What makes a person 'common'?

[Karlwho]

In your opinion. Just interested.

I don't mind common. Obviously you don't go around arbitrarily judging everyone, but, well, you've got to have standards, don't you?

I've been ridiculously poor, and my children have never been so well mannered, or my house so clean.

I know a family, ordinary working class, lovely people who may or may not fit the criteria of some on here,but they are well mannered and kind. One of the daughters has, as a result of the company she keeps, slid into what is classically "common" behaviour over the years - smoking like a chimney, yelling at the kids, celebrating ignorance, bad manners and rude attitude - and it's very noticeable. Unpleasant too

Indeed MN gold

We are a bilingual household and tick quite a few of those boxes and we are also bloody lucky and privileged.

My lovely SIL wouldn’t tick many of them but she is a kind, hard working person who has brought up children to be proud of. She hasn’t had the same opportunities as I have educationally but that doesn’t make her less valuable than me.

My post is in response to GooseBaby

1. Saying "pleased to meet you" rather than "how do you do".

1. Taking shoes off when entering one's home (and requesting that others do so).

1. Referring to one's parents as "mum" and "dad" (rather than mamma/pappa/mumsie/daddy etc).

It took me 25 years of living in the UK to finally learn those three essential points.

To be closed minded and not willing to hear others out or their opinions.

Being unkind for no reason.

Not being able to control your anger.

This thread is hilarious 😂 if some of the things listed here make me common then so be it. I'm proud to be.
The worst behaviour and rudeness has come from the "posh" people I've come across in my life.

Leaving the kids asleep on the drive in the car.
Kicking a homeless sleeping man on the street.
Shoving cocaine up their noses.
A rich guy I knew raped a lady because he thought it was his right.
Oh and let's not forget the couple who left their kids sleeping in an apartment to go eating and drinking with their friends.
That to me is more common than eating dinner in front of the tv. Pierced ears and football kits. 👍🏼

Driving a huge car when you don't have a large family.

Haha - I used to live near a posh private school, and come 9am our road was full of 4x4s with one mum and one child in them!

Nothing is 'common' except judging people for certain facets of their nature where no harm is coming to others.

Oh, and:

1. Eating processed cheese slices. (How could I forget that one?!)

People are not common. Judgement is.

I too am shocked with taking your shoes off being considered common - would you really walk around your house in outdoor shoes? I live in a carpeted rented flat so no way would anyone be wearing shoes indoors. I'm not a super hygienic person but people could literally be treading bits of dogshit into your carpets.

I agree with you . I always ask people to take their shoes off. It’s basic hygiene.

Wedding Gift Lists
Asking people to remove shoes when they visit
Artificial grass

is it possible to be "posh" and "common"?

People seem to be saying that the two are opposites.

@Inamechangedjustforthis - I do have to agree with your late DM, I always think of chewing gum as common as it makes people look like cows

I too am shocked with taking your shoes off being considered common - would you really walk around your house in outdoor shoes?

You would if you were upper-class, as you would have public rooms on the ground floor of your house, where you would receive people that would arrive dressed for the occasion.

Most of us are common and have to invite people into our personal living spaces, hence removing shoes is necessary.

Hygiene and swearing has nothing to do with being common. (Haven't you all watched The F**king Fulfords? I highly recommend it!)

Unless your royalty the rest of us are commoners 😉

is it possible to be "posh" and "common"?

Yes, it is possible to be elegant and stylish (posh) whilst being common.

I went to a grammar school and have a STEM masters but I also have a tan, watch Love Island, live in a flat and have eaten Greggs products in the street

I'm gonna preface this by saying there is absolutely nothing wrong with being obviously working class in public. (which is what "common" means, let's face it)

In the lighthearted spirit of the thread, some "common" but brilliantthings are:

Kids playing out
Chucking sugary snacks off the deck access walkway at your kids playing out
Penny falls machines
Plastic toys that light up and make noises
Branded sportswear (bonus points for football casual connotations)
Dogs that are, in all honesty, too large for a housing estate - kept on a housing estate.
Big Christmases
Samurai Swords (in case of the return of Shogun rule presumably)
The Facebook group "DIY on a budget"
Any magazine that contains both a harrorowing "real life story" and a word search.
Certain kinds of "respectability": very diligent cleaning, avoiding swearing (especially infront of women).
The phrase "I pay full rent"
"Treat cupboards" especially if replenished for guests.
Catapiller Eyebrows and messy buns on top of the head.
Local Facebook groups that consist mostly of sightings of police activity and the phrase "hope no one is hurt"
Meat raffles
I could go on all day......

We have tv’s in the kitchen and bedrooms.
We drive flashy cars
I have a tan
DP and I often swear at each other (loving insults)
I eat processed cheese by the slice out of the packet
I am common

So being common is essentially being working class in the eyes of many?

It's funny that many of the "common" traits seem to be echoed at the other extreme.

Swearing, drug taking and lack of consideration for others are traits often displayed by the aristocracy but they're "eccentric" so it's ok.

Thing is TVs in the bedroom and kitchen, fake tan etc don't affect other people. Anti social behaviour does.

To clarify having a tan is ok in my book. Skin comes in all colours and we all need vitamin D. Fake tan.... nope.