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.

[ClippedPhoenix]

I live in Fulham and believe me the class system is well and truly alive and kicking.

I'm working class and I can usually tell who's who by looking in their trolleys not that I do this regularly though you understand

Just a little for instance here:

The middle class tend to have a lot of rocket in theirs
Working class tend to have lettuce
The middle class tend to have a lot of wine in theirs
Working class have vodka

[OwlLady]

I am not sure aptamil would whip very well :)

[grovel]

The working classes clock in at work and are paid weekly in cash.
The middle classes are paid monthly by cheque.
The upper classes don't notice whether they've been paid or not.

So declared my aunt.

Technology has taken away this valuable rule of thumb.

[Jamillalliamilli]

MN'ers seems to only accept three classes as a given which is odd to me having grown up with five classes and sub divisions within them.

Class and whose anyone?s is doesn't bother me, it?s sometimes useful as a way of understanding why someone thinks the way they do, and have or don?t have, different skills, outside of that it doesn't mean that much nowadays.

Was a bit surprised about ideas of what aspirational means though. To me, it means my children being educated, going to uni and having a career rather than a job. It means having enough income to insure against disasters. It means health not being directly connected to work. It means having greater choices.

It?s not about having better than the people we know, it?s about having better more healthy lives, and control over them, (ours not theirs) and we hold the door open for everyone we know to have the same as what we?re after. It?s not being better than others, it?s about bettering what you have.

[HoleyGhost]

Norms change

IME lifestyle choices are sometimes taken as grandstanding when they are not e.g. vegetarianism

[FunBagFreddie]

It wouldn't surprise me if pigs trotters are now sold in poncy restaurants as an ironic thing.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Funbag...they do! I've eaten at a restaurant where they do just that!

[FunBagFreddie]

Did they also do jellied eels Alis?

[Alisvolatpropiis]

No...though I'm sure if they could fit it in to their "theme" they would. The food was nice and all but I was a bit at the price of the pigs trotters when I spotted them on the menu!

[FunBagFreddie]

A friend of mine used to eat pigs trotters, but after seeing her pluck the bristles out with her eyebrow tweezers, I don't fancy them much.

[InNeedOfBrandy]

My sons dad loves cow foot! It's one of his favourite meals, and chicken foot soup and pigs trotters and peas. Blurgh.

[RuleBritannia]

Our local butcher sells pigs' cheeks. I ate them when I was small - living in Rutland - and they are known as 'chaps'. It's just a sort of ham and delicious.

And who eats brawn without knowing what goes into it?

[FunBagFreddie]

Chaps, I like that name.

I don't really eat meat now, but I used to love a bit of liver - and kidneys too.

[LapsedPacifist]

Some of the comments I read on MN about food and nutrition are mind-bogglingly snobbish and ill-informed. Sneery comments about tinned fish and frozen meat and vegetables (which are just as nutritious as the fresh kind) for example, and as for the judgy-pants that get hoiked whenever Iceland is mentioned!

Iceland actually do an excellent range of budget staples, including fresh fruit and veg, meat and dairy, as well as incredibly cheap frozen tuna and salmon steaks etc. They also offer a free delivery service if you spend more than £25.

Definately a class thing too. If you are on a v. tight budget without access to a car, then doing a daily shop for fresh food to cook from scratch is often out of the question. If you are lucky enough to have a decent sized freezer you can get away with a weekly shop and a cheap return bus-ticket. And food that can be prepared in a microwave saves a hell of a lot on fuel bills compared to using a cooker.

[MissNJE]

I am not English and don't understand the class thing but I often wonder what an English person would 'class' me in.

I come from a very MC (what would be considered MC in Germany) family, was privately educated, went to boarding school and I currently study Economics at a Russell Group HOWEVER I work as a nanny to support myself to be financially independent from my parents . I live in a MC class area and shop at Waitrose. I eat organic food, cut out sugar and gluten and i choose wine over vodka :-)

What else would be important to define my 'class'?

[InNeedOfBrandy]

MissNJE my grandma is german (maternal side) and she is most definatley MC although not highly educated.

[GrendelsMum]

Germans don't count

No, it's clear that certain nationalities, particularly Germans and Swedes can work as nannys while being solidly middle class. You're probably being a nanny for some high minded reason such as to experience other cultures and improve your education.

[IneedAsockamnesty]

Fuckers I now want a trifle