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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not to know what is middle class

367 replies

Goldchilled7up · 08/09/2012 22:49

Inspired by another thread in chat, what does middle class mean to you?

I seriously don't know. Aibu?

OP posts:
TheLastRavenhope · 09/09/2012 00:38

WAD - It's like that in my area. Apparently, reading is for losers, a waste of time and you're a posh twat if you admit to reading anything other than Katie Price's latest autobiography Hmm

God help you if you admit that you like historical non-fiction like I did.

NellyJob · 09/09/2012 00:39

Do you have paperbacks in the shitter?
only for when the shitroll has run out.
and more to the point, which paperbacks?
war and peace? the poems of wordsworth? or jeffrey archer?

marriedinwhite · 09/09/2012 00:43

Nah, DH isn't allowed to leave books or papers in there. The poshest adornment I have ever seen in a shitter is an etching by a very very famous artist and I mean really really famous (not saying coz cd out myself).

WAD · 09/09/2012 00:45

Raven - yes, it's all so relative! It's sad really though. I don't know why many people don't read. Maybe it's because it requires more effort and people nowadays have been raised on a diet of TV / games and instant gratification.

It's very apparent that people don't read by some of the spelling howlers you often see. People hear words but have seemingly never seen them written. For example: 'poker dot' (instead of polka dot) 'draw' (instead of drawer) are a couple which spring to mind!

NellyJob · 09/09/2012 00:47

Grin - (reminds self to seek out etching in charity shoppe)

scarlettsmummy2 · 09/09/2012 01:01

Tabloids, and I include the mail in that, are working class, broadsheets are middle class, political bias irrelevent.

TheLastRavenhope · 09/09/2012 01:02

WAD - You've hit the nail on the head. My DCs were actually bullied for quite a while because my DS let slip that we don't have a TV, they both have a set of bookshelves just for them and we go to museums for fun.

I have to admit, I got so annoyed with the whole thing that I told DS that the next time someone laughed at him for liking reading books, he should tell them to practice saying, 'do you want fries with that?'

He only ever had to say it once and while he got told off for it and the child's mother offered to meet me outside, the school rapidly implemented an after school book club that is now very popular!

I'm not proud that my temper got the best of me, but I am pleased with the unintended benefit to the children around here Grin

Tortington · 09/09/2012 01:03

if you dont have a telly. it makes your kids read shit.
tru dat

ninah · 09/09/2012 01:05

crikey lrh you don't have tv! snap! it's been a bit of an issue lately, I've been tempted to cave, I like your style

Tortington · 09/09/2012 01:08

oh, what is middle class.
hmmm.

home owner

sensible car

cardboard job like - finance manager

can afford to have a sah-maid-m
literacy is mosti mportant
as is mediocre university placements

middle class live in a semi or a detached on an urban road

healthy is uber important fresh veg 5 a day gym bunnies -fuckers-

they have a cleaner - called something estonian- they "love" her and treat her right

she comes at least 1ce a week.

TheLastRavenhope · 09/09/2012 01:08

Custardo - Reading fings is proper bad for kids. Park 'em in front of Call of Duty n let 'em do wat dey like, it's well good for 'em. Reading fings leads to learning stuff n you don't need to kno fings to get ahed.

Trufax Grin

Tortington · 09/09/2012 01:09

and they all have working class parents

with a sob story

oh my dad slaved over hot coals shit. = entitlement and not entirely detached from working classes - makes it all ok

scarlettsmummy2 · 09/09/2012 01:11

Custardo- you sound as of you are completely describing me and my best friend. Other things we like are walking, treating ourselves to bits and pieces from the farm shop and the occasional mini break.

NellyJob · 09/09/2012 01:12

well I don't know - there's no TV in our 'lounge' and hundreds of books sprinkled throughout the house including some in the shitter and all my DC wants to do is play Call of Duty and watch Family Guy and Eastenders on a small TV he has smuggled into his bedroom.............
custardo - spot on!

Tortington · 09/09/2012 01:12

and membership to the national trust - or similar organisation is a fucking requisite

scarlettsmummy2 · 09/09/2012 01:13

And got it in one about the close to the working classes. How funny.

TheLastRavenhope · 09/09/2012 01:13

Ninah - I just didn't replace the last one when it died. My two had withdrawal symptoms for a while but got over it and now they only get annoyed because they don't see Doctor Who when it's broadcast.

Saying that, I used to have a 46 inch rather large TV that I'd saved for, for two years and it was stolen so I refused to buy anything remotely new and then waited for it to give up the ghost.

Strangely, we spend a lot more time together these days and get on better maybe because we don't have programs to argue over.

ninah · 09/09/2012 01:17

same, i didn't replace - but have had the distinct feeling that friends and colleagues regard the lack as some kind of child abuse (not to mention all the disbelieving letters from licensing authority)

TheLastRavenhope · 09/09/2012 01:20

You only get letters? I actually had a man visit the other day because they simply couldn't believe a household in this day and age wasn't connected. After half an hour checking around and form filling, the TV Licensing man left looking a bit crestfallen.

I think he hoped he was going to catch someone out Grin

ninah · 09/09/2012 01:25

no, I've rung them when I got the letters, told them come, feel free but they haven't so far
I do feel socially deviant sometimes. Then I watch a bit and I'm reassured I have resisted

captainhastings · 09/09/2012 01:33

Thinking that something makes you more worthy than others is common amongst those who think of themselves as middle class .

We didn't have a TV for years because we just couldn't be be bothered to get one . Those who refer to themselves as middle class don't have TVs because they think that makes them clever and wholesome. We did not spend fine telling others that we didn't have a tv, those who have no TV and think of themselves as middle class love to tell others.

We have national trust and heritage memberships because we want to have free days out. Those who like to call themselves middle class see it as a sign of their culture .

We have rooms full of books because we are too stingy to give them away to charity . Those who call themselves middle class have lots of books because they want to project a certain image of themselves .

captainhastings · 09/09/2012 01:36

Those who like to call themselves middle class all like to think that they are the only ones who read books, go to museums , eat decent food, go to university ......

NellyJob · 09/09/2012 01:36

oh pleeze captainhastings............

ninah · 09/09/2012 01:38

nah the tv is def not a worthy thing
ds tells as an eg of how deprived he is
would you say mc means a kind of boastfulness to you, then?
what about wearing the 'right' kind of label?

TheLastRavenhope · 09/09/2012 01:44

I'd just like to say at this point, I really couldn't give a rat's arse what class I'm supposed to be. I just like joining in on random threads when I'm in a silly mood Grin