To be irritated by people who bang on about where they’re from

[Notfromthevalleys]

Couple of women where I work will NOT stop talking about how they’re from The Valleys (south Wales)
“Haha it’s the valley girl in me”
“Haha you can tell I’m from the valleys”
“You can take the girl out of the valley but you can’t take the valley out of the girl”

There is nothing remotely different or valley-esque about them as far as I can see, other than the fact that they keep harping on about the valleys as though being from there is some sort of pedigree.

There’s also a bloke who will not shut up about being a “Swansea lad”.

Is it a south walian thing?

I am from mid Wales and we all work in mid Wales so not like they’re a million miles away from home.

It’s like the Oxbridge people who name drop their college all the time. That’s annoying too, but I at least it’s a genuine achievement to go to Oxbridge.

I understand that people’s community and identity is important to them, but there’s just no need to bring it into everything.

Anyone else come across this and AIBU to let it grate on me so much?!

When I was travelling I would cling on to my Geordie-ness. I have no idea why I did or why it was so important to me, maybe because I thought it was the only thing that made me interesting?
Perhaps these people are the same?

Never come across it but sounds bloody annoying.

Meh - not Welsh (or from Oxbridge either!) but think this is just what folks do when they have a "common bond" - it helps them socially and makes work connexions flow better. I wouldn't worry too much OP. You'll see it everywhere - though admit it can be wearing. As long as they are not excluding you then leave them to it

My family do this. All the fucking time. Drives me mad. (Yorkshire. Moved away years ago)

Nah you get it all over

Being a professional northerner seems to be a thing. Paddy McGuiness is all “eeh up it’s me paddy bloody mccguiness I’m just so bloody northern!!!”

Doesn’t happen so much down south. Well, apart from Claire from Masterchef. Did you know she was from Kent?

I am Welsh but not from the Valleys but work in one. I would never ever say I was from the Valleys if I wasn't.

Don't ever find yourself sitting next to a Kiwi at dinner.

Love the term professional northerner! Know exactly the type you mean.

@StrictlyAFemaleFemale

Love the term professional northerner! Know exactly the type you mean.

I'm definitely one of them

Did you know I was a northern lass though??

Sorry I couldn't resist.

@ShirleyPhallus You’re so right actually, now I think about it! 😂

WHOSE COAT IS THAT JACKET?!

I'm welsh and Oxbridge. You'd not know from my voice, though, and I haven't lived there for years. It's when an area has a strong cultural identity, I think. The accent varies within ten miles- Cardiff from Newport from Swansea, etc. The valleys are quite different from the towns.
I miss it terribly and love going home.

Bugs me too.
I'm from Birmingham!!! ( hears tumbleweed, and rightly so!)
I feel that some folk delight in banging you around the head about where they're from.

Oh I don't really mind that. I thought this was going to be about people who go on about being 1/4 Finnish and 1/4 Japanese and also part Irish, Portuguese and Russian and Maltese. And you're like oh how interesting but in reality you couldn't care less if their great grandparents came from fucking Mars.

Too scared to mention which folk! Though it might be obvious.
Ducks head.

How can you tell if you work with someone who is ex-forces?

Because they tell you ALL THE FUCKING TIME

Your experience in a foxhole in Afghanistan bears no relation to your tedious job in accounts. STFU

There's a woman on my local community FB group who goes on about being from Leeds whenever anyone asks about which local fish and chips shop is the best.
She says she is best qualified to answer as she's from Leeds! We live in London

I have the opposite problem. I don't live in the city I grew up in but you can tell where I'm originally from as soon as I say something. Cue endless 'jokes' about cars on bricks etc.

It's weird when you cross the border though, and they go from being totally different groups because they live 10 miles away to being basically the same but totally different to the English. They become just so Welsh. Same thing happens along other borders, and with the English going into Wales etc. I've seen it with small towns and villages too, and when people are from different areas/boroughs or the same city. As though crossing a main road makes them so different. It's bizarre, but gives the People in the group a feeling of belonging.

Same thing happens with job roles, which universities, colleges or schools people went to, what car they drive even. Just any way to categorise people and work out if they are 'us' or 'them'.

I work with someone who goes on about being from Wigan. I don’t know much about Wigan or attach any particular meaning to the place, but it’s said in an irritating ‘I’m just from Wigan, me’ sort of a way that annoys.

Tedious.

Speaking as a Londoner, I've never even heard of any of these places 🤷‍♀️

@SmiledWithTheRisingSun

Speaking as a Londoner, I've never even heard of any of these places 🤷‍♀️

I'm not sure that's something you want to actually saying in public.

@SeaTurtles92

WHOSE COAT IS THAT JACKET?!

Hanging on the floor!

Yes, I know those, and also the people who go on and on about being either working class or middle class.

Usually with Get Us We’re So Middle Class thing it’s people who haven’t been middle class that long and don’t realise yet that they aren’t supposed to talk about it.