Working Class areas and the annual race to get the tacky Christmas lights up first.

Littlekittylou · 25-11-2014 4:48pm

I don't like snobs.

Lapin · 25-11-2014 4:50pm

eviltwin wrote: »

I live in an area like that. My neighbours either side have their decorations up at least a week. Mine will go up mid December. So what though, I'm not going to draw conclusions from that. Maybe it cheers them up or perhaps they do it for the children. It doesn't indicate anything about the kind of people they are. We may live in a less affluent area but we aren't lesser people because of that.

Who said it indicates anything, or suggested anyone was a lessor person for it?

I certainly didn't.

Littlekittylou · 25-11-2014 5:04pm

Lapin wrote: »

Who said it indicates anything, or suggested anyone was a lessor person for it?

I certainly didn't.

Yes you did.

Drakares · 25-11-2014 5:05pm

Lapin wrote: »

the festive season. It has long since been accepted as the most tasteless time of the year

Has it? You sound like mad craic altogether. I'd say your colleagues love you at the Christmas party.

Fat Christy · 25-11-2014 5:05pm

TheLastMohican wrote: »

Like an incestual geminial Castor and Pollox? Hey, this thread has been stretched enough with side topics so please don't bring sex into it.

No, not like that sicko! And we're waiting for marriage you filthbag.

eviltwin · 25-11-2014 5:18pm

Lapin wrote: »

Who said it indicates anything, or suggested anyone was a lessor person for it?

I certainly didn't.

Oh you drew plenty of aspersions on the people concerned. It's only lights, it's not that big a deal.

Littlekittylou · 25-11-2014 5:32pm

It's ridiculous rag on the 'working class' for anything and everything under the sun even something as stupid as lights. Years ago it was tracksuits or gold hoop earrings. It just exposes the nasty person doing it for who they are.

There are plenty of wealthy people I like there are plenty of poor people I like. I don't like them out of duty or obligation to like working class people I don't like them because of social status in the case of the wealthier.

People who rag on about those in less well off areas need to join the que. Guess what they KNOW you despise them. They are used to it. You can rest assured without the sly digs etc. They get it.

Anyone who believes class warfare is about the envy of the poor towards the rich has it backwards; it's about the rich despising the poor so much that they actively work to worsen their condition, all the while insisting that it's all poor people's fault.

You needn't worry that people from Tallaght might think you approve of them in anyway. They know the feelings and suspicions that people like you have of them. Even if you don't admit them outright.

I've just never seen such a frivolous stupid way of expressing that as giving out about Christmas lights.

It's so petty.

TheBeardedLady · 25-11-2014 5:47pm

I think it's absolutely brilliant. One of my fave things about going home. They clearly have a sense of humour going by the lengths that some families go to. Love the fact that grown adults go to that much trouble to get into the spirit of it all.

My stepmam, sister and me do a trip round north Dublin in the car every year, including parts of my own town (plenty of "posh" areas too) to have a gawk and a chuckle. Always gets me in the mood for xmas.

Mick55 · 25-11-2014 6:20pm

Lapin wrote: »

The first electricity of the new year for families with such displays must be eye watering, but that's none of my business.

Fr_Dougal · 25-11-2014 6:23pm

I think it's great to see houses making the effort, kids must be really happy with them. I know when I were a lad, I used to love the Xmas lights.

Lapin · 25-11-2014 8:28pm

Littlekittylou wrote: »

There are plenty of wealthy people I like there are plenty of poor people I like. I don't like them out of duty or obligation to like working class people I don't like them because of social status in the case of the wealthier.....

Same here.

And nowhere - nowhere on this thread or any other do I cast aspersions on anyone based on their background.

I'm simply curious as to why such ostentatious displays are more prevalent in such areas as opposed to others.

And before anyone else begins frothing at the mouth in a charge of indignation against things I didn't say, have a read of this -

"A number of brief observations were made throughout the evening’s engagement with the Christmas illuminated landscape. Firstly, there did seem to be a general correlation between the displays and socio-economic areas, with working-class and lower-middle class areas having a greater number of very elaborate displays, compared to the more sombre illuminations of middle-class areas. In fact, many middle-class areas were devoid of exterior lights...."

It seems I'm not alone.

Source

Galwayguy35 · 25-11-2014 8:33pm

Lapin wrote: »

Something I've noticed in recent years is an apparent race between the occupants of a number of houses in a council estate near me to don their homes with the most gaudy over the top Christmas lights, and the determination by some of the residents to get theirs up before the neighbours.

Two houses in particular have had theirs up for almost a fortnight now.

And each year they seem to get more and more outlandish and ostentatious with larger then scale figures of Santa Claus lit up at the chimney to be seen for miles around and further lights now festooned around the garden and every available space on the walls of the house.

I don't have a problem with anyone tarting up their houses for the festive season. It has long since been accepted as the most tasteless time of the year, but I'd prefer if they were confined to the festive season rather than two months of the year.

Of course I acknowledge that there are middle class people who turn their residences into garish winter wonderlands every year too. I don't know where they get the time. But the phenonmen of displaying the most jaunty glittery tat annually, and the quest to get it up first every year is overwhelmingly a feature of working class council estates urban areas.

Its not as if there are prizes for doing so like there are for the Tidy Towns competition during the Summer, (although that doesn't seem to be an insentive in many of these estates anyway.)

The first electricity of the new year for families with such displays must be eye watering, but that's none of my business. I do wonder though it this race to get the lights up earlier every year adds increased pressure to fire crews around the country as the potential for fire risk must be a lot higher with so many lights and electrical sockets in use.

Where is it, I'll drive past and see if I agree with you.

Lapin · 25-11-2014 8:36pm

PM sent ^^

catallus · 25-11-2014 8:48pm

Maybe all these garish Christmas lights on houses are an indication of the moral malaise which has struck the modern Irish psyche.

We cast glittering trifles upon our walls to conceal the turgid desolation within our souls.

We have truly lost our way when we concede spiritual fulfillment for the gaudy sparkling glow of dancing elves.

moc moc a moc · 25-11-2014 8:51pm

Littlekittylou wrote: »

I don't like snobs.

We don't care what riff-raff like you think.

Laura Palmer · 25-11-2014 8:58pm

Karl Stein wrote: »

There's a couple of working people's dwellings near the entrance to the manor that are adorned with the very 'ilumitatty' you've highlighted. I used to have my driver stop at the gatekeeper's lodge so that I could leave stale bread and tins of peas on their tiny little lawns to help them through this time of year.

One year one of the uncouth brutes that resides within chased the Benz and tossed a tin of peas right through the rear windscreen! No more help from me!

:eek:
Such impudence! Forward me their details post haste, that I might send my man around to administer the thrashing of a lifetime to the savage! :mad:

looking_around · 25-11-2014 9:14pm

I think xmas lights should be banned for environmental reasons. I'm all for the decorating, but I never use lights.

KungPao · 25-11-2014 9:23pm

My neighbours, of rather meager means, have multi-coloured fairy lights about their front door.

How frightfully tasteless.

They doubtlessly purchased the hideous twinkling illuminations from one of those Germanic discount merchants I have encountered.

swimming in a sea · 25-11-2014 9:47pm

Senor Fancy Pants wrote: »

Some motherfcukers just like winding people up too, it did cross my mind to plug in 500 sets of big flashy things and just fcuk them on top of the house and in the garden in no particular order, just to annoy my neighbour who waves at me everyday.

That will show the cnut to be nice to me.

Would your neighbour be Ned Flanders by any chance?

"hidey ho neighborino"

eviltwin · 25-11-2014 9:56pm

Lapin wrote: »

Same here.

And nowhere - nowhere on this thread or any other do I cast aspersions on anyone based on their background.

I'm simply curious as to why such ostentatious displays are more prevalent in such areas as opposed to others.

And before anyone else begins frothing at the mouth in a charge of indignation against things I didn't say, have a read of this -

"A number of brief observations were made throughout the evening’s engagement with the Christmas illuminated landscape. Firstly, there did seem to be a general correlation between the displays and socio-economic areas, with working-class and lower-middle class areas having a greater number of very elaborate displays, compared to the more sombre illuminations of middle-class areas. In fact, many middle-class areas were devoid of exterior lights...."

It seems I'm not alone.

Source

Maybe it's a simple way of cheering themselves up during the miserable dark evenings. I can cheer myself up with a night out, a trip to the cinema or can take my kids bowling or for pizza. I have things that keep me going, keep me sane. I notice around my estate the first houses with lights up tend to be those unable to afford these things. Having something on the house might give them a bit of joy. There is something soothing and cosy about Christmas lights. If it makes them happy what harm?

ireland.man · 25-11-2014 10:39pm

Lapin wrote: »

Something I've noticed in recent years is an apparent race between the occupants of a number of houses in a council estate near me to don their homes with the most gaudy over the top Christmas lights, and the determination by some of the residents to get theirs up before the neighbours.

Two houses in particular have had theirs up for almost a fortnight now.

And each year they seem to get more and more outlandish and ostentatious with larger then scale figures of Santa Claus lit up at the chimney to be seen for miles around and further lights now festooned around the garden and every available space on the walls of the house.

I don't have a problem with anyone tarting up their houses for the festive season. It has long since been accepted as the most tasteless time of the year, but I'd prefer if they were confined to the festive season rather than two months of the year.

Of course I acknowledge that there are middle class people who turn their residences into garish winter wonderlands every year too. I don't know where they get the time. But the phenonmen of displaying the most jaunty glittery tat annually, and the quest to get it up first every year is overwhelmingly a feature of working class council estates urban areas.

Its not as if there are prizes for doing so like there are for the Tidy Towns competition during the Summer, (although that doesn't seem to be an insentive in many of these estates anyway.)

The first electricity of the new year for families with such displays must be eye watering, but that's none of my business. I do wonder though it this race to get the lights up earlier every year adds increased pressure to fire crews around the country as the potential for fire risk must be a lot higher with so many lights and electrical sockets in use.

You say all classes partake in this tradition but you single out working-class estates, and then you describe some of the house decorations you've seen as tacky. You don't address any class issues or mention why you felt the need to describe the estate as working-class. You then make a strange assumption that somehow the people involved in this tradition might be socially irresponsible since it may be putting pressure on the emergency services! Your post is laden with value judgments!

Lapin · 25-11-2014 11:41pm

ireland.man wrote: »

You say all classes partake in this tradition but you single out working-class estates,

I didn't single out anyone. I've said this a couple of times now, but I'll repeat - I'm just curious as to why the tradition is predominent in working class estates. Thats not a value judgement. Its an observation.

ireland.man wrote: »

...and then you describe some of the house decorations you've seen as tacky.

Yep, I think Christmas decorations (of any kind) in the middle of November are indeed 'tacky'. No matter where they are displayed.

ireland.man wrote: »

You don't address any class issues or mention why you felt the need to describe the estate as working-class.

I live around the corner from the estate. Everyone describes it as a working class estate. Including those living there. Some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet live there. Some complete tossers too but thats no different than anywhere else.

ireland.man wrote: »

You then make a strange assumption that somehow the people involved in this tradition might be socially irresponsible since it may be putting pressure on the emergency services!

Careful now. You'll be picking the splinters out of your fingertips all night if you scrape the bottom of that barrell too much.

ireland.man wrote: »

Your post is laden with value judgments!

Is it fuck.

You along with others on this thread see the words 'working' and 'class' and immediately jump to the conclusion that I am being derogitave.

And in a rush to claim offence, (or even worse) claim offence on behalf of others, you rabble on here with others accusing me of being judgemental without even attempting to offer an explaination to the points I raised.

ireland.man · 26-11-2014 12:02am

Fair enough, maybe I'm wrong and I'll be the first to admit I can jump to conclusions (apologies if I am).

But I'm not wrong to say the way you wrote that post made it look like you were singling out one group of people (much maligned on AH!) for criticism of a tradition they might enjoy. Describing the estates repeatedly as working-class without going into detail as to why that that fact is of interest is a bit suspect. People would've said the same if you mentioned how you hate how black people wear brown shoes and how it's tacky but also acknowledge white people do too.

Sh1tbag OToole · 26-11-2014 12:09am

RollieFingers wrote: »

Scraping the bottom of the barrel there for content to fill your morning rant!

I think he's after going through the bottom of the barrel a long time ago and actually scraping up snails and muck from the ground now

delw · 26-11-2014 12:30am

Lapin wrote: »

Christmas - in the middle of November ?

Jaysus you obliviously haven't been to many shopping centers lately

steddyeddy · 26-11-2014 12:49am

We don't have a class system in Ireland. Some people think it's acceptable to label people according to the situation they've been born into but I don't.

steddyeddy · 26-11-2014 1:01am

Lapin wrote: »

Same here.

And nowhere - nowhere on this thread or any other do I cast aspersions on anyone based on their background.

I'm simply curious as to why such ostentatious displays are more prevalent in such areas as opposed to others.

And before anyone else begins frothing at the mouth in a charge of indignation against things I didn't say, have a read of this -

"A number of brief observations were made throughout the evening’s engagement with the Christmas illuminated landscape. Firstly, there did seem to be a general correlation between the displays and socio-economic areas, with working-class and lower-middle class areas having a greater number of very elaborate displays, compared to the more sombre illuminations of middle-class areas. In fact, many middle-class areas were devoid of exterior lights...."

It seems I'm not alone.

Source

Define working class?

Lapin · 26-11-2014 1:54am

delw wrote: »

Jaysus you obliviously haven't been to many shopping centers lately

Come on, commercial premises are a lot different. Still too early for my liking but still different than family homes.

steddyeddy wrote: »

We don't have a class system in Ireland. Some people think it's acceptable to label people according to the situation they've been born into but I don't.

We've had a class system in Ireland for centuries and still do. Very much so. Whether you or I think its acceptable or not is irrelevant to anything being discussed here.

steddyeddy wrote: »

Define working class?

Oh piss off.

bodhrandude · 26-11-2014 2:08am

Seen this last year at my brothers in Scotland during Xmas, Channel 5's Britain's Craziest Christmas Lights, its a bit of an eye opener, a literal eye opener of dazzling lights, the amount spent on these displays must be phenomenal. I thought I'd post this anyway, kinda relevant to the thread.

steddyeddy · 26-11-2014 2:14am

Lapin wrote: »

Come on, commercial premises are a lot different. Still too early for my liking but still different than family homes.

We've had a class system in Ireland for centuries and still do. Very much so. Whether you or I think its acceptable or not is irrelevant to anything being discussed here.

Oh piss off.

No I think it's garbage. An antiquated word for people who feel comfortable labelling people. If you said lower income area it would be more accurate.

Smidge · 26-11-2014 2:14am

delw wrote: »

Jaysus you obliviously haven't been to many shopping centers lately

I was in Blanchardstown sc at the very end of October there. The centre was all decorated with halloween stuff but Debenhams had all of their xmas decorations up.
I much confused that day

CaptainInsano · 26-11-2014 2:23am

I love it when a thread explodes in someone's face.

Lapin · 26-11-2014 2:33am

steddyeddy wrote: »

No I think it's garbage. An antiquated word for people who feel comfortable labelling people. If you said lower income area it would be more accurate.

Semantics won't change anything.

Lapin · 26-11-2014 2:34am

CaptainInsano wrote: »

I love it when a thread explodes in someone's face.

Brilliant.

Littlekittylou · 26-11-2014 2:41am

If I ever own my own place I am keeping the Christmas decorations on all year round now just because of this thread.

Lapin · 26-11-2014 2:50am

Littlekittylou wrote: »

If I ever own my own place I am keeping the Christmas decorations on all year round now just because of this thread.

See, I wouldn't bad an eyelid at something like that. I'd just consider you to be a bit of a fruit loop and carry on.

But this lark of apparently outdoing each other by having to be the first in the estate to get the lights up every year, to the extent where, at current trends they'll be going up in September before long.

I don't get that at all.

Littlekittylou · 26-11-2014 2:53am

Lapin wrote: »

See, I wouldn't bad an eyelid at something like that. I'd just consider you to be a bit of a fruit loop and carry on.

You would be absolutely correct. You are a shrewd shrewd man.

gozunda · 26-11-2014 2:55am

steddyeddy wrote: »

Middle and working class? Please bring your thinking into this century and we can have a level debate.

Here you go - same classification system is frequently used here for marketing and socio economic classification

Demographic classifications in the UK refer to the social grade definitions, which are used to describe, measure and classify people of different social grade and income and earnings levels, for market research, social commentary, lifestyle statistics, and statistical research and analysis
...
The social grade definitions by the NRS are widely used as a generic reference series for classifying and describing social classes, especially for consumer targeting and consumer market research by the advertising UK media and publishing sectors.

National Readership Survey (NRS) demographic categories

Social Grade Social Status Occupation
A upper middle class higher managerial, administrative or professional
B middle class intermediate managerial, administrative or professional
C1 lower middle class supervisory or clerical, junior managerial, administrative or professional
C2 skilled working class skilled manual workers
D working class semi and unskilled manual workers
E those at lowest level of subsistence state pensioners or widows (no other earner), casual or lowest grade workers

.

http://www.pfizer.ie/in_the_news.cfm?action=showArticle&articleID=75

http://www.abc1demographic.co.uk

Smidge · 26-11-2014 2:57am

Lapin wrote: »

See, I wouldn't bad an eyelid at something like that. I'd just consider you to be a bit of a fruit loop and carry on.

But this lark of apparently outdoing each other by having to be the first in the estate to get the lights up every year, to the extent where, at current trends they'll be going up in September before long.

I don't get that at all.

I actually know someone who puts the lights etc on the house/garden and begins it in September. Its also done for a charitable cause.

Littlekittylou · 26-11-2014 2:58am

Lapin wrote: »

But this lark of apparently outdoing each other by having to be the first in the estate to get the lights up every year, to the extent where, at current trends they'll be going up in September before long.

I don't get that at all.

See if I had my fairy lights up all year long then I would win. See.

Littlekittylou · 26-11-2014 2:58am

They would be pink as well.

TheLastMohican · 26-11-2014 3:10am

Fat Christy wrote: »

No, not like that sicko! And we're waiting for marriage you filthbag.

Congratulations. The old fashioned way or are you with child?

SparkySpitfire · 26-11-2014 3:53am

Aah Lapin give it up mate.

ProudDUB · 26-11-2014 4:34am

There is a big house on Bath Avenue (which leads directly to one of the Aviva entrances) in Ballsbridge, that does a mega light display every year. It's a big house, on a corner with a massive front garden. Probably worth a couple of million squids easy. They invite the public to come in and have a good goo, let the little chislers run around, get up close and personal with the 6 ft tall illuminated snowmen and reindeers, have their picture taken etc etc. They have random buckets set up around the garden for people to make a contribution to various charities, which most people do. The lights are always on in time for the November rugby internationals & soccer friendlies at the Aviva.

With about 200,000 odd people attending those games, I'd say that, they raked in a fcuking fortune for the charities this year. I read somewhere that the owners got the idea from the house in Artane that does the same thing, but on a smaller scale for the St Vincent de Paul & the Hospice in Raheny.

So anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, down with those horrible working class plebs and their hideously tacky lights. What do they think they are about at all... that whole making a difference in the world & making it a much brighter & better place malarkey? How bloody dare they ! Well done to the OP for making us aware of this terrible travesty. :rolleyes:

efb · 26-11-2014 5:18am

When will people listen to their betters... Eh, OP?

(So much roll eyes)

Valetta · 26-11-2014 9:43am

Lapin wrote: »

See, I wouldn't bad an eyelid at something like that. I'd just consider you to be a bit of a fruit loop and carry on.

But this lark of apparently outdoing each other by having to be the first in the estate to get the lights up every year, to the extent where, at current trends they'll be going up in September before long.

I don't get that at all.

You need to look inwards.

realdanbreen · 26-11-2014 10:09am

Summer wind wrote: »

and some of the houses collect money for charity so that's good too.

Hee hee, I like it! You have to admire those blokes that collect for 'charity'.
They give up so much of their time collecting for 'charity' that I can see why they wouldn't have time to go out and work.

SpaceTime · 26-11-2014 11:13am

The term "working class" is a bit ridiculous anyway.
Working as opposed to what? Speculators and aristocrats?

Sunny Dayz · 26-11-2014 11:18am

Just seen the first house with Christmas lights in our town all lit up last night - of course it's in the council estate.

One of the houses across the road from ours used to put on their lights in Nov as well - I remember one year only rested after my Income Tax deadline (mid Nov) and they had the lights on - I remember so specifically cos we had a couple over to dinner with us for a catch up and when they were leaving I remember the 4 of us standing at the front door with our mouths open! Thanks god they moved out last year. Neither of them worked. I don't live in a council estate btw.

Lapin · 26-11-2014 11:48am

efb wrote: »

When will people listen to their betters... Eh, OP?

(So much roll eyes)

Oh come on for crying out loud.

Nowhere have I ever claimed to be 'better' and I don't look down on anyone.

Thats a cheap jibe.

Valetta wrote: »

You need to look inwards.

This is the kind of moronic dim witted and idiotic response that I shouldn't rise to, but Its typical of so many others who haven't bothered their arse to read the thread yet come on here mouthing off without adding anything of value.

Like the first response in this thread, its the kind of playground reply so beloved of thanks whoring contributors on After hours who log on to insult someone rather than try and put forwad an argument to prove them wrong.

SpaceTime wrote: »

The term "working class" is a bit ridiculous anyway.

I agree, but that is the conventional term in use and neither you nor I are gonna change that here so its the one we're stuck with.

Working Class areas and the annual race to get the tacky Christmas lights up first.

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