To think some people are really snobby about tradespeople?

[Loveheart13]

I’ve noticed that a lot of people really look down on tradespeople/jobs with practical skills.

Dh works in a trade and he earns very well. Obviously I don’t talk about it. I’ve noticed that people make a lot of assumptions that it’s poorly paid, that you must be a bit thick.

I’ve got friends ds and work colleagues who think that university is the only way. I know someone whose nearly adult child is not very academic at all but they are determined to push on as they are certain that anything less than a degree is complete failure.

Why are people so snobby about it?

This is definitely the majority view where we live. Trade means you’re made and university is not for the likes of us.
I have worked facility companies for years, many of the confident tradesmen, the type with the skills and the self confidence that allows them chat to anyone, return to education to take on management roles, project management, marketing etc.
The building companies like people with experience on both sides.
There is a time limit as a tradesmen due to physical wear and tear, working in all weathers, many take on night courses.

No disrespect to your dh but this is the attitude I’m talking about.

I love a man with practical skills. Many, like my dh are strong, hardworking, humble, understated, far from stupid (as some people seem to believe). Earn a very good wage.

All my friends with husband who work in offices are always moaning how useless their husbands are round the house.

This can be really common behaviour amongst white collar men. I think its rooted in ideas of 'real men' being physical. Strong enough to do manual work, and practical and resourceful when it comes to fixing things. Men who disparage the guy with the skills to keep their home safe and functional for them and their families are often coming from a defensive position because they can't do this themselves. To be fair, this often also works in reverse, with trades sneering at the guy who faffs around in a suit but can't unblock his own sink.

Why is MN obsessed with social class? In real life, no one is remotely interested. People are people.

This particular poster certainly has a fixation with it.

It’s very odd indeed.

Sad no business offered as that’s something tradespeople could really benefit from.

What sort of jobs would you consider pointless?

God knows andc t makes no sense anyway as most posters claiming to be working class are essentially living a very middle class life

I agree but I do think it’s shame that university is no longer free to attend as it is such an amazing experience. I didn’t go straight from school but was still young. The breadth of things we learnt about was fascinating - and for those leaving home at 18 a very sheltered way to step out into the world.

that said academics isn’t for everyone. Trades are usually very skilled and well paid so I don’t know why anyone would feel snobby about them.

When university waa free to attend though the percentage of people that went compared today was tiny.

These people are idiots op. I would LOVE it if DH was a builder or a carpenter!!

I’ve got friends ds and work colleagues who think that university is the only way.

But if every single person went to university for a university type job...then who do they expect to keep the university clean and sanitary while they study?
Who will fix all the things that break every day that can affect their learning?

Who will build the lovely house they want to buy when they have finished their studies?
Who will collect their rubbish, keeping them, their property and possible future children free of disease and rats?

Who will be there to serve them and supply them with all they need to furnish their life...and so on...

Seems as though these people didn't spend enough time in university if they think the world would work just as well, or even better if "university was the ONLY way to go"

Unless you relish the thought of living for months (even years!) with half done jobs there's never the time for because paid jobs take priority, but are never allowed to pay anyone else to do, I'd be careful what you wish for!😂

Partner is a qualified roofer and plumber, and is an all round DIY legend.

Things get fixed before they even break here.🤣
I love that he can and will do any job I can't or don't want to do. Plus he looks so incredibly hot walking across our roof in his harness, boots and work trousers😍

You are a lucky woman!

Don't get me wrong he can be a really annoying dickhead in other ways like us all 🤣but, I am lucky.
People have and do talk to him regularly like he is a thick, until he starts packing his tools away and they realise they'll be left with a gaping hole in their roof above their children's beds. They change their tune just enough to get what they need.

He works 5-6 days a week depending the week and has been offered tea/water/to use the bathroom, exactly twice since the beginning of Jan.

Both days, it was the same lovely lady😆 People are arseholes

I think traditionally (like 30-40 years ago) those who were intelligent went to uni and those who were less so got an apprenticeship and became a plumber/electrician/builder etc. At that point I agree there was an element of assuming they were poorer/less academic.

Not now though. Every tradesman I use seems to be minted. Flashy cars, posh vans, huge houses. Every estate with big houses seems to have plumbers and window cleaner vans outside.

Now I think tradesmen have hit the jackpot. They seem to make a fortune, always have more customers than they want/need. If I had kids I would definately encourage them to learn a trade and not bother with uni unless they desperately wanted to go.

I say this as a retired qualified accountant.

I am so jealous of neighbours who are married to handy men who are tradesman and can get their husbands to do jobs round house.

That said whilst I definately do not look down on them or think they are poor I do hate dealing with them. Whilst they are still good tradesmen out there who do a good job, trying to find them is exhausting and terrifying. Even the ones that are good at their jobs seem to be in a huge rush all the time which makes me feel stressed out when they are in house.

I never really thought about the whole wearing out of their body thing but I guess that would be true and so they might need to plan to retire from it by what 50? That said lots of office based jobs are hard to get for people over 50 to get as well cos of ageism.

I think traditionally (like 30-40 years ago) those who were intelligent went to uni

Intelligence is only part of the reason people went to university 30 -40 years ago. Financial support, lifestyle, family support.

and those who were less so got an apprenticeship and became a plumber/electrician/builder etc

Intelligent people didn't get to attend universities due to their financial circumstances.

It's crazy that people believe tradesmen with the skills to shut down the cities or repair the systems lack intelligence.

I don't experience people being snobby about tradespeople. Maybe it depends on the circles you move in.

It’s great isn’t it 😍

I know this to be quite true.

I have a software engineering background and one of the cleverest people I have ever known was in a senior technical role in a previous job. Some years later I was working for a different company and one day an electrician had been called in for something required in the office. It turned out to be the same guy! Apparently he had taken early retirement then retrained as an electrician and was loving it.

It amused me that one of my colleagues had been referring to "that electrician bloke" in a slightly disparaging way and I was thinking "Sunshine, he could do your job with one hand tied behind his back and still do a better job than you, but he would be far too polite to make you feel bad about it."

Where did you get this data from?

(I definitely expect tradies get on the property ladder earlier and they tend to start working earlier. I started my first “career” job at the grand old age of 25 which would be at least half a decade (if not more) than anybody I knew who went the trades route.

I actually find the snobbery is more in the reverse - people who look down on non trades job as “not a proper job”. Once again maybe circles I frequent but I see far more vitriol aimed at uni graduates, bankers, lawyers, marketing peoplec tech, finance than I ever hear aimed at carpenters, sparkies, plumber builders etc.

I completely disagree but I suppose it depends on the circles you mix in. My husband is a tradey so is my dad and my brother in law - all earning very good money and none of them thick by any stretch of the imagination. I’ve encouraged my son to get into a trade from a young age and I’m sure he will - again he’s not thick! Added bonus my husband in work gear 🥵🥵😂😂
Personally men who can’t fix, build, create almost anything do nothing for me either and it’s a joy to have never needed to call upon a tradesperson in my life, extensions, tiling, plumbing, electrics - all done in house 😂

I always offer drinks, I thought it was good manners and the norm.