To ask how do you know which things are 'tacky/common'?

[TheHydrangeas]

On here I sometimes see certain items, behaviours, homeware, fashion, makeup, etc classed as "tacky" or "common". Sometimes I can understand it, but other times it is things that seem pretty innocuous. Despite this you see this kind of unanimous belief that those things are "common". However I can't really find an underlying pattern to what is deemed to be tacky/common and what is not. Is there any kind of theme or pattern to this? One example is I remember reading a thread where a pretty popular brand of scented candles were classed as tacky.

I also want to say that I am not trying to portray other users negatively as judgemental or anything, we are all entitled to our opinions. I am just interested from a broader point of view - how do certain things become tacky or common?

@PhilSwagielka

I went on holiday to Munich a few years ago and went on a guided tour of Linderhof Palace. It was the tackiest thing I'd ever seen - we're talking entire rooms covered in gold. King Ludwig II did not have very good taste.

Btw why do people on here look down on Lindt? Is Lindt common? I love the stuff.

I suspect Lindt is now a bit ubiquitous - an element of rarity always adds to a brand's snob appeal. Still tastes good though, imo.

@Meangallery

Lords and duchesses don't flaunt things they own, because they don't need to try to impress anyone. How many subtle modest castles and palaces have you visited lately? 😂😂 It's so funny how the upper classes have you lot fooled that they are not ostentious - they are skint that's why they ain't splashing the cash. They continue of course to need to impress - but not the plebs - they need to impress their betters and equals - everyone else is invisible.

I'm merely playing devil's advocate here - but it could be said that those castles and manors are inherited with the stuff already in it and the decor already there. It's not their personal taste.

It's not uncommon to see those who live in castles walking around looking as scruffy as anything - I regularly see the local Duchess walking around the town I live in and she looks like she works on a farm and is on her way to muck out the chickens.

She lives (for half the year) in a very grand castle which you can go on tours through when they're not in residence. I've been, I really doubt she is allowed to decorate at will, her personal style is at complete odds with the decadence she lives in.

I was watching Phil spencer and he was at Chatsworth house which has gold leaf window reveals

I thought it looked lovely and quite fancy doing the same to my house

But assume it will look tacky on a 1900’s 2 bed terrace house

lampshadery And indeed she might be in the middle of mucking out the chickens - but I doubt if her wealth was more liquid she's be behaving in the same way. They have added to the castles and palaces in the past - if they have the cash - but many of them don't anymore..

@Meangallery

lampshadery And indeed she might be in the middle of mucking out the chickens - but I doubt if her wealth was more liquid she's be behaving in the same way. They have added to the castles and palaces in the past - if they have the cash - but many of them don't anymore..

Apparently the Princess Royal returns from engagements, slings an old coat over her ballgown and goes out to check the livestock so it looks as if you’re wrong.

She and her husband are richer than the Queen, there are no financial worries.

Playing Candy Crush

Sitting in the front room with the pendant light on and curtains open. Bonus tackiness if it's a naked light bulb or there are no curtains.

'Duckface'/snapchat filters on literally every single SM pic

Grown adults going everywhere on mountain bikes, usually with a plastic bag draped over the handlebars

Grey joggers on anyone over 8 years old

Grey Joggers and Timberland boots combo

Grown men wearing football shirts anywhere besides 5-a-side or at a match

Grown men who ever describe football shirts as 'smart'

People who wear flip-flops in public when they're nowhere near a beach/pool

People who think interacting with your child means hanging out of a window with a fag in your mouth while they play outside

Giving the kids energy drinks

Leaving the dog to fend for itself/shit all over the garden because you can't be bothered walking it

Wooden words 'Live/Laugh/Love' etc

Having 'EAT' scrawled across the kitchen wall in three foot high letters. Presumably they also have 'Shit' in the loo?

Giant wall clocks

Diamante everything. Loo seats, Flip-flops etc

Apparently the Princess Royal returns from engagements, slings an old coat over her ballgown and goes out to check the livestock so it looks as if you’re wrong. I wouldn’t think Anne has enough income to burn through cash without a worry. We’re talking about checking the horses which are basically Pets - or does Anne have sheep, pigs and cows to check on too!😂

Caravans parked outside houses.

@Meangallery

Apparently the Princess Royal returns from engagements, slings an old coat over her ballgown and goes out to check the livestock so it looks as if you’re wrong. I wouldn’t think Anne has enough income to burn through cash without a worry. We’re talking about checking the horses which are basically Pets - or does Anne have sheep, pigs and cows to check on too!😂

We don’t know what “we’re talking”, do we? Her horses are working horses. I’m not entirely sure what point you’re attempting to make, PR certainly has an income in seven figures.

I have never owned a Yankee candle (nor would I want to reading the comments on here about the artificial scent) so can't comment. I only light candles in a power cut and they are unbranded.

I associate 'tackiness' with ostentacious displays of wealth. Today I mucked out the stables in an old soft and comfy RL plaid shirt although nobody would know it as the only 'label' is inside the collar. I buy expensive clothes, but they fit well and last for years. None of them have any outwardly obvious labels and I don't see why I should be advertising any brand unless paid to do so! Any sort of large labels or bling would be considered tacky or common by me.

Facebook dramas
Gossip
Wine served in the wrong glass
Swearing in public
Foot tattoos
(As I'm writing these I am realising I am a massive snob!)
Drinking In the street
Men with shirts off when not on the beach
Scouse brows
Filled lips
Too much make up

@Thisismytimetoshine

There's something similar in relation to suntans; they were deemed low class because it signified you were compelled to be outside working the fields; instead of inside being fanned with palm leaves by a lackey who also peeled your grapes. Pale complexions were a sign of wealth. As was being fat

Excellent. I'm now classy as fuck.

Grown men wearing football shirts anywhere besides 5-a-side or at a match

Surely playing or watching football is tacky and common?

Surely playing or watching football is tacky and common?

There's nothing tacky or common about the sport itself. Some of the people and behaviours associated with it, yes, but simply watching it?

There are plenty of 'common' people who play golf and watch it on TV, but I doubt anyone would ever claim playing or watching golf is tacky and common.

FWIW, the men I'm describing in relation to football shirts I don't really view as any different to those who think wearing a lurid Pringle jersey is smart and fashionable. It's a piece of sportswear. I veiwPeople who wear football shirts and golfwear casually and would describe them as 'smart' as having no sense of taste or style whatsoever. JD Sports isn't a fashion outlet.

I'm sat on my IKEA velvet sofa with grey sweatpants flip flops on the floor eating Lindt chocolate. Only on MN would I be considered common. Once again too many posters looking down on other people. Its all a bit Hyacinth Bouquet. Some people need to get a life.

I know some do think golf is a bit tacky/common. I also know some think it is not. It really is all subjective !

Lindt chocolate. Mmmm.

Having 'EAT' scrawled across the kitchen wall in three foot high letters. Presumably they also have 'Shit' in the loo?

I wanted to put JOBBY in the downstairs loo but DH wouldn't let me. Meany!

Her horses are working horses.

You make it sound like they're pulling a plough or something! Horses haven't actually been needed to 'work' since the internal combustion engine became popular. 😂 Anyone keeping or riding horses these days is generally doing so as a hobby in some way. Probably the only exception would be riding schools or police horses (although even there, not sure that there aren't more suitable tools for the job).

Having horses which hunt, do dressage or racing does not qualify as owning 'working horses' because the owners generally keep such horses because they enjoy the sports, not for their utility.

There's nothing wrong with having horses as a hobby, but don't dress it up as somehow more noble than it is.

Police horses are eminently suitable for the job because they tend to quickly intimidate and subdue potential troublemakers just because of their size and presence.

I take your point that no one 'needs' a horse to pull a plough or for transport, but hunting, dressage, racing and other equestrian activities employ people directly and indirectly (grooms, vets etc; and feed suppliers/farriers/sellers and manufacturers of tack and so on), bring in money through sponsorship, entry to events, equestrian media like magazines and TV, and are in that sense very much 'work'.

@BryonyBev
We're just about to exchange on a house, and one of the covenants is that we can't have caravans or motor homes parked on the driveway. Obviously our neighbours agree with you!

hunting, dressage, racing and other equestrian activities employ people directly and indirectly (grooms, vets etc; and feed suppliers/farriers/sellers and manufacturers of tack and so on), bring in money through sponsorship, entry to events, equestrian media like magazines and TV, and are in that sense very much 'work'.

No. It's a hobby.

Most hobbies lead to employment. Me riding my bike means I buy bike parts and bike clothing etc. Lots of people buy bike magazines and there is a big industry around supplying the enthusiast market. The top riders are sponsored, and the MTB world cup brings a lot of revenue into Fort William.

But it's still a fucking hobby.

Like I said above, there's nothing wrong with horses as a hobby. But that's all it is, and horse owners shouldn't pretend they're above that.

So Anne comes home from a night out - throws an old coat on over her posh frock to go and check on her pets (I'm sure her pets won't judge her coat) how does that prove me wrong? Checking on your pets isn't the same as cleaning out chicken shit - does she clean out the stables on a daily basis?