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Your interactions with the working class (self.unitedkingdom)

CleanShirt27 が 投稿

Wondering how often people on here interact with people that might be considered working class. People on benefits, white van drivers, taxi drivers, brickies, painter and decorators, low earners, those without higher education etc.

Do you have social conversations with them or at least overhear conversations in the local pub, or whatever. Do you work with them? Drink with them? Consider yourself one of them?

What's your experience of the working class/working class life?

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[–]radluke96 39ポイント40ポイント  (16子コメント)

Wow I don't know what it is about this post but it just comes across as really snobby.

[–]Mattlj92Congleton 21ポイント22ポイント  (14子コメント)

Because it is literally written in an "us vs them" fashion.

[–]ruizscarBarcelona on the Mediterranean 10ポイント11ポイント  (13子コメント)

It's definitely an awkward fact that the vast majority of UK redditors (and US, Canadian etc.) are white, privileged, tech-savvy white collar workers who've never done a day's manual work in their lives.

[–]Bell_WhiffLondon 5ポイント6ポイント  (11子コメント)

I had a paper round when I was younger.

[–]ruizscarBarcelona on the Mediterranean 1ポイント2ポイント  (10子コメント)

I did a couple of weeks of taking tablets out of boxes and putting them in different boxes.

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

I've been a cleaner in a supermarket, picked fruit and veg in't' field, worked in factories, driven vans, spot of electricians's mate-ing on the side, warehouse work, door to door sales, all sorts of jobs. Got bored with it in the end and went to university, coming out the other side as a white, privileged, tech-savvy white collar worker.

Still feel pretty much working class though.

[–]ITMidgetWales 0ポイント1ポイント  (8子コメント)

was that changing them from packs of large boxes to lots of small boxes?

[–]ruizscarBarcelona on the Mediterranean 0ポイント1ポイント  (7子コメント)

Same sizes, the problem was the text on the original boxes. We were all sat round the same table bantering, started very early and finished at 2. Being a temp job there was all types/ages involved.

[–]ITMidgetWales 1ポイント2ポイント  (6子コメント)

sorry I had to make a drug dealing insinuation due to where you're from.

that sounds as boring as the time i stuck stickers onto thousands of mini remote control helicopters or cars (i forget which)

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 1ポイント2ポイント  (3子コメント)

Grading carrots, that's the worst. You stand all alone at a conveyor belt upon which are infinite carrots rolling past. Your job is to pick up and dispose of ones which don't look carroty enough. After a few hours you're convinced the carrots are talking about you behind your back.

[–]ruizscarBarcelona on the Mediterranean 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

Are you saying thrown away, or sold on to make ready meals etc.

[–]Really_Likes_NutellaBrexit refugee 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

A friend of my girlfriends did quality control at a Pringles factory. Sounds similar with the going slightly mad thing.

[–]ruizscarBarcelona on the Mediterranean 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

I'm from London though. Spent a few years in South America and now half of /uk thinks I'm a native Latino who writes immaculate English.

[–]ITMidgetWales 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

that's not true!

.... your English is terrible!

[–]pepe_le_shoeGreater London 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

I did manual work when I was a teenager, for money during sixth form. I'm so working class man!

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 9ポイント10ポイント  (0子コメント)

Could it be the intensely patronising tone of the thing?

[–]Jackal___ 15ポイント16ポイント  (1子コメント)

fucking hell

[–]CrystalSparkes[🍰] 15ポイント16ポイント  (0子コメント)

TIL Emily Thornberry posts on the Reddit UK sub

[–]Bell_WhiffLondon 15ポイント16ポイント  (0子コメント)

I saw a youngling the other day scampering down the cobbled streets of London, his flat cap dusted with soot. "Tuppence to shine yer shoes Guvnor?" he asked, cheekily.

"Be gone child, before I administer a thrashing with my cane". I scoffed my retort.

"Ooooo youse a right wan'er" he replied in a huff, before scampering off to bother another gentleman about to board his motor carriage.

[–]mitch1975 15ポイント16ポイント  (14子コメント)

Currently at a parcel depot, sitting in my truck. I know the guys who work here well, all working class.
Three have degrees from uni, many more from Open University.
Many have two homes. One has a spare house in France. One races cars.
Two have boats ( more might but I have never hard them talk about it).
Many have had managerial experience (Inc myself) before returning to "lesser" jobs.
About the only stereotype that fits is none drink tea with their little finger sticking out.

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 12ポイント13ポイント  (2子コメント)

What? You don't all sit round the pigeon coop, wearing flat caps and drinking gin out of a tin mug?

[–]mitch1975 5ポイント6ポイント  (0子コメント)

That only happens "Up North" where they all own whippets

[–]Jypenseetpuisjoublie 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Gin out a tin mug? I thought that was only in Shoreditch.

[–]TwistTurtleLondon 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

none drink tea with their little finger sticking out.

Savages, all of you.

[–]pepe_le_shoeGreater London 2ポイント3ポイント  (5子コメント)

Two homes, houses in france, racing cars...working class?

[–]mitch1975 5ポイント6ポイント  (3子コメント)

Yes. People who have worked all their life and are enjoying the rewards. What's your definition of "working class"?

[–]RVallant 0ポイント1ポイント  (2子コメント)

Well there is this idea that working class means you're piss poor, with a wife that has no idea what birth control is, and a husband that won't stop porking her and thus the entire street belongs to the Jones' family.

Apparently if you work hard enough to be in with the money you're middle class. >_>

[–]mitch1975 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

I have had many discussions about class before and have even heard that people who have been on benefits all their lives are working class.
Each person has their own definition. I am leaning towards "wears a tracksuit but doesn't exercise" as the true meaning of working class.

[–]antitoffee 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Why can't everything just stay simple? Damn the future! Damn you all to hell!

[–]IFoundTheCowLevel -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yeah, these are the underprivileged in this country... "It couldn't possibly get any worse for them". Hahahaha

[–]CleanShirt27[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (3子コメント)

What's their bit on the side, income wise?

[–]mitch1975 0ポイント1ポイント  (2子コメント)

Rich wives.
Seriously though, second incomes aren't always necessary. Some have done a project (converted a barn, got planning permission on a plot) and those with Jags and Mercs usually have two incomes, but many people who are middle aged and have worked all their lives are in a good place financially.

[–]CleanShirt27[S] -3ポイント-2ポイント  (1子コメント)

Sounds like your working class associates are involved in waste management.

[–]NazgutekEssex 15ポイント16ポイント  (1子コメント)

You could ask your manservant what he makes of all the riffraff he interacts with on your behalf. Assuming he'd be honest with you.

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 8ポイント9ポイント  (0子コメント)

"Are you at all interested in French cinema, Ted?"

[–]wilsonc001 15ポイント16ポイント  (0子コメント)

Wait...You're Jacob Rees-Mogg aren't you?

[–]00DEADBEEFThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 30ポイント31ポイント  (2子コメント)

Jesus fucking christ you talk about working class people like they live underground and are rarely encountered by the nice middle class people who live above ground.

[–]JXDBTring, Hertfordshire 2ポイント3ポイント  (1子コメント)

I think he's just trolling.

[–]HeartskittensWales 12ポイント13ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yeah, I have friends who are regular people. It's quite nice, you should try it.

[–]ramrey 9ポイント10ポイント  (0子コメント)

LOLWAT

[–]justiceforsoupIsle of Man 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

I've been known to throw coppers at the commoners when I'm out in my litter but other than that I don't think such interactions should be encouraged. Certainly not.

[–]bintasaurus 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

Holy shite at this post...it's a sneering,peeping through the curtains look at "Them,the filthy ones".....

[–]TwistTurtleLondon 9ポイント10ポイント  (2子コメント)

... I am working class AMA?

Seriously, do you think there are no working class people on reddit?

[–]Bell_WhiffLondon 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

... I am working class AMA?

Yeah I have a question. Why don't you fuck off? /s

[–]Haydn2613Somerset stuck in Wales 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

We can't afford the internet apparently.

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_Z7uqwV8g

[–]glovesfox 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Please, tell us how often you (OP) interact with people that you consider to be working class, and how you find dealing with them? I'm intrigued to see where you are coming from with this question.

[–]Knock-Off-Nigel 3ポイント4ポイント  (4子コメント)

I am working class.

People seem to think their middle class, they're generally not. Those lulled into thinking that they're middle class are more likely to support government policies that probably will harm them in the longer-term. Let's take the NHS as an example.

Like seriously, how many people that think they're middle class have private health insurance? How many of those frequent the dentist on a regular basis?

[–]00DEADBEEFThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Plenty of middle-class people wouldn't support the destruction of the NHS. I think that's a poor example to explain your point, which I don't understand. The middle class is the largest class, so most people are middle class.

[–]CleanShirt27[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (2子コメント)

Agreed.

[–]antitoffee 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

I think class is quite obsolete as a way of understanding society these days. There are more than two kinds of people, or three if you include the toffs.

Anyway, you should appraise an argument on it's merits, not stick up for the person who put it across because you identify with them, socio-economically. The truth is what's at stake here!!

[–]Knock-Off-Nigel 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

By the way, don't take the downvotes from people personally. :)

It's an interesting conversation point. You've sparked a discussion because people disagree with how you've worded something. Reddit is an echo chamber, we only like to upvote what we agree with, not what is worthy of discussion

[–]FinalEdit 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

my monocle literally fell out

[–]Man-aliveLondon 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

I thought myself, my family and friends were working class, but apparently we can't be - because we voted remain in the referendum.

[–]UnmarkedDoor 6ポイント7ポイント  (12子コメント)

I have no idea whether I'm working or middle class, how am I supposed to pigeon-hole everybody else?

Is the view from your pre-Matt Damoned Elysium nice?

[–]ITMidgetWales 2ポイント3ポイント  (7子コメント)

napkin or serviette?

settee or sofa?

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 3ポイント4ポイント  (5子コメント)

Paper towel and couch?

[–]MrBenzedrineDurham 3ポイント4ポイント  (1子コメント)

Argh - I'm "Napkin" and "Couch" - what class am I?

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Pretentious!

[–]UnmarkedDoor 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

You beat me to it.

[–]bvimo 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

Scone or scone? Quiche or flan?

[–]antitoffee 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Hanky & couch.

[–]EuropoBob 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

This one knows about Elysium before it showed up in one of them moving picture thingys, get em!

[–]xanaxolotl [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

The BBC released a handy "class calculator" a few years back to help navigate the class system in these modern times: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22000973

Though I'm still just as confused about it all as you are, I think.

[–]CleanShirt27[S] 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

Am I supposed to know what "pre-Matt Damoned Elysium" means?

[–]TheGunner79Shropshire 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Well you are obviously highly educated and far more intellectual than the average pleb.

[–]Mike__Bassett 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

I think one of them tried to start a conversation with me in Waitrose earlier, so I did the only sensible thing and dropped my shopping and ran out the door.

Better to be safe than sorry

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

ATTENTION PEASANTS

This thread is now the official repository for all Brexit-related anecdotes.

[–]EuropoBob 1ポイント2ポイント  (2子コメント)

I'm a postgraduate working in the creative sector. In some respects. I would be considered middle-class but my family is very much working class, and most of my closest friends are working class - tradespeople or vocational work.

I think you need to be careful about how you place people in classes; do you consider cultural values or household income to be the deciding factor?

Not only do I have a few jars down the pub or at someone's house but I've also helped them with their work or hobbies.

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

Yeh, everything I read suggests I'm middle class - or "the elite" according to one BBC quiz - but I really don't feel that way. Me and the g/f did have a giggle at our middle-class-ness a few years back as we pulled into the Ikea car park in a BMW though.

[–]EuropoBob 3ポイント4ポイント  (0子コメント)

When discussions of class come up I find myself drawn to what Billy Connoly said, "There isn't much difference between the working-class and the upper-class, really, it's the middle-class that's the problem - that Volvo driving v-neck pullover crowd - that fucks everything up". This quote might not be totally accurate.

But then, it's largely the middle-class that drives demand (along with BMWs).

E. words.

[–]Getitredditgood 1ポイント2ポイント  (2子コメント)

Next time you see one of 'us', initiate a chat and find out for yourself!

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

As long as you promise not to eat my wife!

[–]Getitredditgood 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Ooh can't promise anything, wives are my favourite food :p

[–]MajesticTowerOfHatsTyne and/Or Wear 1ポイント2ポイント  (4子コメント)

I don't get the train anymore because they let the working class on.

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 0ポイント1ポイント  (3子コメント)

They're generally kept out of first class though. That's where I plonk meself.

[–]MajesticTowerOfHatsTyne and/Or Wear 0ポイント1ポイント  (2子コメント)

First class? Is that what they call where you go when you don't have enough money to sit on the train drivers lap?

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

It's on the other side of that door marked "No Oiks"

[–]00DEADBEEFThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

First class trains are what the slightly better-off plebs get because they can't afford to charter their own helicopter.

[–]Freeloading_Sponger 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yes, I know people who are working class, and am largely on benefits myself.

I don't know if I actually am working class, from my accent, to my life story, to my family background, I think I come from a kind of classless void.

These days 90% of my friends are inarguable working class. Most of them are covered in tattoos. They fight in the mud, they get drunk, they complain about immigrants taking their chimney sweeping jobs, and they delicately brush past the fact that I didn't come to this country until I was 10. They're a jolly old bunch. Real salt of the earth.

What exactly is it you'd like to know?

[–]HPBDurham 1ポイント2ポイント  (5子コメント)

I'm living it - what do you want to know mate ?

[–]ITMidgetWales 2ポイント3ポイント  (1子コメント)

You're in Durham, Ive always seen you as more of an Alan Bennett Styled middle class Yorkshire posho

[–]HPBDurham -1ポイント0ポイント  (0子コメント)

Haha, I'm comfortably off but I still think of myself as working class. I dunno what other people think.

I've got a mate who retired at 48 and drives an Aston Martin and I've got a mate who puts down the cones on the motorway road works. Know your audience, I guess.

[–]CleanShirt27[S] -1ポイント0ポイント  (2子コメント)

Do you find there is a lot of racism/anti-immigrant/ pro leave talk in your day to day life?

[–]HPBDurham 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

No / no / no in day to day life.

[–]specofdust 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

About 2/3 of the people I work with are what would be termed working class, labourers, unskilled and skilled.

I don't drink with them since we work in a zero-alcohol environment, and I'm certainly not one of them. They consider me other worldly because I'm "all educated".

Tbh I think that a lot of brits actually don't interact with the working class very often, despite the commentary in this thread. The guys I work with are pretty stereotypical working class guys, mostly about 30 years behind the rest of us on social issues, measure the quality of any hotel/holiday/bar based on the price of alcohol in said venue, etc.

Some of them are top blokes though, and some are total tosspots, same as any other group.

[–]UK2KORWiltshire 4ポイント5ポイント  (5子コメント)

white van drivers, taxi drivers, brickies, painter and decorators

So well paid people without mounting student debt then?

Look at the guys comment history, gold mind of upper class elegance. /s

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 4ポイント5ポイント  (0子コメント)

I was a van driver before I reinvented myself as a software engineer. It was years into my new career before I was earning more than I was as a driver.

[–]CleanShirt27[S] -2ポイント-1ポイント  (3子コメント)

The drivers are paid the lowest wages because everyone wants to sit in the office and be a ponce. You can't just go into a hotel and write your name, you've got to fuck around on a bloody computer. Nobody wants to bloody work anymore.

[–]refcon 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

The reflection in my mirror.

[–]ymmv_Greater London 1ポイント2ポイント  (10子コメント)

I'm a metalhead and some of my friends that I talk to at gigs or at the bar are working class. I have more in common with them than some of my middle class colleagues.

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 3ポイント4ポイント  (9子コメント)

Well, they are very musical creatures, I hear.

[–]ymmv_Greater London -3ポイント-2ポイント  (8子コメント)

Creatures? wtf are you talking about? I'm a creature for liking metal?

[–]TillYouScream 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

Whoosh

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 2ポイント3ポイント  (4子コメント)

It's a joke dude. OP seems to think "the working class" are a different species or something. Now relax, or I shall engage you in a tedious discussion about metal genres, and name-drop the most obscure black metal bands I can think of.

[–]ymmv_Greater London 2ポイント3ポイント  (3子コメント)

Now relax, or I shall engage you in a tedious discussion about metal genres, and name-drop the most obscure black metal bands I can think of.

I'm up for that. You looking forward to the new Antaeus album?

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 1ポイント2ポイント  (2子コメント)

I'm waiting for more Svartidauði, tbh

[–]ymmv_Greater London 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

Ever seen them live? They're pretty good. I'm less convinced by the other Icelandic bands getting hyped up though. I find Auðn incredibly dull for example.

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

Yeh a few times. We trekked to Arnhem a few years ago to see them at Aurora Infernalis, and then again in Dublin last year at some all-dayer in Voodoo Lounge.

[–]Bell_WhiffLondon 1ポイント2ポイント  (1子コメント)

No one cares what "music" you like. I'm not even sure why you've brought it up and then shat your pants about it.

[–]ymmv_Greater London 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

I was answering OP's question.

[–]garyomarioAntrim 0ポイント1ポイント  (4子コメント)

I live in one of the most deprived areas in the UK (or it was last time I checked and things have not got better) so yeah....

edit: adding adjectives

[–]the_opinionScot living in Southampton 1ポイント2ポイント  (2子コメント)

I fear there's an adjective missing here.

[–]MrsCosmopilite 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

You're just jealous because you live in one of the least areas.

[–]garyomarioAntrim 1ポイント2ポイント  (0子コメント)

middle class people and your adjective we working class people just can't afford them.

[–]HungryBook 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Nice try, Daily Mail researcher!

[–]RaingembowSussex 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

Um. They're normal people.

[–]sim667 0ポイント1ポイント  (0子コメント)

What's your experience of the working class/working class life?

I regularly doff my cap to the child who is forced to clean chimneys for a tuppence an day and lives in a shoe box on the side of the street.

[–]ammobandannaCo. Durham -1ポイント0ポイント  (1子コメント)

if you work you're working class...now fuck off OP

[–]LetterbocksKernow -2ポイント-1ポイント  (0子コメント)

This is some top tier b8.

[–]CleanShirt27[S] -2ポイント-1ポイント  (7子コメント)

Hmm interesting the way this has been taken.

I had assumed there is a fair number of users on here who are around 21, middle class background, just finishing their sociology degree, avoidant of the scary working class, based on many of the comments and the shitty repeated jokes.

Appears there is a mix and some users are working class/familiar with those of working class background. Interesting.

Thanks for all your input!

(Btw I consider myself working class and interact with others of this social standing on a regular basis)

[–]Man-aliveLondon 2ポイント3ポイント  (0子コメント)

(Btw I consider myself working class and interact with others of this social standing on a regular basis)

I'm not sure your post came across that way - you phrased it as if you were talking about a 3rd party.

[–]Holty12345Berkshire 1ポイント2ポイント  (5子コメント)

I'm working class, 22 and just finished my sociology degree...

Are you stalking me...

[–]CleanShirt27[S] -1ポイント0ポイント  (4子コメント)

Do they not have you do statistics in sociology?

[–]Holty12345Berkshire 0ポイント1ポイント  (3子コメント)

They do - it had its own module.

[–]CleanShirt27[S] -1ポイント0ポイント  (2子コメント)

You only matched 2 of the 4 things I described.

[–]Holty12345Berkshire 0ポイント1ポイント  (1子コメント)

I was 21 a few days ago though - I'd still count that one. Just.