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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you date a binman?

641 replies

TrishM80 · 02/12/2021 09:17

Inspired by another thread about being a binman as a career.

You meet a guy on a night out or OLD. Seems nice enough and nice looking, all good. Tells you he's a binman.

YABU - immediate turn off
YANBU - give him a chance

OP posts:
BasicDad · 02/12/2021 12:10

I would like my DD in the future to couple with someone that is attractive (she finds), kind, happy, makes her happy, loyal and works hard. These are fundamental before anything.

But, I would prefer that she finds all of that with someone that has bigger financial ambitions than a bin man. I'd also like her to have her own independent financial ambition too.

hangrylady · 02/12/2021 12:13

I'd rather date a bin man than an investment banker

Northernlass99 · 02/12/2021 12:15

One of my best friends was a bin man. He used to get some awesome stuff that people had left out and was always sharing them with us and others (often nothing wrong with it). He used to get most of this clothes from the bins. As well as being a bin man he was studying economics and politics and LSE!

HaaaaaveyoumetTed · 02/12/2021 12:15

Why wouldn't you?!

Ponoka7 · 02/12/2021 12:16

@Glassofshloer, a gas engineer earns at least £20k a year more and is qualified to degree level. So your posh friend's family may have a different attitude to her turning up with a bin man.

In the NW, a bin man's wage is on a par with warehouse work, but you have th chance to increase your wage without taking on further qualifications. So it could show ambition, not everyone is academic.

PheonixGlitterRepublic · 02/12/2021 12:16

I’m a lawyer and DH is a blue collar worker. It’s obviously not a problem for me but it is not a pattern I see repeated in any of my colleagues or friends. Even the old fashioned paradigm of professional man with attractive but low income wife doesn’t seem to exist anymore, they all have professional wives too these days. Just an observation.

readwhatiactuallysay · 02/12/2021 12:19

@jingletits36

I would be more likely to be turned off by someone with this type of snobby attitude to be honest.

This is exactly what i was going to say.

It should be that would a binman consider dating you !! Answer...No as you dont have very nice views and that would seep into other areas of your personality and be a tad toxic to be around !!

MerryChristmas31 · 02/12/2021 12:19

A job is a job.

steff13 · 02/12/2021 12:20

I wouldn't date anyone I found "nice enough." But if he was actually nice, and had the other qualities where were important to me, then yes.

StrongLegs · 02/12/2021 12:20

I had a friend a few years ago who was married to a binman. They're both absolutely lovely, and more worth having than many other people I know. The man was very highly educated too and had just made a life decision that that was what he would do.

DillonPanthersTexas · 02/12/2021 12:21

One of my very posh friends is currently dating a gas engineer & loving it.

I've seen this film, it was a bit rude.

Muzzyarker · 02/12/2021 12:21

My husband has worked as a binman. Wages were nearly 2000 a month, a lot more with overtime, started at 5.30 am home by 11am sometimes 10am. This was 3 years ago.
In certain countries it is a highly respected and sought after job.

ArabellaScott · 02/12/2021 12:22

It's an unreasonable question to ask. Why on earth would there be an issue?

ArabellaScott · 02/12/2021 12:22

@DillonPanthersTexas

One of my very posh friends is currently dating a gas engineer & loving it.

I've seen this film, it was a bit rude.

Grin
Ididanamechange · 02/12/2021 12:23

I married one. Perks of being married to a bin man- hes fit and strong, has a great tan on his face and arms, finishes early so can do afternoon school run/nursery pick ups, is up early so no queuing for the bathroom when me and kids get up, he gets tipped a lot of money, chocolate, bottles of wine and beer at Christmas, I can sneak none recycling into my bin collection as his colleagues will collect it and recycle it their end for me. Has a really secure job.

Thatldo · 02/12/2021 12:24

What do you think would happen,if nobody collected our rubbish?! I think,people who actually do an important job in this world are to celebrated and certainly not to be ashamed of.what sort of world are you living in...

SignOnTheWindow · 02/12/2021 12:24

Bin man: yes
Tory MP: no

Coyoacan · 02/12/2021 12:25

Genuinely posh people would be disiheritied for marrying a binman

My ex-husband had a summer job as a binman and his grandfather had been tailor to the king.

ChaToilLeam · 02/12/2021 12:25

Our bin men (and also the workers at the city dump) are a cheerful and helpful lot, they seem to actually like their jobs. Here they are decently paid and have good job security, it’s an essential job after all. My neighbour is a surgeon married to a builder, he’s usually home early to be there for the kids. One of my best mates is a senior teacher married to a stonemason. Someone happy in the job they do is going to be a much better companion that someone doing a job they hate, no matter how lucrative.

julieca · 02/12/2021 12:27

@Coyoacan

Genuinely posh people would be disiheritied for marrying a binman

My ex-husband had a summer job as a binman and his grandfather had been tailor to the king.

Tailor to the King is very different from marrying his daughter.

Also tbh lots of posh people have told me they have done jobs I have as a summer job when a student. It is looked on differently if that is your job ongoing.

ArblemarchTFruitbat · 02/12/2021 12:32

Whyever not?

Reliable and decently-paid work - what's not to like?

If my presently unemployed DH could get a job on the bins I'd be delighted.

gersteddybears · 02/12/2021 12:35

Yes why would it matter what he did for a job.

BodgertheJogger · 02/12/2021 12:35

@Kendoddsdadsdogsdadsdead

Binman yes. Tory no.
Exactly how I feel ha
forinborin · 02/12/2021 12:37

I don't think we will have much in common, to be honest, to have a relationship.

Rivermonsters · 02/12/2021 12:37

Meh depends if he came home smelling or not