Utter snobbery

[ScattyPenny]

This may be old news and I apologise if it's been done to death already. I know it's not a new thing.

My friend has a daughter who has just started at a prestigious Russell group uni. My son is at a regular uni.

My friend showed me pictures of her daughter wearing a T-Shirt on a night out bearing the slogan 'Your Dad works for my Dad'. It was for a student night out in which students from the local 'poly' and the 'proper' university were attending. Obviously it was an antagonistic slur on those attending the 'lower rated' university.

I'm from a working class background and struggled to get to university and I'm very proud of my achievements and of my son having got to where he is. I was the first in my family ever to get a degree and I went to a new university (old poly). I went to a state school and my parents worked hard but never in well-paid jobs.

AIBU to think that this smacks of class snobbery?

Many kids at decent universities will have got there through hard work and determination but many will have had the benefits of private education, middle class values and educated (and supportive) parents.

Personally I think it stinks. My friend however thought it was funny.

Sad as it sounds, the slogan probably rings true for many of the students. However, it must seem like a kick in the face in an 'I've got somewhere you'll get because you're poor' kind of way.

Sorry...just needed to vent.

Yeh, horrible, and really presumptuous. Who knows who went where. The arrogance of it.

But ultimately it is a foot-shooting exercise because it seems to say ''Russell Group Universities are about privilege not intelligence''

It's just middle class people and their snotty, stinking attitude.

Honestly, RG degrees are 10 a penny now. But horrible attitude, which I can't help feeling reflects upon the parents.

Ugh ugh ugh.

Really vulgar. Obviously she is savvy enough to know she’s from a privileged background but not quite smart enough to understand how to behave.

It’s vile but they’re still ignorant teenagers and the spite that usually goes on via social media just gets printed on t-shirts.
Hopefully three years university will knock the arrogance out of them and help them mature.
Well done to your daughter.

I would be embarrassed if I saw a photo of my DD wearing such a t shirt, let alone showing it to someone else.

I don't like that T shirt at all and would be annoyed if my son or daughter bought and wore won, however I think it was meant as a joke. Young people's humour is very cutting. The parents are probably more miffed about it than the kids.

Let's face it, it's not true anyway! Young people choose their universities because of the courses that suit them and many of the newer unis offer career based courses that are absolutely spot on for the students who want them. Think: International Hospitality at Brookes which is a great course for someone who wants to work in hotel management; Business and Human Resources Management at Greenwich. Courses like those offer placements with prestigious companies and the students are confident and well equipped to go into good jobs at the end. Not to mention the engineering sandwich courses.

None of that has anything whatsoever to do with the income or status of the parents.

No matter how fabulous and rich she is, there’s always bigger fish than her.

charming slogans such as "Fuck the NHS" on them, (I think they may have been Young Conservatives!)

Well, I suppose at least they are delivering on that promise.

either-ive missed this..or in scotland....its not a thing?

Shameful.
Appalling.
Disgraceful.
I'm glad my offspring are better than that.

The so called Russell Group universities used to be “regular” universities, too. That was back in the day before polytechnics became universities, too.

It’s not snobbery to rate the RG unis; it’s simply appreciating those places for the fact that they are rated as and regarded as better.

Overuse of “too”. Oops.

Pay no heed OP. What is so special about a student that hasn't achieved anything yet? That has to resort to implied threats using their parent? It's risible and if your friend had a brain cell she'd not be laughing, she'd be embarrassed and ashamed. I certainly would be.

The best universities in the world can't do anything to make some students 'fit for purpose'. I don't see the point in 'grading' them - grade the quality of the student that emerges.

If I discovered a child of mine had worn that T-shirt I would be absolutely furious and having a very severe word with them.

But I agree with this:
'But ultimately it is a foot-shooting exercise because it seems to say ''Russell Group Universities are about privilege not intelligence'''

I think it's pretty much sung at every varsity where there's a poly and a RG in the same city, I know they do it in Leeds, DD went there and I heard they do it in Nottingham too.

Doesn't make it right, it's cringey, especiallly since loads of kids also went to state comprehensives. Well my DC did!

I went to a RG University and DH went to the 'lesser' University in the same city. I rag him about it but guess who earned the most money. It's bantz innit.

That's really horrible OP. I'd personally be disgusted and disappointed if my child wanted to wear one of those t-shirts or found them funny. I didn't go to Uni as i'm also from a poor background. My DS just started Uni this year, he had 4 unconditional offers including one from the only RG uni he applied to, they were actually his first offer. he turned it down to go to another Uni in the same city as he felt more comfortable and the course and opportunities for employment seemed better (and it was closer to the train station ) . I got a few raised eyebrows from snobs who couldn't believe what he'd done. One was at work and whilst getting the "why the hell has he done that look", one of the directors overheard and said, that's a great choice, that's where I went!

Anyway, hopefully your son does well and enjoys his course, I bet half of the snobs will have dropped out by Christmas.

I complained on here once about the annual "dress as a chav" party the local grammar school hold on their year 7 residential. I was told that I was veingboversebsitive and it was suggested that the grammar school kids were getting their own back after years of abuse.......

I’d be encouraging her to wear a

“My Dad may well work for your Dad but at least I’m here on my own merit without all the privilege Daddy afforded me”

T shirt

I went to Sheffield Hallam - through choice despite getting into Russel group unis because I preferred the teachers and teaching style there.

There were clubs that used to do nights that were hallm vs uni of. Did all sorts of stupid games like bull rides etc. It was a bit of fun and everyone had a laugh.

But that's a whole different level and sad to say my experience of working with teenagers is that class snobbery is definitely making a strong comeback.

The issue here is why was that person was wearing that particular T-shirt. Either they were a complete asshole or, as a pp suggested, it might have been something like a 'posh vs poly night' where it is all in good fun and no one takes offence as they give as good as they get. It clearly hit a raw nerve with you but might be taken in good fun at an event.

I still have my ‘I’d rather be a poly than a cunt’ t shirt. I wear it when my DP, who went to a Russel Group uni, pisses me off.