Are you proud of your class background?

Dudess

Or do you give a sh1t and just see it as an accident of birth? Or are you from a tough area and proud of yourself for the fact that you've made something of yourself, unlike a lot of your peers? Are you working-class and have you a bit of an aversion to middle-class people for being born with a silver spoon in their mouths?

And so on...

Maybe there is a class system in Dublin, but it isn't really relevant to me in rural Ireland.

Poccington

I'm most certainly proud of it.

I don't really judge people based purely on their class. They can be nice people no matter their class, same way they can be complete tools no matter their class.

brianthebard

I'm somewhat proud of it,but i feel more strongly about not allowing people to define society by class,rather than emphasising it.Like i'm not going to fall out with someone if they are middle class,unless they see themselves as better than others because of it.I'm working class/petit bourgois/small farming class btw.

Moonbaby wrote: »

Maybe there is a class system in Dublin, but it isn't really relevant to me in rural Ireland.

ever noticed how many people act differently when speaking to or in the company of doctors,priests,headmastdrs,etc?Thats a class system in action.

Duggy747

I've lived on the part of town that had all the rich, humourless kids that played golf. Tons of assholes. I came from a regular not rich, not poor background. Though I do hate it when my mates call me a rich cùnt cuz I was 1 of the only 2 of the group that went to college. I don't get it considering half of them are earning more than me! It's this stupid mentality that if you go to college you've instantly gained somewhat of a respectable stature of intelligence and gained social ranking Being an I.T techie doesn't pay THAT good!!

Honestly, I don't give a shìt, I don't see classes. At least I know I ain't A) a pompous git or plain and simply an asshole and that goes for all friends and people I get on with, and they're from all sorts of classes.

truecrippler

Poccington wrote: »

I'm most certainly proud of it.

I don't really judge people based purely on their class. They can be nice people no matter their class, same way they can be complete tools no matter their class.

Idd, I'm the same. I grew up and am still living in a "rough" area, I turned out grand, so I think, but I don't look down on people. If I get looked down upon, it doesn't bother me. You're either born with class or not, no matter where you come from.

Gone West

Class is what you make of yourself, not what size of merc Dad drives, or which school in the south side you play rugby with sexually repressed boys in.

Irishcrx

I'm proud of myself for getting where I am today , There is defn a class system but not one that I generally care about.

Quazzie

Moonbaby wrote: »

Maybe there is a class system in Dublin, but it isn't really relevant to me in rural Ireland.

I couldn't disagree more with you. I came from a very rural village and there was certainly difference in class where I'm from and I gotta say I feel a lot better having earned my way through life than having it handed to me.

Ruu_Old

Never thought about it to be honest, or couldn't be bothered. I never saw people as coming from different classes when growing up in a small town and still don't now.

Eoin

FuzzyLogic wrote: »

Class is what you make of yourself, not what size of merc Dad drives, or which school in the south side you play rugby with sexually repressed boys in.

I find this kind of inverted snobbery as dull as normal snobbery.

brianthebard

eoin_s wrote: »

I find this kind of inverted snobbery as dull as normal snobbery.

+1

Creamy Goodness

exactly never thought about it that much.

never judge people on class either and the day i do, i'll be dead, well i hope i will be.

Quazzie2002

Quazzie2002 wrote: »

I couldn't disagree more with you. I came from a very rural village and there was certainly difference in class where I'm from and I gotta say I feel a lot better having earned my way through life than having it handed to me.

Ah yeah but your townie....you would think that.

Quazzie

I'm from a rural Offaly village of 250 people. Hardly a townie

Gone West

Really? I wouldn't say I'm snobby WRT class. It was a tongue in cheek comment, inspired by something I saw/heard on the train this morning.
Disregard it if you will.

But I stand by what I say when I say that class is what a person brings themselves to be.
Life is what you make it, not what you are born into.
Perhaps thats a better way of phrasing what I wanted to say.

You've been away too long if you think that....

Quazzie

I'm still living there. Always have and always will. wouldn't change it for the world

Eoin

FuzzyLogic wrote: »

Really? I wouldn't say I'm snobby WRT class. It was a tongue in cheek comment, inspired by something I saw/heard on the train this morning.
Disregard it if you will.

But I stand by what I say when I say that class is what a person brings themselves to be.
Life is what you make it, not what you are born into.
Perhaps thats a better way of phrasing what I wanted to say.

That's fair enough, my comment was probably better directed to those who seem to think that anyone from a middle class background hasn't had to work to get where they are. Anyway, I think Ireland has a relatively flat class structure; certainly compared to the UK.

connundrum

I've such a varied background that I can't afford to be snobby about it.

And as for being proud of my class background.. I'm proud of my parents for working their ass's off to provide for us, and I'm happy that I grew up where I did.

Take from that what you will

Michellenman

brianthebard wrote: »

ever noticed how many people act differently when speaking to or in the company of doctors,priests,headmastdrs,etc?Thats a class system in action.

My mam totally has a bank voice, whenever she speaks on the phone to the bank, or other institution, her voice gets a bit of a posh twang. She knows it, she laughs along with it. I said this to my friends a while ago and they could all relate. Apparently it's not that uncommon.

Quazzie

eoin_s wrote: »

That's fair enough, my comment was probably better directed to those who seem to think that anyone from a middle class background hasn't had to work to get where they are. Anyway, I think Ireland has a relatively flat class structure; certainly compared to the UK.

What have the romans ever done for us?

Terry

I'm a bleedin' knacker and proud of it.

ejmaztec

Any class distiction in Ireland seems to be based purely on perceived wealth, with a bit of a professional qualification thrown in to cater for the poor professional people who have been living beyond their means.

Dudess

It bugs me the way it's seemingly fair game to take the piss out of middle-class people for simply being middle-class. I'm not talking snooty *****, I'm talking about run-of-the-mill middle-class people like myself who have the audacity to get an education and to speak properly.

Vegeta

connundrum wrote: »

And as for being proud of my class background.. I'm proud of my parents for working their ass's off to provide for us, and I'm happy that I grew up where I did.

Yup, parents were very far from well off. I am very proud of them for what they managed with me and my 3 brothers.

ntlbell

Dudess wrote: »

I'm talking about run-of-the-mill middle-class people like myself who have the audacity to get an education and to speak properly.

Is that all it takes to be middle class?

Dudess

No - but they are perceived as typical middle-class traits. Working-class people can have them too though.

chopperbyrne

I come from a very working class background in Tallaght.

I'm very proud of who I am and where I came from.

There are plenty of hard working, sound middle class people, but the few silver spooners let them all down.

Vegeta

Dudess wrote: »

It bugs me the way it's seemingly fair game to take the piss out of middle-class people for simply being middle-class. I'm not talking snooty *****, I'm talking about run-of-the-mill middle-class people like myself who have the audacity to get an education and to speak properly.

Well being objective do you think that maybe people born into a lower "class" than yourself but yet have achieved the same goals deserve a bit of credit, bragging rights maybe?

I'm also sure lower class don't like being looked down on and the rich, well everyone hates them

Poccington

chopperbyrne wrote: »

I come from a very working class background in Tallaght.

I'm very proud of who I am and where I came from.

There are plenty of hard working, sound middle class people, but the few silver spooners let them all down.

And there's plenty of hardworking, sound working class people but the scumbags let them down.

It works both ways.

Terry

Dudess wrote: »

It bugs me the way it's seemingly fair game to take the piss out of middle-class people for simply being middle-class. I'm not talking snooty *****, I'm talking about run-of-the-mill middle-class people like myself who have the audacity to get an education and to speak properly.

We have to take the piss out of someone.
Suck it up, woman.

ntlbell

surely what's defined as being working class/middle class has changed a lot since times got "good"

Can a guy who started working as a plumber, who now has 20/30 lads working for him living in a nice 4 bed in castleknock 3/4 holidays a year drives the latest and greatest merc/BMW/4x4 speaks with a rough Dublin accent and has no 3rd level education can we still call him working class?

If wealth and education is the primary factor in class where do we put him?

Where do we put his kids?

The class sytem in Ireland has changed so much there just seems to be two types of people

people with and people without there doesn't seem to be much of a middle ground anymore

I've never heard of people been taken the p||s out of for being middle class, middle class are too boring to slag, it's eithier the "working class" who get the brunt of it or the toffee's

what can you say aboout a middle class person?

your eh middle of the road mr average joe? zzzZZzZZzzZ

stovelid

Dudess wrote: »

Or are you from a tough area and proud of yourself for the fact that you've made something of yourself, unlike a lot of your peers?.

I'm from one of the worst and I suppose I am proud, to be honest. But I'd never be stupid enough to admit it to anybody personally, except for friends from a similar background. As a consequence, I couldn't care less where other people are from, although I secretly laugh (gently) at people from middle-class backgrounds with a prole fetish.

justsomebloke

Dudess wrote: »

It bugs me the way it's seemingly fair game to take the piss out of middle-class people for simply being middle-class. I'm not talking snooty *****, I'm talking about run-of-the-mill middle-class people like myself who have the audacity to get an education and to speak properly.

hey I'm middle class, have a degree and still have no intention of speaking properly

Poccington

stovelid wrote: »

I'm from one of the worst and I suppose I am proud, to be honest. But I'd never be stupid enough to admit it to anybody personally, except for friends from a similar background. As a consequence, I couldn't care less where other people are from, although I secretly laugh (gently) at people from middle-class backgrounds with a prole fetish.

Why wouldn't you admit it to anybody? You mustn't be that proud if you can't admit it to people.

Dudess

ntlbell, you're right. There is a lot of ambiguity, but you also did what I'm saying - call middle-class people boring. THAT'S one of the lines that's regularly trotted out to insult middle-class people.

stovelid wrote: »

I'm from one of the worst, and I suppose I am proud, to be honest. But I'd never be stupid enough to admit it to anybody personally, except for friends from a similar background. As a consequence, I couldn't care less where other people are from, although I secretly laugh (gently) at people from middle-class backgrounds with a prole fetish.

Yeah, I've come across many MANY knobs like that over the years: "laugh along with the common people,
laugh along even though they're laughing at you,
and the stupid things that you do.
Because you think that poor is cool."

If there's one type of person I hate more than people from poor areas slapping themselves on the back and ridiculing those who are middle-class, it's middle-class people who try to act working-class/poor or who worship at the altar of working-class/poor. See: trendy, right-on academics/art teachers.

brianthebard

eoin_s wrote: »

That's fair enough, my comment was probably better directed to those who seem to think that anyone from a middle class background hasn't had to work to get where they are. Anyway, I think Ireland has a relatively flat class structure; certainly compared to the UK.

i respectfully disagree.Our class system is quite complex.There are (from perceived lowest to highest)travellers,immigrants,'knackers/chavs',unskilled working class,service industry workers and small farmers,skilled wc and medium farmers.Then middle class:wealthy builders and farmers,management class,small businessmen,professions like teachers,doctors,etc(again with built in strata),larger businessmen,highly skilled v.Well paid professions.Finally upper class:'celebrities'-ugh,super rich businessmen,landed folk(not many left but a few).You may disagree with some placings but generally i think thats accurate.Afraid i'm on the mobile and can't go into greater detail.

Eoin

Dudess wrote:

It bugs me the way it's seemingly fair game to take the piss out of middle-class people for simply being middle-class.

I think it's the same logic as "you can't be discriminated against if you're white".

ntlbell wrote:

I've never heard of people been taken the p||s out of for being middle class, middle class are too boring to slag, it's eithier the "working class" who get the brunt of it or the toffee's

We really don't have an upper / "toff" class in Ireland though. The likes of Lord Mount Charles aren't really that relevant here, like the aristocracy in the UK.

Your other points were very valid though.

JohnCleary

I'm proud of myself for making my own dosh so far in life and never being dependant on my parents (well, until I started working @ 12) for my posessions etc.

To date i've never taken out a bank loan, have all the toys I want, dress well and eat even better Granted i'm still a student during the day (and Batman at night, thats how I makes my monies ya see) so the big sh1tbrick will come when it's time to buy a house.

What concerns me though is seeing people my age act like muppets because they can spend their oul pair's money. Driving 'their' cars, that their parents bought, going on holidays and spending their parents money. I just think of it as how fcuked they'd be if their parents died tomorrow (horrible thing to say I know)

TBH it doesn't p1ss me off as it doesn't effect me (I dont get jealous easy) and eventhough I don't get to have as soft a life as other people my age i'm happier being busy, working for myself and doing well in college. Oh, and having better hobbies than "awuh man, so wasted last night loike"

ntlbell

Dudess wrote: »

ntlbell, you're right. There is a lot of ambiguity, but you also did what I'm saying - call middle-class people boring. THAT'S one of the lines that's regularly trotted out to insult middle-class people.

\o/ I didn't even notice, I didn't mean it in a "bad" way there' just nothing to say about the "class" really there's nothing really funny about it.

for the most part neutral accents, on average wage usually doing an average job, goes on average holiday's it's all a bit meh!

ejmaztec

jsb wrote: »

hey I'm middle class, have a degree and still have no intention of speaking properly

Carry on slurring - As they do in BGRH? :pac:

Eoin

brianthebard wrote: »

i respectfully disagree.Our class system is quite complex.There are (from perceived lowest to highest)travellers,immigrants,'knackers/chavs',unskilled working class,service industry workers and small farmers,skilled wc and medium farmers.Then middle class:wealthy builders and farmers,management class,small businessmen,professions like teachers,doctors,etc(again with built in strata),larger businessmen,highly skilled v.Well paid professions.Finally upper class:'celebrities'-ugh,super rich businessmen,landed folk(not many left but a few).You may disagree with some placings but generally i think thats accurate.Afraid i'm on the mobile and can't go into greater detail.

Well, it's not a communist society, so there will always be lots of slight differences. My point is that you could find the vast majority of any of those different types of people living in the same estate in Ireland

Upper class to me generally means Aristocracy, certainly not the likes of celebrities.

ntlbell

eoin_s wrote: »

We really don't have an upper / "toff" class in Ireland though. The likes of Lord Mount Charles aren't really that relevant here, like the aristocracy in the UK.

Your other points were very valid though.

I guess it's more about old mony vs neaveau riche

the "high end" of the "middle class" scale :pac:

Kold

My father was a farmer's son from Tipperary and my mother was the daughter of a Vietnamese business man and her step father was a Vietnamese ambassador. They went on to be a teacher/building contracter and an accountant/shop owner respectively.

I don't really know where that puts me in the terms of class. I'm not working class by any means but we're not a terribly wealthy family. I figure middle class but I wouldn't put us amongst other middle class families. I wouldn't say I'm proud of our background, I'm more proud of the mix of cultures I've been exposed to in my youth, I think this has probably been very useful in my pursuit of my career in art.

Terry

JohnCleary wrote: »

I'm proud of myself for making my own dosh so far in life and never being dependant on my parents (well, until I started working @ 12) for my posessions etc.

To date i've never taken out a bank loan, have all the toys I want, dress well and eat even better Granted i'm still a student during the day (and Batman at night, thats how I makes my monies ya see) so the big sh1tbrick will come when it's time to buy a house.

What concerns me though is seeing people my age act like muppets because they can spend their oul pair's money. Driving 'their' cars, that their parents bought, going on holidays and spending their parents money. I just think of it as how fcuked they'd be if their parents died tomorrow (horrible thing to say I know)

TBH it doesn't p1ss me off as it doesn't effect me (I dont get jealous easy) and eventhough I don't get to have as soft a life as other people my age i'm happier being busy, working for myself and doing well in college. Oh, and having better hobbies than "awuh man, so wasted last night loike"

Don't worry about the house.
I know where there's an abandoned one.
Just move in there and in no time at all you will have squatter's rights.

Jimoslimos

eoin_s wrote: »

Anyway, I think Ireland has a relatively flat class structure; certainly compared to the UK.

Most definitely, I'm always reminded of that Monty Python sketch when this issue of class is brought up.

What really irritate the s**t out of me is when renewing my passport some of the only acceptable counter-signatories I can have are;

Priest
Garda/Police Officer
Solicitor/Lawyer
Member of government (local/national)
Bank manager
Teacher
Accountant, etc.

all because of some antiquated notion that these professions somehow bestow upon the person a higher level of trustworthiness than the rest of us. I wouldn't be too long disproving that for many of the above

Poccington

Dudess wrote: »

ntlbell, you're right. There is a lot of ambiguity, but you also did what I'm saying - call middle-class people boring. THAT'S one of the lines that's regularly trotted out to insult middle-class people.

Yeah, I've come across many MANY knobs like that over the years: "laugh along with the common people,
laugh along even though they're laughing at you,
and the stupid things that you do.
Because you think that poor is cool."

If there's one type of person I hate more than people from poor areas slapping themselves on the back and ridiculing those who are middle-class, it's middle-class people who try to act working-class/poor or who worship at the altar of working-class/poor. See: trendy, right-on academics/art teachers.

But then there's middle-class people who ridicule people for being working-class. It works both ways.

stovelid

Poccington wrote: »

Why wouldn't you admit it to anybody? You mustn't be that proud if you can't admit it to people.

Because most people don't give a sh*t?

I never hide where I'm from. I just don't go around bigging it up, because most of the time it's not relevant.

Some clown in your workplace or college with a cartoon working class routine designed to guilt-trip rich kids is just as annoying as a Ross O'Carroll-Kelly type.

ejmaztec

Old money keeps a fairly low profile, whereas new money gets waved around quite a bit.

Poccington

stovelid wrote: »

Because most people don't give a sh*t?

I never hide where I'm from. I just don't go around bigging it up, because most of the time it's not relevant.

Some clown in your workplace or college with a cartoon working class routine designed to guilt-trip rich kids is just as annoying as a Ross O'Carroll-Kelly type.

Ah I see, I think I just misunderstood what you were saying in the last post.

Sorry about that one.