'm from Ireland and I haven't lived here long so people don't know me that well. I've lost count of the number of times that people have warned me off different areas because "it's near a council estate" or "they are ex-council houses." What they don't realise is that I grew up on a council estate and my family was quite poor. The way they warn me you would think people in council or ex-council houses have a contagious disease (perhaps called "poverty"??) and that they should be avoided at all costs. Naturally this makes me feel like shit, as though if they knew where I came from they wouldn't consider me good enough.

The reason it really surprises me is that living in a council estate isn't a source of shame where I'm from. I went to school with people whose parents were millionaires, people whose parents were professionals and people who were from council estates like me. People don't tend to be segregated according to how much money they have.

As it turns out we're in the process of buying a very nice ex council house that is about twice the size of the houses in "better" areas and costs less than half the price. So I'm happy about that :) but disappointed that my "friends" clearly don't think the area I'll be living in is suitable for them :(

Is this just a southern thing?

I've just been to mow my lawn

I had to nick a lawnmower first though

Interesting views here thanks. I'm going to meet some a friend and her friends later and there is no way on earth I'm going to tell them where I'm living as I know I'll get catsbum faces all round (based on earlier conversations). To me, a house is just where I live, it's not a status symbol or a badge of earnings, and there is no way on god's green earth that I'm going to spend more on a smaller house just for the location. To me that's just nuts and the height of snobbery.

Of course I wouldn't want to live in a place that is full of crime and drug dealers, that's just normal. The place I'm buying is ex-council, in a small cul de sac, near an outstanding primary school, with lovely neighbours (who came to talk to us when we were looking around). Because the area isn't "desirable" it cost us 46,000 (yes forty-six thousand) pounds less than other smaller houses in more desirable areas. The survey was fine, and I've since been put in contact with a fellow teacher who lives around the corner who tells me the area is brilliant - friendly, clean, quiet, low crime, etc.

Is it just me or does it seem utterly mad to dismiss a find like this out of hand just because of the perceived (not actual) undesirability of the area?

Nope, utterly mad is about right.

sounds great ..I would go for it ,the houses round here sell very fast so some people obviously don't mind buying ex council houses

House sounds good, hope you get it

Where i grew up nearly all the housing was new council housing so the community was really diverse with not so well off folk and folk who were doing fine and it was a great place to grow up even though there were other areas and estates that had a rough rep. Guess the problem was that most ended up moving to private housing when they could afford it so the diversity went a bit and they have become more deprived areas and even if someone with more money wanted one, they would never get one anyway unless buying a privately owned one.

Saying that, they never show the many ok council estates on the Tv or in the papers - only the worst so guess it's not surprising that some folk think that they are all hell holes.

Next time someone warns you about an area near/on a council estate, just smile and say "actually I grew up on a council estate" :) Polite but it may make them think twice!

we have a snobby middle and upper class. and they teach their children to think like them the parents need educating,Dreams.

Location, location, location.