It's time for mumsnetters to finally define "tat"

[Oxforddictionaryunofficialupdate]

Aibu for traffic, title not exaggeration.

In last week the world "tat" took over mumsnet faster than bedbugs did over Paris.

It's time to finally define it. In last week it was plastic items, decorations, some clothes, various home furnishings, kitchem utensils and small gadgets, jewellery (i think), chocolates and sweets...

Anyone using the worls "tat", please give an example items of what "tat" is in your minds. Like exact items examples not "just stuff no one needs".

Because at this point on MN it is simply "any physical item I personally don't like" 🤷 o EVERYTHING is tat...

Yabu - tat is life and everything is tat
Yanbu - it did get ridiculous now with even food being called tat

Not sure I use the word, but I normally associate it with plastic, usually cheaply made and visually unappealing. So a lot of seasonal stuff in the Range or B&M could fall into that category, also the type of toys you get in party bags or free with happy meals. Funko Pops also fall into this category even though not cheap as they just seem pointless.
I wouldn't class chocolate as tat though, except maybe Kinnerton which really is like eating sweet cardboard.

I would describe it as anything that serves no useful purpose, been cheaply made, derived from synthetic materials, plastic/fossil fuels, most likely imported from China in vast quantities and from companies that aren't transparent with their supply chain operations.

We could all buy less things and make more of an effort to be more considerate of supply chains and environmental impact.

Stuff whose purpose is to be to be purchased rather to actually be used for anything. Or where the use is secondary to the act of purchasing it.

Hence why it also tends to be cheap and poor quality. It can be, because the point isn't to use it.

It meets some psychological need to consume. Global corporations have spent billions on marketing over the past 30 years to achieve this.

I would describe it as anything that serves no useful purpose, been cheaply made, derived from synthetic materials, plastic/fossil fuels, most likely imported from China in vast quantities and from companies that aren't transparent with their supply chain operations.

Balenciaga 😂 except the vast quantities

Can people give examples of stuff which has no purpose? It seems to be mentioned a lot

less present but bugger budget

Next thread title contender right there!😂

Anything your MiL gives you or your children.

Tat is anything which is cheaply produced and designed not to last. I would not include anything edible in tat.

Clothing made very cheaply in Chinese sweatshops is tat and always has been. Cheap stocking filler plastic toys which last 20 minutes before breaking are tat. Flash in the pan trends like loom bands or fidget spinners are tat. Poorly-made decorations and ornaments which people tire of in 3 months rather than treasure for generations are tat.

Poor quality items that aren't needed and perform no useful function. Usually made out of plastic and destined to break or be discarded soon after buying.

Something that is used once then thrown away.

Landfill fodder.

Anything bought direct from China via wish or temu is written off as tat on MN. I'm not arguing with the point that a lot is largely low quality, but it's certainly not everything.

I can't say I've noticed.

But to me "tat" is the sort of thing that breaks/doesn't work the first time you use it.
We used "plastic tat" to describe our kids toys from the ages of about 2-6. All the toys for that age group seem to only come in the size "massive" and the colour "garish".
We did our best to confine most of it to the conservatory, where we called it "tat mountain".

I'd also put it in the category of "has no monetary value if you tried to re-sell it."

I particularly like it when the obvious snobby people ask what B&M is to try to prove it’s beneath them. 🤣

Like porn, it is a noun whose meaning varies depending on the subject of the sentence

"They are porn addicts. You're a consumer of erotica. I enjoy challenging adult themed literature."

"They have a load of tat. You collect White Company candle holders. I enjoy my display of artisanal objet d'arts."

I used to buy 2 advent calendars for my girls when they were little. One with pictures as like you I remember them fondly when i was little and one with chocolate - i would cut the chocolate in half and they take turn opening one and the other.

then i bought one each when they were about 6 amd 5 and that was the end of an era 😿

@ApiratesaysYarrr 😆😆😆 i won ✌🏻

But then you have the arguement of what is tat as opposed to ornamental? Is the difference the cost ? Is a marble figurine totally unnecessary any less tat than plastic Xmas tree ornament . One man's tat is another man's treasure . My mother used to refer to tat including crystal vases as dust gathers .

I see holiday fridge magnets have made appearances more than once. I have a plenty🙈

Tat has no sentimental value
it's a dust collector
it ends up in landfill
it's clutter and unattractive.

tat is a subjective term so it's pointless defining it, because one person's tat is another person's treasured keepsake they were bequeathed by their favourite aunty.

That is absolutely valid point and quite a good example of how "tat" is used weirdly.

I have prints from local artists on walls. They were like £20 so basically b&m pricing. Are they tat?

Whenever I go to a north London craft fair or National Trust home it's full to the brim of expensive tat. Hand poured resin chunky necklaces, portraits of long dead ancestors by long forgotten untalented artists, vases that don't have flowers in them, tea sets that are functionally unusable, dreamcatchers, uncomfortable cushions and themed ornaments. The message of 'tat' is that rich people are OK to have a load of pointless clutter but poor people should only have items for utility.

My fridge is covered with them, all bought on holidays or day trips. I like to look at them when I open the fridge and remember the trips we made. They will be kept and take up no room as they're all on the fridge!