Something else that's going to make me really unpopular

[inulro]

There's something that winds me up as much as people ragging on skinny folk, which I come across multiple times every time I log onto my flist.

Classism.

Take yer snobbery and shove it.

Don't assume that because I have more letters after my name than make up my name and can read more dead languages than most people can live ones, that I'm from a comfortable suburban background. Don't assume that some of my best friends didn't grow up in trailers.

Conversely, don't assume that because I got myself some education that I want to hear about how all less well off people are bad, lazy and have no taste. "Good Taste" is something the upper classes invented as a way of excluding those without "breeding".

There's the tiniest possibility I should have blood sugar episodes more often - I'd put up with a lot less crap.

Comments

[trizia.livejournal.com]

Eeep! What happened? You OK?

[inulro.livejournal.com]

I'm fine. I made a rude comment to a classist comment on someone else's LJ and realised I probably would have restrained myself if I'd had enough to eat today.

[trizia.livejournal.com]

It probably needed to be said.

[zotz]

It's . . . a lot worse than it used to be. Or I'm less tolerant of it. Probably a bit of both, actually.

[eciklb.livejournal.com]

Don't assume that because I have more letters after my name than make up my name and can read more dead languages than most people can live ones, that I'm from a comfortable suburban background. Don't assume that some of my best friends didn't grow up in trailers.

Amen.

[silentq.livejournal.com]

I have to sometimes gently remind people that I grew up in a trailer. People tend to assume that everyone they're talking to (or pontificating at) comes from the same place, whether it's regarding religion, class, education, political views, whatever.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

It can be hard to avoid making that assumption - I think it's something we all do to a greater or lesser extent if we're not thinking.

The fact that an awful lot of people think it's OK to write off everyone who isn't their idea of middle class or cultured as an Untouchable responsible for all the ills of society is in another league.

I don't know about in the US, but it's rampant over here, egged on by the mass media. Aside from some snobbery from a selected group of undergraduates in Ontario, I haven't encountered it much at all in Canada, but that could be just the people I know.

[missjanette.livejournal.com]

it's pretty bad here as well - don't get me started on ppl who talk about "the ghetto" when they've probably never been there or realise they know someone from there.

[mimmimmim.livejournal.com]

It doesn't help that over here the days of the full grant are long gone. If I were at the point of being able to apply for uni nowadays, well, I wouldn't, because my family wouldn't be able to help out and that much debt would terrify me.

Government changes to Higher education over the past 20 years have made it harder, not easier, for the poorest students to get into uni, imo.

(People always assume goths are middle-class too, which again annoys me intensely.)

[inulro.livejournal.com]

We never had grants, but there were a lot of scholarships available through individual universities. Some had academic criteria but there was hardship money available too. High levels of student debt was still unavoidable and it wasn't debt that put people form poorer backgrounds off, but not being able to come up with the money up front.

[vixvain.livejournal.com]

It can be hard not to make assumptions can't it.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Sorry about that - the constant bombardment of people telling me I'm scum because of where I shop & what I eat was getting to me.

[vixvain.livejournal.com]

Thankfully no one has ever purposefully made me feel bad for my background but I do occasionally suffer "council estate syndrome" that no matter what I've achieved I still feel like that scrappy kid from the council estate on the inside. It doesn't help working in Mayfair, try walking down New Bond Street with a Primark bag!

[inulro.livejournal.com]

try walking down New Bond Street with a Primark bag

That's the kind of thing I'd probably get perverse satisfaction from.

My background isn't particularly deprived, but the way some people react when they find out I'm not what they think, it might as well be. Those tend to be the same people who are obsessed with what you purchase & where you buy it might make you "chav" or whatever.

[spitecandy.livejournal.com]

Its unfortunate, but people insist on living up to stereotypes and make anyone in any group look bad. No, people shouldnt make assumptions. In an ideal world, they wouldnt.

On that note, please stop liking the Sopranos. I am offended by it.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

People being lazy, not helping themselves & making us all look bad is another rant which I've been known to employ. It's just not this week's.

I've not seen the Sopranos, probably for the same reasons you're offended by it. The writing would have to be really, really good for me to get past the subject matter.

[the-siobhan.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[emzebel.livejournal.com]

Amen.