To think cards with the recipient named on the front are common?

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Class issue alert: inflammatory if you are bothered by that sort of thing

I was told that cards with 'To my wife/Grandad/Auntie' on the front were considered a bit non-U.

AIBU to go on thinking they're still a dead giveaway of background? Or are they OK?

I don't know about class as we are forrin', but my mum is ADDICTED to these cards. She gets very cross if a card doesn't have any 'lovely words' for her to tear up to :) (she didn't speak to me for weeks when I sent her a blank joke card many years ago - the horror)

I get a 'to a special daughter' card every year, complete with three page poem with random words underlined for emphasis special love happy birthday. Sometimes she puts the happy birthday in inverted commas (no idea why).

I wouldn't send them to my family myself after all these years of not doing so.

My children, however, are massively into finding cards with 'YOU are the acest mum in the whole wide world' and 'Sisters are so special' on them to send to each other. It's part of the general (over) emoting which is common now. I think it's quite sweet and save all the cards, plus their lovely handwritten messages of devotion inside.

Oh and meant to add: Feeling inspired, I just wrote my own little meaningless shite ditty for fun. I think there is a famous-ish card poet who specialises in this sort of tat. Anyone remember her name...Helen something??

A mum like you is hard to find
You're worth your weight in gold
You give so much and really are
A treasure - truth be told

You bring such joy and happiness
To all of us, it's true
Which is why we we'd like to send
This loving birthday wish to you

Aw, Janis, you should ask MN to compose some special lines for her next birthday- MNers are fab at poetry

I once worked in an area with a LOT of card shops and also a reputation for inbreeding. Whilst the shops had all of the "To my future sister in law" type cards, I never saw one with, "Happy birthday, Uncle Dad". They were missing a trick.

Claiming not to notice class indicators is sooooo middle-class…

I don't think they are "common" as in lower class. get over yourself OP and don't buy them!

inflammatory:
I think if you don't know what "non-U" is, then you are probably non- U

Google is her fwend.

I'm right sorry to learn yer
Succumbed to another nasty hernia
You should not lift what you cannot carry
Lots of love, your grandson, Harry.

Fry and Laurie's Specific Christmas Cards sketch. Brilliant.

The word "common" is used far too often on Mumsnet. Usually by those who have delusions of grandeur and are very insecure.

Who actually thinks or cares about this type of thing?

I'm common as hell and I don't buy named cards. I buy a bumper pack of mixed cards from paperchase, it looks like you've made an effort picking out individual cards but you haven't.

I have enjoyed buying everyone named cards from the baby for their birthdays this year as he is my pfb and i am a soppy git.

Also hats off to you for starting a thread about class op, being a goady fucker is very U.

Utter bollocks. I buy these & am not common. DF has a library in his house!

Usually by those who have delusions of grandeur and are very insecure yy to this. If you have to wonder about whether things are 'U', then you aren't. Obviously.

MIL loves them and we always buy them for her. Otherwise she might stop doing all my ironing and collecting the terrible DCs two nights a week from school so I tolerate their dreadful lower-class-ness because of the greater good.

I really do fucking hate ironing.

I do love reading these threads on class, though. I've no idea what I'd even be; first ten years in foster care, adopted by lovely but batshit family who did pretty well financially, uni-educated, teacher, large house no mortgage, holiday home abroad, kids are rough as arseholes and our spaniel's a twat though so I'd guess we're probably still lower class.

Anybody who describes anything or anyone as 'common' needs to sort themselves out.

lost and found office

We have thousands of senses of humour that appear to have been lost - do come and see if you can find yours.

Describing anyone as "common" marks you out as a lower middle Hycinth Bucket type.

I read too much Nancy Mitford and Jilly Cooper at an impressionable age and cannot unknow this stuff its too late for me now

I read too much Nancy Mitford and Jilly Cooper at an impressionable age and cannot unknow this stuff its too late for me now

Me too!

A very grand lady I know uses ordinaire in an impeccable French accent.

It's withering.

I'm closer to the bottom of the heap and I'm reasonably common we have tinsel on our tree and I love all of those, 'to my wonderful Brother and Sister in Law this Christmastime...' cards.

So yes, OP, in my very small study group of one, you are correct.

We send them to my parents and in laws, I wouldn't be able to send my mum a normal little Christmas card out of a pack, she'd probably think she'd upset me if I did.

What do people who don't send them, send instead?

Blimey, you learn something new every day. My DM is the biggest snob I know and she always sends named cards. I can't wait to tell her she's common.

Hycinth Bucket is as working class as can be...just with MC aspirations? Wasn't that the whole point of the comedy? Same as Sally Webster on Corrie!

Actually in my family they see it as being cheap if I don't buy them a card with Aunt, Mum & dad or Brother and Sister in law on the front (cos they are usually more expensive)
I think its really however your parents raised you, nothing to do with class really as my cousin is doing very well for himself and was brought up to do the same thing. Weird thing to bother posting a thread about I would say.

It is the inclusion of "to" that is he class giveaway on the front of an envelope.