Who are 'ordinary people'?

[FemaleEngineer]

I keep seeing this term from media and on MN threads.

I have no idea what this actually means? I think I'm pretty ordinary. Then again, we're all unique in our own way.

AIBU?

I’m ordinary.

Absolutely nothing unique about me 😂

Ive never travelled beyond France or Spain, I’m on a 26k salary, have two children and live in a 3 bed new build. I’m on the short side, average looks. I don’t have any exciting hobbies, I don’t have any exciting stories.

I am completely, and utterly.. average.

It just means people. Homosapiens. They say it as a soundbite.

Me too @UnTrussworthy - I actually think there are a lot of us around.

Guessing 2.4 children family, earn £29,600, house £256,000... These are UK averages, apparently. Probably vote Conservative even though policy wise they sit with Labour. That one's my interpretation!

@UWhatNow

i read some people on MM complaining of ‘only’ a 30k salary and I don’t think I’ll see this in my life and it does make me wonder where on earth i went wrong 😂

I 'only' have one child, so maybe I don't count?

Can you tell that it REALLY annoys me. Politicians & media please take note!

Same. I'm just a standard-issue human. If I were a car, I'd be the model without Bluetooth and it'd probably be a faff to stop me from interrupting your radio listening with travel updates.

Surely the opposite of ordinary is extraordinary and i don’t think someone on a huge salary or with loads of children is particularly remarkable

I think most people know what "ordinary" means and learned it in childhood. Like "woman" "man" and other words people try and erode to look interesting and deep.
It all started with "what is normal?" but everyone bloody knew that as well.
I despair sometimes.
In a political context "ordinary people" is supposed to make you think "people like you". Because most people think they are ordinary. It's to make you think what is being said will apply to you and to therefore make what is being said seem relatable and relevant.

I'd say it's 95% of the population, so just normal ordinary general humans!

People without anything extraordinary about them, like Olympians, world record holders, lottery winners, people with amazing unique careers (thinking arctic explorer etc).

I once got told I wasn't ordinary due to height, I told them no that's not even extra ordinary it's just tall 😂

@OnomatopoeiaFlea Unnecessary

Totally agree! So who falls outside of 'ordinary people'? I'm thinking record breakers & Nobel prize winners?

@OnomatopoeiaFlea
I did wonder, but I seem to be a top earner in comparison to my family and friends, although not a significantly far off amount.

Truthful

@OnomatopoeiaFlea thanks btw - might as well die.

Do you live in Hull?

@OnomatopoeiaFlea no I’m south west.

I think it's extremely lazy journalism, every time I see or hear it makes my teeth itch.

@OnomatopoeiaFlea Would you like to fund my Christmas?🤭

so... I think £26k is a perfectly normal salary. Lots of people I know earn this or less.

on mn there seems to be some sort of weird idea that a normal salary / mid earner is at least £50k.... which for many people.. it isn’t.... especially outside of london and the south east

of course there will be some outliers earning over £100k: but on some threads, people seem to think they need to earn at least that to have a decent standard of living

I would hope that most ordinary people don't get a kick out of being unnessecarily nasty.

@OnomatopoeiaFlea congratulations you have reached a most extraordinary level of cuntery.