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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask another 'class' question?

251 replies

PonyLo · 30/10/2023 23:55

I know.
But i was reading another thread and it brought this to mind. People keep blithering on about it on MN, but the topic is often about signifiers such as clothes, house, job, schools, consumer choices and such.

So I had this thought - if a huge amount of people were just placed together in a big group wearing only a simple cotton dressing gown and no make up, could you tell what *social group they belonged to?

Like the bare bones?
My guess is that probably not! You might try to pick 'hair style' but I have found that varies wildly (I am middle class with a good amount of natural frizz). Which kind of confirms my suspicion that it's all about perception, rather than fact.

*'Social Group' is a much preferable description since it disqualifies attempts to use hierarchical judgements.

OP posts:
HikingforScenery · 31/10/2023 08:27

🤣🤣🤣

This was in reply to the time traveller reply. I forgot to quote.

MammaTo · 31/10/2023 08:28

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

Yes definitely!
Ive found people who are genuinely rich rich (not a MC perception of rich) couldn’t give a shit what people think about them.

grottyb · 31/10/2023 08:30

I think it’s also a bit of a security blanket, “that Paul across the road who has made millions through scaffolding & can afford private school isn’t as good as me because I say supper & enjoy classical music” 🙄

SerafinasGoose · 31/10/2023 08:30

Ah washed me fize un 'ands before ah come, ah did ...

Georgeandzippyzoo · 31/10/2023 08:31

The helmet is seen as a joke, since they don't even have lights and are dressed in black balaclavas ( I'm not joking).

@Doingtheboxerbeat

This is also the case where we live! I do worry about future generations because of who is producing them.
I was definitely wc as a child, also a single teen mother, but now based on jobs we would probably be in the middle.

Around here there is a certain 'look' which you could categorise people, both men and women. But then my dh is 6' 2 with a shaved head and when in his 20s we would definitely be followed by security in stores (became a game to us, especially in Next!) I don't suppose any of them thought he was a respectable teacher!

CurlewKate · 31/10/2023 08:31

@HikingforScenery <bows>

WrongSwanson · 31/10/2023 08:32

grottyb · 31/10/2023 08:30

I think it’s also a bit of a security blanket, “that Paul across the road who has made millions through scaffolding & can afford private school isn’t as good as me because I say supper & enjoy classical music” 🙄

Definitely this!

Caerulea · 31/10/2023 08:32

CurlewKate · 31/10/2023 08:18

@Caerulea "I also say the word 'cunt' with such poetic ease my class status would be undeniable."

Now there I would need other indicators-but it might put you upper class. Confident swearing is very posh indeed.

It's how we infiltrate them. 🤫

PonteMinchi · 31/10/2023 08:34

SerafinasGoose · 31/10/2023 08:30

Ah washed me fize un 'ands before ah come, ah did ...

Stop it, you’ve given me a ‘Just you wait, ‘Enry ‘Iggins, just you wait’ earworm.

Marchitectmummy · 31/10/2023 08:34

I think you can tell in the choices people make when they move away from their natural look. The choices made for hair colours, make up.

Working class natural or middle class natural for harder to tell the difference.

Beezknees · 31/10/2023 08:35

I have a shit ton of tattoos which is a big indication of working class. So you could probably tell no matter what I'm wearing.

PurpleWisteria1 · 31/10/2023 08:46

Blackandwhitemakesgrey · 31/10/2023 01:47

This isn't going to be popular but wealthier people are more likely to be slim.
Someone told me this some years ago as her daughter was in a private school and there weren't any overweight girls in her daughter's class.

Of course there are exceptions - there will be wealthier fat people and there will be very skinny/malnourished looking poorer people.

But if you are aware of it, you will see its true, especially for women.

So so true.
I live in the SE. 40 mins drive apart is one of the most deprived areas in the SE and one of the most wealthy areas in the UK- it’s known for being very middle class.
The vast majority of men and women in the wealthy area are slim. Most are into fitness in some form. They eat well. From the dozens I know in that area none have large visible tattoos. No noticeable fillers. No Large fake eyelashes. No overdone caked make up or dark fake tans.
40 mins away and these things are on every other person. Also, in the poorer area lots of faces look hardened. Weathered. Lined.
So yes OP, in answer to your question I would be able to tell to a large extent although I am speaking in general so wouldn’t be able to tell with everyone.

flaxentoad · 31/10/2023 08:47

SerafinasGoose · 31/10/2023 08:30

Ah washed me fize un 'ands before ah come, ah did ...

😂 I do hope you came in the tradesman's entrance, you guttersnipe!

PurpleWisteria1 · 31/10/2023 08:55

MammaTo · 31/10/2023 08:24

I think there’s a difference in the perception of working class and “lower class”. I’d see working class as people who work with their bodies eg builders, cleaners, warehouse assistants. People who provide physical labour.
The funny thing is my dad was an electrician and had friends who were builders, joiners etc and they probably earned upwards of £50k a year but would never think of themselves as middle class.
But the stereotypes I’ve seen bandied about on here of veneers, botox, tattoos etc I’m assuming you mean people who don’t appear to work - I wouldn’t class these as “working” class as you surely have to work to be working class.

Working class used to mean those who worked (at all) as opposed to those who never work (gentlemen, landowners - the landed gentry)
It doesn’t mean that now and class doesn’t equate with money necessarily although the two obviously do go hand in hand.
Anyone who doesn’t understand class, and how is still affects us today needs to read more English history. It’s everywhere and underpins our whole culture!

grottyb · 31/10/2023 08:55

This isn't going to be popular but wealthier people are more likely to be slim.

women yes, men not so much.

NuffSaidSam · 31/10/2023 09:02

1stworldissues · 31/10/2023 04:23

So because I carry some weight and a few tattoos I must be working class?

Codswallop

Show quote history

It's not that you 'must' it's that you're more likely to be.

baileybrosbuildingandloan · 31/10/2023 09:04

Good grief the abject snobbery on here!

No wonder we still have a Tory Govt.

Deargodletitgo · 31/10/2023 09:08

Given I'm not British by birth, or accent, I wonder where someone would place me. I'm also fat.

Where I'm from we don't have such class distinctions, or insecurity.

Isittimeformynapyet · 31/10/2023 09:09

Chickenkeev · 31/10/2023 02:01

My reply is of every conesquence. Otherwise,i wouldn't make it. .

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Your reply wasn't very good tbf.

CurlewKate · 31/10/2023 09:17

@baileybrosbuildingandloan We still have a Tory government because we DoN'T talk about this stuff enough!

Isittimeformynapyet · 31/10/2023 09:17

Chickenkeev · 31/10/2023 01:36

You absolutely can't tell with accents and vocab. Bertie Ahern. He was a fabulous politician. He had neither the the accent, nor the vocabularly (considering he was dealing with the British Government). Intelligence is not defined by accents. It's a fool who assumes someone is less than because of an accent tbh. You have to listen to what they say, not how they say it.

Show quote history

Yeah, but this thread is about class, not intelligence.

I don't think anyone on this thread has said that WC people are less intelligent than MC or UC (yet! I haven't read it all)

LodiDodi · 31/10/2023 09:24

There are always outliers in all 'classes' though. I'm from a very poor background in the North East but my accent has gone weird from moving around since studying in the south east and living elsewhere. No one can tell which part of the UK I'm from let alone my socio economic background. No tattoos, my hair is medium length and my natural very dark colour. No fake tan or other add ons. I'm polite but if someone tries to take advantage of me, i have none of it. There are actually many people like me in the working and middle class but you'd never know it until you have everyone lined up in the way you suggest. People have more in common than they have differences.

Muddle2000 · 31/10/2023 09:46

The topic and depth of their conversation and newspapers
they read or is this only the more educated ones

MrsSkylerWhite · 31/10/2023 09:47

Yes, I think you probably could. Something to do with bearing. Not sure how to describe it.

CurlewKate · 31/10/2023 09:49

@Isittimeformynapyet "
I don't think anyone on this thread has said that WC people are less intelligent than MC or UC (yet! I haven't read it all)"

Watching people on education threads trying to avoid saying that this is what they actually think can be entertaining...

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