Would you date a binman?

[TrishM80]

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

My dbruv was a bin man for three summers while at uni. Unionised apparently, good pay. He's a CFO now.

His wife doesn't seem to mind.

@MintJulia

My dbruv was a bin man for three summers while at uni. Unionised apparently, good pay. He's a CFO now.

His wife doesn't seem to mind.

That’s like me saying I was a cleaner while studying at Oxbridge 🙄 Not the same as someone doing it as an FT job and it’s patronising to pretend otherwise

Sn0tnose

"OP, why Binmen? Why not middle management? It’s almost as though what you’re really asking is whether people would date someone poor and working class, but you haven’t quite got the nerve to come out and say it in case you get accused of snobbery."

As I said in the original post, it was in reference to another thread (where the mum didn't want her son to become a binman). "Aim higher" was the advice. Wanted to see if these attitudes carried over into not wanting to date binmen.

@Yutes

There may be other reasons you don’t like him. And that is fine. But having a job as a bin man is, for me, a bit of a strange solitary reason to bin someone off

Yutes, was there that pun intended in, 'bin someone off' 🤣

My first boyfriend was a binman. I was totally smitten with him. He was a wrong 'un though and ended up in prison for god knows what. He used to write to me from jail. Obviously I've moved on and my latest dp and father of my children works in education.

Yes absolutely.

My bin men are all young, fit, cheerful, polite and helpful, plus, they earn around £35,000 - around here which isnt to be sniffed at.

I once dated a coal man and on hearing this, my dentist said sarcastically, "your patents must be very proud." I said they were dead. They werent but it wiped the smug smile off his bastard face.

I think there is a lot of virtue signalling going on here. I suspect a lot of middle class posters with comfortable incomes claiming that of course they would date anyone with any job. It’s very easy to claim that money isn’t important when you’ve never been skint.

@StruggleStreet

I think there is a lot of virtue signalling going on here. I suspect a lot of middle class posters with comfortable incomes claiming that of course they would date anyone with any job. It’s very easy to claim that money isn’t important when you’ve never been skint.

The ones on this thread who have gone on to marry bin men must be very committed to publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate their good character

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken I imagine they’re in the minority

And FWIW my ex was a binman, there were lots of other issues in our relationship but his lack of ambition in life compared to mine was ultimately a big problem.

Well I’m glad my mum never asked this question or I wouldn’t be here!

Fwiw my dad was a binman in the city of London and the swag he brought home was immense. Offices would just chuck out pcs and TVs when they got new stuff and the Xmas tips would practically cover Xmas. The people my dad worked with all were “uncles” and very generous to us kids, and dad always did the school run in the afternoon. I was/am a very proud binmans daughter. Dad ended his career as a senior manager too, with a very good pension and a very comfortable retirement. I’d love to find me a man like that! In fact if I didn’t have health issues I’d gladly do it myself

@Brainfogmcfogface

Well I’m glad my mum never asked this question or I wouldn’t be here!

Fwiw my dad was a binman in the city of London and the swag he brought home was immense. Offices would just chuck out pcs and TVs when they got new stuff and the Xmas tips would practically cover Xmas. The people my dad worked with all were “uncles” and very generous to us kids, and dad always did the school run in the afternoon. I was/am a very proud binmans daughter. Dad ended his career as a senior manager too, with a very good pension and a very comfortable retirement. I’d love to find me a man like that! In fact if I didn’t have health issues I’d gladly do it myself

Love this post

I used to.

Yes, absolutely. It’s stuck up twats I wouldn’t touch.

I don't believe for one second that 85% of mumsnetters would date a binman. People just don't want to sound snobby.

The data says that men prioritise attractiveness in a partner and women prioritise status.

Huh? Why wouldn't someone? That's a weird question OP

@EightWheelGirl

I don't believe for one second that 85% of mumsnetters would date a binman. People just don't want to sound snobby.

I'm married to one.

Nothing against bin men or anyone doing a manual job but (perhaps naively) there doesn’t seem much in the way of progression.

A lot of them become drivers. Biffa, for example, will put you through your Class 2. My mate earns £41k as a recycling driver on the afternoon/evening shift. £15 an hour plus £30 bonus daily bonus and overtime on top. And union are currently negotiating a pay rise to £16 p/h.

I'm married to one.

I don't doubt it but it's extremely rare for middle class graduate women to marry binmen.

@StruggleStreet

I think there is a lot of virtue signalling going on here. I suspect a lot of middle class posters with comfortable incomes claiming that of course they would date anyone with any job. It’s very easy to claim that money isn’t important when you’ve never been skint.

OP's opening post is quite straightforward. Would someone's profession alone, in the absence of any other information induce you to turn down a date? In my early twenties I would go on a date (I even dated people who were unemployed) , but I wouldn't be satisfied with him remaining 'just' a binman. If he was in his early twenties fair enough, and pp have pointed out opportunities for advancement etc. However if he was in his late thirties and still 'just' a binman - nope.

It's snobby to assume that binmen aren't intellectual, or boring and talk only about bins. It's not snobby to consider what sort of lifestyle you want and whether a binman would fit that criteria. Again, dating in your early twenties is different from dating in your mid-thirties where people in high earning professionals are already on at least 50K and many have considerable assets. Also different if you're in an area where 40K is considered a high salary and very little opportunity around vs a place where everyone around you is on at least 50K.

People going 'omg i cant see why not they're hot and fit' are the ones that make me go . PP pointing out that binmen earn a decent amount, are home more etc etc fair enough.

Yes, I think you'd get a similar response if asking "Would you date a working class man?"

Isn't this an episode of Frasier?

@Marinerscove

Anyone else think of Roz in Frasier?

Ha X post before I saw yours

I wouldn't, but not due to the income but I'd just feel put off that he'd been handling rubbish all day and imagine the bin truck and clothes to be very dirty. It would probably take alot to get rid of the smell. Bad smells get in your hair etc. I know he could take a shower but still im not sure you could get rid of the smell entirely.