To not understand they UK class war???

[Notcontent]

Right, so I was just reading the "not fitting in on MN" thread and that got me thinking about something i have thought about many times: why is it that there seems to be a bit of a class war - the whole work class versus middle class thing. I just don't understand it. I have lived in the UK for quite some time, but I just don't get it.

Why, for example, it is seen as a middle class thing for children to eat vegetables?? This is actually very personal to me, because I have just discovered that my dd is being picked on at school about the contents of her lunch box. Now it seems I know why.

Apologies form the typo in my heading - they should be the.

No, vegetables aren't middle class. A bit boring at times but nothing to do with being middle class.

Class bores me, I don't believe in it, I cringe when people are desperate to declare themselves part of a particular class. It's outdated and in my view nonexistent. I have never discussed it in real life, a total non issue and certainly not a war.

Vegetables are middle class? Peh what next.. Carrots have feelings?

I actually did know of someone who said pot noodles/ potato smiles were chavvy. How on earth can food have a status? It is flaming food.

Anyway the class system is very outdated and archaic. Also pretty confusing as to who classes as what and whatever else. I'm not particularly interested. I'm classless .

I think we are still very class divided. I do think that different people have different values based on their socio-economic standing and that of their parents.

Not convinced that vegetables are middle class - but would believe that the consumption of vegetables varies along class lines.

I think it is because the gap between the rich and poor in this country is so vast. In countries where the gap is smaller class is insignificant. You only have to look at the cabinet (70% inherited millionaires - reflecting less than 1% of country) to see that the class system is alive and well.

Actually according to Barnardos, children do perceive class in vegatables, "There is a strong link between children?s perceptions of the food people
eat and their affluence, and especially between the brands children eat and
what their family can afford.". See this report. Very sad and very interesting.

its how we know where we fit into society. there will be trouble about lunchbox contents no matter what you put in there.

Children eating vegetables are seen as middle class?

I have no idea what sort of world you live in OP but it's great that you can get an internet connection from it.

Who does actually understand the UK class thing? I have never worked out where me and my family fit in, I think the short answer is we don't and I am heartily grateful for that. Who wants to be a stereotype?

IMO 'class war' is something which the beneficiaries of inherited class privilege, and the very wealthy, claim is being waged whenever it is suggested that their privilege or wealth is excessive.

You can not believe in class all you want but that doesn't make it any the less divisive.

It seems obvious to me people with less money will eat a far fewer range of fruits and vegetables.

You'd have to be rich to afford a pineapple or physallis.

So obviously fancy veg and fruit is going to appear MC to some and some children would take the piss if it was in a lunchbox.

MTP, that report is interesting and a bit depressing. It's 8 years old now, but I'd bet the findings still hold. Thanks for posting.

What?! Pineapples are frequently on offer and physalis get yellow stickered all the time because nobody knows what the fuck they are.

I love physalis! All the sweeter with a yellow sticker

Cheers flow I wouldn't be surprised if it was even worse now.

Exactly Pam! They're are cunts the world over, some with millions in the bank and some with fuck all. There are fantastic people wherever you go. Where they live or shop doesn't change that. Some people with nothing need support to break a cycle of shit times and go of to provide an amazing life for their families. Some people with everything they could possibly need can't get it together.

It's about different people not classes.

No, nor would I. My DS1 gave up packed lunches for school dinners because we only ever had 'weird stuff' (he meant fillings like hummus and mushroom spread), and my DS2 won't put lettuce in his sandwiches or have any other fruit/veg apart from an apple or clem/satsuma, because he gets laughed at .

I would say it depends on the type of vegetables..

Are we talking mashed carrot and swede or baked butternut squash with organic mange tout..

Words, I live in London.
I don't think vegetables are MC - just the message I seem to be getting from MN !!!
The issue with my dd's lunch is that she had some pasta salad with parsley and some beans, etc. Nothing exotic!
I certainly don't define myself by class, but I am not British. There have been times when I have had very little money, and other times more.

We only eat wholemeal bread. My dd has started asking for white bread in her packed lunch because everyone else has it.
older dcs ask me all th etime for crisps and kitkats because others do and they don't
There is definitely a judgement on what people eat

makes me sad actually.

See, that's the thing, how on earth can butternut squash be seen as being luxury food???????

It isnt luxury, but it is what I would class as a bit more exotic and less working class. Maybe less so nowadays, but it certainly isnt something that the majority of people eat on a daily basis, unlike carrots, cabbage, peas, broccoli, cauliflower..

Vegetables are middle class? Good grief.

When I were a lass we had our plates piled high with potatoes and vegetables, with small portions of meat or fish. Vegetables were much cheaper than meat. There's me thinking I was brought up in a working-class household too.

How do people not realise that this 'MN class thing' is a load of billy bollocks?

How do you know that the poster who tells us little Tarquin fell straight from the womb and began eating mung beans and tofu whilst playing the violin and flute in the London Philharmonic Orchestra isn't talking complete and utter bollocks and regularly eats half a packet of jaffas and a mini baby bell for lunch?

Because butternut squash is expensive! Seriously expensive.

As are peppers, babycorn, tomatoes as a general rule, broccoli and cauliflower are expensive as well, if you want to make your own salad the component veg is pricey.

Ds2 was picked on for having little cartons of morrisons own apple juice in his lunch box