Could you please give me some examples of inverted snobbery? (British context)

[btfly2]

What exactly does it mean?? I think I have an idea but still don't get the meaning or purpose for that...

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Olanne, my pint exactly. My postman thinks he's middle class."

Well, postman isn't a middle class occupation, but maybe he's from a middle class background originally or is very well educated or something.

[MsFloraPoste]

It sounds as if a lot of the damage done by inverted snobbery is down to the divide between "class" (which is about tastes and interests) and wealth. The person who likes to read and prefers documentaries to Big Brother isn't any better off materially as a result.

It's natural (though not very admirable) to resent those who are more privileged than you. But inverted snobbery is often about looking down on people who may be as poor as you but who dare to make different choices. That's when it's most damaging.

[BoinkAlongQuietly]

But inverted snobbery is often about looking down on people who may be as poor as you but who dare to make different choices. That's when it's most damaging.

But that's not inverted snobbery - that's classism.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"But inverted snobbery is often about looking down on people who may be as poor as you but who dare to make different choices. That's when it's most damaging."

I don't think it's always damaging. Many of the examples above are linked to being anti-intellectual or anti-education, but some other criticisms of "posh" people can actually be positive imo. Others are harmless, such as jokes about 'overheard at Waitrose'.

[MsFloraPoste]

Yes, I guess I was thinking mainly of anti-intellectual and anti-education examples as the most damaging, both to individuals and to society.

Not sure what the difference is between snobbery (inverted or otherwise) and classism? I'd have thought they much were the same?

[BoinkAlongQuietly]

Inverted snobbery: the attitude of seeming to despise anything associated with wealth or social status, while at the same time elevating those things associated with lack of wealth and social position.

Classism: prejudice against people belonging to a particular social class.

[BonnieF]

I grew up in a very working class family in a very working class town in the Midlands.

One day, when I was about 14, I came home with a copy of the Guardian. "Who the fuck do you think you are, you pretentious little twat?", asked my brother.

That's inverted snobbery.

[MsFloraPoste]

So inverted snobbery is more general, and classism more specific? Well that makes sense, thanks. I should think there is quite a lot of overlap in practice though.

[aquashiv]

Being looked down upon because you are vacuous out of touch and posh.

[Doman]

Anti-intellectualism is a perfect example of inverted snobbery.

[woopywoo]

Inverted snobbery is being 'dog in the manger' about things that they cannot afford to do or can't do physically. They will deride university,for instance, as they are not intelligent enough or believe that they could never afford it.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Inverted snobbery is being 'dog in the manger' about things that they cannot afford to do or can't do physically. They will deride university,for instance, as they are not intelligent enough or believe that they could never afford it."

No, that's not what it is at all. It's looking down on someone or something because you perceive them/it to be of a higher class than yourself. For example, someone might be physically capable of playing gold and able to afford the membership fee and the equipment, but look down on golf as being for business people. Or a person might think polo looks quite interesting, but have no interest in going to watch it because it's for toffs.

[raspberrysuicide]

I had to go into the job centre once and looked so out of place everyone was staring at me and I was seen straight away

[Broken1Girl]

An example - some of my hallmates at uni had a huge thing about being from the north and I am from the south, was subject to constant bitchy comments and left out. I had no issue with it.

[ShatnersBassoon]

I had to go into the job centre once and looked so out of place everyone was staring at me and I was seen straight away

Remember your trousers next time.

[Rowenag]

I have to be honest, I am definitely an inverted snob. I went to private school and had a privileged upbringing but as an adult I find myself kind of repelled by affluent areas or more upmarket shops etc. I definitely do not judge others but my instincts always lead me to go for what I would consider the more 'down to earth' option. I would choose Primark over Jigsaw any day of the week. I would go to Butlins over CentreParks. I would rather find a cheap builder type cafe than a bijou one etc. And I absolutely hate Waitrose but love Morrisons and Asda and Poundland. I know it is a bit weird as it not even a conscious choice, although I am pretty left wing and I also hate wasting money which probably plays into it. I think none of this matters as it doesn't affect others - I definitely appreciate everyone is different and would not look down on anyone having different preferences. It is nasty when people put others down for being posh and I definitely don't agree with that.

[Dozer]

Like some PPs I was frequently called (in a name calling way) "posh" and a "snob" at primary school because of my accent (parents were Scottish and we'd moved around for many years before moving to the north of England) and being hardworking at school.

[Biscetti]

Just read any thread on here; inverted snobs all over the place.

[Catwaving]

OP just set this thread off then disapppeared.

I think you've all just written someone's fun/light-hearted/aren't the British a bunch of inverted snobs ha ha book for them..........

[Liiinoo]

Definitely the North/South thing. As if saying 'bath' and not 'barth' is somehow more genuine and down to earth rather than an accident of birth. I have one very close friend from Yorkshire. We met at a training event many years ago. The first time we had a canteen lunch together I had a glass of water and he had a cup of tea. He commented that drinking tea with a meal was probably a Northern thing. I was a bit as we were surrounded by people from all over the UK drinking all manner of beverages. I have since learned that he attributes any difference between us to him being a working class Yorkshire lad and me being a namby--pamby Southern softy. I tease him about it now.

We are meeting up this weekend in a Southern seaside resort. I am already anticipating the comparisons between that town and Scarborough!

[CruCru]

BoinkAlongQuietly Gosh, I hate it when people refer to "living in the real world". It is such a put down and makes no sense.

I live in the real bloody world - it's just that in my real world, I take my son to school on the bus and buy quite a lot from Boden.

In someone else's real world, they may struggle to pay their gas bill.

In the Duchess of Cambridge's real world, she can buy expensive clothes but gets followed about by the Daily Mail.

None of these are any more "authentic" than the other.

[nannieann]

I like BoinkAlong's definition. Unlike what some other posts imply, inverted snobbery is NOT about is North v South. Some of us northerners are just very proud of our roots!

[Imsickofnamechanging]

Crucru Round of applause for that. I've been wanting to say that for ever on MN but just couldn't be bothered. Each individuals world is the real world people,wether it's drive by shootings every 3 minutes or helicopters and champagne everyday, together all those things make what we know as the real world.