To think working class shows?

[MrsBonnie]

I work in a lovely school where they’ve all had very different upbringings to me. Very much working class here. Sometimes I think it shows with little things I’ve noticed.

Having sugar in tea, using a tumble drier, not having a cleaner, using the wrong glasses for different drinks (I.E using the same one for everything!)… what else am I missing that excludes me from the club 😂 sometimes I will mention something like the above and get “oh I never use a tumble drier” … then I just think oops have I said something weird there?

Sometimes I think they’re judging me with things I say and do but I hope not! I grew up being homeless at a certain point, council houses, single teen (but amazing) mum, a very specific type of circle. I feel like Mum did everything she could to get us out of that way of life, but I can’t help but feel I don’t belong sometimes. Or that I stick out like a sore thumb. Am I being daft? Imposter syndrome a little bit!

In the olden days -
you were “posh” if you didn’t put washing on a line as that meant you had a tumble dryer, therefore had money …… everyone noticed!!!!!
today
you are “posh” if washing is put outside on a line (by your ‘daily who does’ of course) as you’re saving the environment😂😂
Class really does not matter a jot these days.

Hi, please don't try to be something you are not, it shouldn't matter which class you are. At the end of the day, be yourself

Bear in mind also there are people in flats etc with no access to outside drying spaces. I can't imagine it being great relying solely on an airer in that situation, esp during colder months what with mould, etc.

I guess everyone and situations are different.
Ignore the feeling that you feel you stand out :).
We were working class growing up, all good memories, never deprived, had a great tumble dryer, used the same glass for liquids.....

I'd say me and my hubby are more middle class due to salaries, I use the same glass for same liquids, and we live in a new build with no tumble dryer... lol we have a 2 in 1/washer dryer..

They're super expensive these days..

It's not what you have or don't have.
It's what you say, your accent and the big giveaway - holding knife like a pen. Sorry!

Should that REALLY matter?

Shouldn't the question be 'what's your personality?' 'Are you a nice person?'

I'm was not born here and I think the whole class thing is very strange. It is time we moved on from this lords and peasants mentality. Why would I be inferior as a person for using a tumble dryer?

I read and understood your OP just fine, I don’t understand these people who seem to think you’re looking down upon WC people even though you are one. 😂

Anyway, my very UMC ILs use a dryer all the time as they can piss away money on it and their towels are extra fluffy, in fact they were so horrified at ours when they came to visit they bought us one, it turned up the other day out of the blue and it’s bloody brilliant.
Three cheers for tumble dryers!

Only on MN would a tumble dryer denote lower class🤯

Well I never knew about the tumble drier thing……

Working class roots here. Me and my husband both grew up on very deprived council estates. We still live on one (long story but we had our kids young and made a huge financial mistake when we were younger).

I gained a first class degree via the OU and I am completing my research masters at Warwick. I will complete my PHD at some point.

I am now in no man’s land. I have a good job.

People/colleagues are shocked when they find out where I live. For example, I was talking to my sons friends mother who is a head teacher and she mentioned the school our children attend and she made a flippant comment about how the school is good despite the area it backs on too. Said area being my area but she assumed I wouldn’t live here.

To be honest I do actually feel a bit embarrassed about where I live as all my friends and associates live in affluent areas. I don’t make friends with these people because of their class it’s just who we have things most in common with. My children have all picked similar friends who funnily enough don’t live on this estate.

Sometimes I bump into people from my childhood and the difference is massive. Like we are two worlds apart now.

sorry you are you , why do you care what other people thin of you , they bring their kids to you , you are not the child catcher relax , what does working class mean in todays relax and enjoy life

I used to take my tea with sugar, now I have it without, so what does that make me? I've always put sugar/no sugar down to personal taste - who knew!

On my travels in Eastern Europe I was chatting to someone about how no one really rushed around with a coffee or a cigarette, they’d stop to do that… and she said it was a subtle hint towards having the time (I.e., not needing to be at work 24/7) to do so…
I guess the great tumble dryer debate is in the same vein? That those who have the luxury of time/wardrobe big enough to let their clothes dry by other means do so, whilst people who need to wash & wear will need something to dry them quickly???

who knows??
I’m working class, first in fam to go to uni, parents got a tumble dryer when we finally got a house big enough to fit one in - I now own my own home but alas the middle classness didn’t stick and we could only afford a post war terraced house so no space for dryer… we do count ourselves lucky though that we have a brick outbuilding so maybe one day we can be middle class

We also have a sheila maid in the utility room! I had the roof pitched high and a velux put in so I can dry whatever the weather :) Never thought about having a tumble drier. Didn't grow up with one, but then my DM sent sheets etc off to the laundry... we were starched into bed every night :)
To the OP - I grew up in a very middle class household, DF was an Executive Admin of a big multinational and DM had attended Roedean so learned all the etiquette niceties from a young age. Funny thing - when I went to University I dated some upper class young men. They ate with whatever implement they chose and drank out of whatever was clean, even though they could put on some wonderful manners when they chose.. I was teased for apologising and saying "bless you" when someone sneezed. Did I marry one? no way! I found myself a lovely caring working class man and have been happily married for 25 years.
My view? Manners do not maketh man. Or woman for that matter. Be yourself.

I grew up WC in one the most deprived parts of the country we had a tumble dryer in our terrace house from about the mid 80's onwards, we also had a washing line in our backyard. It means fuck all.

Is there someone or a group at work making you feel like you don’t belong? That’s really the crux of it. If so, they are not worth securing their approval. If you’re simply insecure for no reason, then put it out of your mind.

A tumble dryer, sugar in your tea, obsessing over others choosing the ‘correct’ glasses, having a cleaner, haha it’s all ridiculous and nothing to do with class or anything else. I agree with posters who say true class is not really one group one-upping another group, but simply respect and regard for yourself and others. Anything else is just a pretense to feel superior and make others feel inferior. And that is not classy!

The tumble dryer thing is not true. I once stayed with an upper class family in London (with connections to the crown) and they infact had multiple tumble dryers

using a tumble drier
What do the middle classes use to dry their laundry? Pony farts?

How do people who live in the UK but aren't British judge themselves? Can they?

I've always thought of myself as solidly middle class in the American sense, but that's always seemed more lifestyle/achievement based than the British sense, which seems more heritage and possibly geographically based?

To me, growing up, middle class meant that we weren't wealthy but also never really wanted for anything (well, I did want a horse that never happened). Had a very comfortable but not fancy house in a nice neighbourhood. Had insurance that ensured good health care. Went to (good) state schools. Grew up with the assumption we would go to university and have 'careers' rather than 'jobs' (as did my parents).

I have water glasses, whisky tumblers, white wine glasses, red wine glasses, port glasses, champagne glasses (tulip & flute), teacups, coffee mugs, espresso cups.

Pull down drying rack, tumble dryer and a cleaner.

No sugar in tea or coffee, but occasionally honey in tea.

I don't really know what class I fit into. I work, have a professional qualification in a strange field of work , don't take sugar in any hot drink, am proud owner of a new heat pump dryer.

I was bought up to believe that only posh people had showers in their houses 😂 according to my parents. I know that isn't the case now, but still appreciate my shower at home 🚿 how odd is that?

Summerfun54321 Thank you for taking the time to answer.

In reality as long as you have your health and the basics you're rich in comparison to many people from all walks of life who don't have their health.

@BobbinThreadbare123 if you are now living in Scotland, hiya pal!

I want to know what PPs mean when they say MC/UC have ways to let you know you don't belong.

I am on the road to giving up sugar in my tea because it is going to kill me.

It fools my body into thinking I've eaten when I'm on a sugar high so I skip meals.

I think it is addictive.

I'm not sure if you are suggesting that you are working or middle class?

I'm apparently middle class, I don't often use our tumble drier but only due to the cost. I do have my tea sweatened, I'm fully aware of which glasses are used for what, but to be honest I'm not that fussy, same with plates. Sauce and gravy boats, but there are far more worrying things to life.

I'm told that my dress style makes my class very obvious as does my speech, my husband is a cockney working class GENTLEMAN. He hasn't a clue about glasses, doesn't take sugar, uses double negatives, incorrect tenses, and rhyming slang, but is there for anyone that needs help of any class!

To me class means nothing, respecting people's differences is the important thing!

We are all working class.
Middle class - The Middleton family, MP's, the PM
Upper class - aristocracy
Get over yourself.

I truly hope i don't sound middle class, im really not, but i love a wine when im out (rarely) but i like it in a large glass with a long stem (not a Coronation Street glass as i call it!) i am also very particular with cutlery i use, it has to be flat handled, i hate curves on it and the like, albeit pretty. I am also left handed so perhaps a contributing factor?
And yes i do have a tumble dryer which i use in late autumn and winter, but not had the heating on… yet 😜