Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

If you are really posh...

345 replies

quickque · 04/10/2020 10:55

How do you view people that aren't?

A genuine question. I can't help but feel as if some of my husbands friends / colleagues think that he's married 'down'....

Maybe a generalisation but I mostly get this impression from his female friends.

OP posts:
stovetopespresso · 04/10/2020 15:22

op just remembering a family i knew who were snobs behind closed doors. they would laugh at women with painted nails, I guess they would have thought them common although would never have used that word as "only common people do so"; refer to people as 'm-i-f' which meant milk in first which was defs not plu. they would talk (albeit a bit ironically) about whether people weren't quite out of 'the top drawer' and do imitations of people with middle-class insecurities, such as boasting, or even knowing, how many bedrooms they have, having an ' en-suite', also looked down on as presumes modern plumbing. they would talk about people who live in bungalows as 'bung-dwellers'. they found the description of Michael hestletine seeming like 'a man who buys his own furniture" as opposed to inheriting it, highly amusing. oh yes and there was 'tea' pronounced in piss-take accent which was what plebs ate at 5 or 6 as opposed to tea at 4.30 with cake and biscuits. I thonk this is hard wired into people although hopefully changing, curious as to what you could have down to trigger them op, did you dunk your jaffa cake or something? Grin hope life is changing for the better now and everyone can be valued equally.

YouokHun · 04/10/2020 15:29

@IncandescentSilver

Theres so many degrees of "poshness", its all relative. A lot of people who aren't remotely posh may try to look down on others for not fitting into their "set".

My family are relatively posh, though in a rural, landed gentry way, as in a lot of them didn't have to work for a living and lived in Georgian country houses. I grew up in one for part of the time so my childhood was spent teaching my pony to lead down an ancient set of polished stone steps around the back of the walled garden to his field and evading everyone who told me (rightly) that it was dangerous because they were so slippy (but it was much quicker). I was always slightly orange tinged in winter, before fake tan came along, because our water came out of the taps that colour when rainfall was high.

Anyway...I treat everyone the same and am disappointed when they are not. I don't consider myself posh and deliberately don't cultivate a posh accent, although when drunk or annoyed it can become very posh. My mother was the same and used to look down upon people who were either too "brash" (new money/can't stop talking about it) or just ill mannered. She had an inbuilt hatred of housing estates (even expensive new ones), monobloc driveways and men who drink regularly in pubs. She also hated Edinburgh's New Town for some reason, and referred to the rears of the tenements as "looking like falling-down slums".

I know a lot of "posh" people. Some of the older aristocratic Scottish men at the top of the landed money pile are seriously unpleasant with little good to be said for them, especially those around East Lothian/the outskirts of Edinburgh. The ones from Perthshire always seem to be nice. A lot of Eton and Harrow educated men are very decent. The worst I find are these late forties plus women who have never worked but have somehow married into money and then wasted years building up their self image to something far more important than it actually is.

But my family are also very clever and well educated, and thats a whole other level of posh. I moved to the Borders for a while and I remember being out with a local hunt and being asked by one of the snooty wannabee posh girls there, as I was hinting that one of my horses was for sale, whether I was a horse dealer. "Good heavens, no" I said. "I'm a lawyer. What is it you do?"

As for men, I'm single and I can sniff out a whiff of what I can only describe as "roughness" all too easily. Its something to do with the ability to smirk, or rough skin, or a pointy nose, or something! Or just the general attitude. I was speaking to a man online dating the other day and it was all going well - his skin wasn't terribly rough and his feature were relatively symmetrically arranged - until we discussed hobbies. He told me his included "like going to the pub for a couple of pints, don't usually drink much in the house" and that was enough to put me off. I previously dated a man who was unemployed for a couple of years, so its not anything to do with money. Its much more intrinsic.

But in answer to your question OP, I'd say the real deciding feature is whether you have the confidence to stand up to anyone who is treating you wrongly and put them in their place politely yet icily. Or whether you have the confidence to be slightly eccentric and comfortable enough in your own skin to go your own way - this post is an example of that.

Grin Grin I know these threads about class can be tiresome but they worth it when gems like this appear. This post is an example of something but I am not sure it’s what the poster intended Grin
OVienna · 04/10/2020 15:33

But in answer to your question OP, I'd say the real deciding feature is whether you have the confidence to stand up to anyone who is treating you wrongly and put them in their place politely yet icily. Or whether you have the confidence to be slightly eccentric and comfortable enough in your own skin to go your own way - this post is an example of that.

This is the answer to life as far as I'm concerned.

goodbyestranger · 04/10/2020 15:36

My father described himself as nouveau pauper. Aristocratic but every penny gone in the war - and no expectation that money would come from anything other than his own endeavours in the workplace. In terms of his attitude to others, he never, ever distinguished on the grounds of either background or money - and neither do I.

goodbyestranger · 04/10/2020 15:37

Nouveau pauvre not pauper (autocorrect)

bellinisurge · 04/10/2020 15:37

The only actual posh people I know (or have worked with) don't give a shit about "where you are from" or "what you /your parents do".
I've known plenty of moneyed arseholes but that isn't posh, that's moneyed.

Arofan · 04/10/2020 15:40

@ParrotheadRedux

Not this again. The tired old MN trope that “truly posh” people are all humble, kind and most importantly they ALWAYS drive beaten-up 15-year-old cars. “New money” on the other hand must be flashy snobs who have no social graces and anyway they buy everything on credit to look richer than they are. 🙄

I think psychologically people have a real need to believe in fairness. British people in particular have a very strong ingrained sense of class lodged in their subconscious and this can be hard to shake, even in younger people who believe they are past it. We are trained to respect the upper class so we characterize them as relatable and unassuming. On the other hand there’s no obligation to respect “new money” folks and it’s more comfortable to find ways to look down on them then admit the world is arbitrary and we are jealous of all the cool stuff they have.

Absobloodylutely! Post of the day.
Baaaahhhhh · 04/10/2020 15:46

How do they know your background? If they are judging purely on money, they are ignorant, not posh.

Like, Goodbye, my ancestors were very wealthy upper class, due to the war, and many children, and multiple marriages, the wealth has gone. DH ancestors industrial northern low paid, low class. His father came from that background and ended up CEO of FTSE company. We live pretty standard middle class lives, and I don't think anyone would guess our different backgrounds. We mix with all and everyone, regardless of background, we judge on the person only.

SlightlyJaded · 04/10/2020 15:51

I have a group of genuinely 'posh' friends - back pages of Tatler/live in stately homes/National Trust properties/carry titles etc - proper, bona fide posh.

They are not snobby AT ALL. Genuinely, generous, funny, grateful and gracious.

My more 'middle-class' friends live in their judgy pants.

Oxyiz · 04/10/2020 16:03

I think it must be terribly easy to be polite and lovely when you have been trained your whole life to be so, and you have absolutely no financial stresses about food, housing, or your future. In fact, it would be weirder to be a complete arse all the livelong day (although I'm sure plenty manage it).

That doesn't mean you're magically exempt from prejudice or snobbery though. Just better at hiding it or swallowing it down.

derxa · 04/10/2020 16:08

I like old school older posh people. Like the woman and her husband who used to live opposite my dad's farm. He had a sheep open day and invited them. Of course they came and admired the sheep. In the end the husband died and his wife went into a nursing home. Dad and I used to visit his old farmer friend who was in there. But we'd often see the woman sneaking past the window to have a fag outside.
OP you're just as good as anyone else.

Missteebeee · 04/10/2020 16:13

“New money” can be snobby and might look down on people

People that come from wealthy backgrounds are generally taught that everyone is equal and no one is above the other

(In my experience at least)

Flappingduckfeet · 04/10/2020 16:31

I think it must be terribly easy to be polite and lovely when you have been trained your whole life to be so, and you have absolutely no financial stresses about food, housing, or your future. In fact, it would be weirder to be a complete arse all the livelong day (although I'm sure plenty manage it).

I know what you mean by this but there is another side too. I know two people from university who live on modest trust funds. I think it has almost destroyed them because they are both tied to a degree to dominant parents, their lives have not been broadened by the responsibilities of work so they weren't forced to strive ogrow and they remain the same as they were when students, plus they are isolated because all of their friends have moved on . You need monumental levels of self discipline to come out of that situation well.

Flappingduckfeet · 04/10/2020 16:32

or grow

HollywoodHandshake · 04/10/2020 16:33

@bellinisurge

The only actual posh people I know (or have worked with) don't give a shit about "where you are from" or "what you /your parents do". I've known plenty of moneyed arseholes but that isn't posh, that's moneyed.
until you try to marry one or just until they send their diner party invitations..
Staffy1 · 04/10/2020 16:36

I don't think it's more your issue, as others have been saying. Apparently William's friends looked down on Carol Middleton and referred to her has "doors to manual" in reference to the fact that she had worked as an air hostess. No idea how that was supposed to be funny, I imagine you have to posh to understand the humour in it.

Atalune · 04/10/2020 16:38

Those who are well educated have the manners and social skills to glide through life. Giving you the impression they wish.

That’s all.

Posturesorposes · 04/10/2020 16:39

I haven’t read the entire thread but I’m struggling to see how “don’t have to work for a living” = POSH? Do you mean all SAHPs are by default posh? Or alternatively - if someone has a career they’re passionately pursuing - and yes it does also pay bills - they are by default not posh?

BlusteryShowers · 04/10/2020 16:44

@Posturesorposes I don't think it's hard to understand what she means at all. Most SAHPs surely have a partner that earns money through employment or their own business.

Not having to work for a living in this context means that they have sufficient wealth to not need to actively work to earn money. I imagine their wealth comes from property and investments etc.

CaMePlaitPas · 04/10/2020 16:59

I once knew a Lord and Lady and had fairly regular interactions with them. They were incredibly respectful and engaged well with me, didn't make me feel inferior whatsoever.

I wouldn't say they were "nice" people - they were distant, but I guess it goes with the territory!

Janegrey333 · 04/10/2020 17:13

@Pyewhacket

Don’t know anybody that fits that profile. The nearest is my BIL. He’s a fund manger and likes in some fuck off house in South Oxfordshire but he’s more minted than POSH.
A “loadsa money” type, then?Grin
Janegrey333 · 04/10/2020 17:14

@Staffy1

I don't think it's more your issue, as others have been saying. Apparently William's friends looked down on Carol Middleton and referred to her has "doors to manual" in reference to the fact that she had worked as an air hostess. No idea how that was supposed to be funny, I imagine you have to posh to understand the humour in it.
That seems to indicate their lack of true breeding.
Janegrey333 · 04/10/2020 17:17

@Missteebeee

“New money” can be snobby and might look down on people

People that come from wealthy backgrounds are generally taught that everyone is equal and no one is above the other

(In my experience at least)

I rather think that’s a myth.
Thurmanmurman · 04/10/2020 17:18

Genuine poshos are above all that.

Elsa8 · 04/10/2020 17:25

I used to work with a really posh guy, he was lovely and always happy to hang out in cheap bars and eat at Wetherspoons! One girl I used to know who was very posh was quite snobby though. I think like any other group of people it really depends!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.