snobbery

admiralofthefleet · 09-02-2013 04:44PM

suicide_circus wrote: »

Terenure is a lower middle class cesspit

bar the rathfarnham road (which should really be called terenure road south) its mostly working, especially down at enda's as ive already mentioned

mikemac1 · 09-02-2013 04:44PM

The King of Moo wrote: »

A quite expensive estate was built near the fairly ordinary, now mainly middle-class estate where I lived as a kiddywink. Rather than put the area where the estates are, which is not very well-known, on their addresses, many of the people in the more expensive estate put the name of a much more fashionable village about ten kilometres away. Someone has even put that on Google Maps, and put photos of the village in the middle of the estate on, despite the distance between the two being clear..

Spiddal in Galway?

The King of Moo · 09-02-2013 04:46PM

While I don't agree with reverse snobbery, I think it's much more understandable than classic snobbery. When you see people with more money and nicer things than you, it's a fairly normal reaction to get annoyed about that, especially as in some cases there is an element of luck involved in it one person being in a better situation than another.
It's not rational but people don't tend to be rational.

We also tend to generalise, so if one meets some snobby people who speak with a posh accent, one might jump to the conclusion that all people with a plummy accent are snobs, just as one might jump to the conclusion that all people who wear tracksuits and speak with a certain accent are thugs, because one such person shouted at you from their car once.

You also have to factor in the perception that people in elevated social positions can take a little snobbery against them, as otherwise their life is seen as pretty good. It's like satire: it's funny to mock the powerful, not so funny to mock those without power or status as it comes across as bullying.

I think reverse snobbery is particularly understandable among children, as they've no control over what they're born into, so the disparity seems even more unfair.

So while I don't agree with reverse snobbery, I can understand where it comes from, particularly as when I was young we weren't flush with money. I'm not now either, but that's beside the point.

I do find original recipe snobbery hard to understand though, try as I might to do so. I just don't see how someone would think they're better than another person because they have more money than them. This is particularly true when the money hasn't been earned, as in the case of the children of wealthy parents. I suppose in many cases it's insecurity: a person seeking validation through material signifiers of status, or trying to distance themselves from those in a lower social position, due to seeing some possible similarities between themselves and these people.

Of course, I can't ignore the fact that some people are just c*nts whatever they're born into.

The King of Moo · 09-02-2013 04:49PM

mikemac1 wrote: »

Spiddal in Galway?

Ooh, close. I won't say exactly where to avoid identification, but I am talking about Galway. I'm thinking of the north-east of the city though.

slavetothegrind · 09-02-2013 04:53PM

the worst snobbery is when you meet someone for the first time and their first words to you are " So what do you do then?"

Because your job or profession or lack thereof define you absolutely as a person in such a bigoted persons eyes.

You can but be glad you are not like them and end the conversation politely and walk away.

shoos · 09-02-2013 04:55PM

slavetothegrind wrote: »

the worst snobbery is when you meet someone for the first time and their first words to you are " So what do you do then?"

Because your job or profession or lack thereof define you absolutely as a person in such a bigoted persons eyes.

You can but be glad you are not like them and end the conversation politely and walk away.

Are you sure you're not mistaking a very general conversation starter for snobbery? That's a very typical "get to know the person" kind of question that I've asked and have been asked, and never felt there's any bigoted judgement going on behind it

EDIT: just wanted to include that I'm unemployed atm, so it's not like I relish the chance to boast when people ask me.

BMJD · 09-02-2013 04:57PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

Who's the biggest snob you've ever encountered? I met one recently in a pub. He seemed friendly at first. He mentioned he lived in Terenure to which I replied "Oh cool my mam is from Kimmage originally, just around the corner". He came back with "There's a big difference between the calibre of people from Kimnage and from Terenure mate". Now I know this is AH an I'm probrably contracually obliged to say I came up with a bit witty AH response but I didn't.

lolz, he called yer ma a knackbag and you did nothing :pac:

Ava_e · 09-02-2013 04:57PM

It's these snobs I truly feel sorry for, they strive for validation of their existence from society, they have no extraordinary talent, IQ, or personality. Just average. Empty shells.

They will only accept themselves if they can feel superior to others in society. And the only way they can do that is through having what they perceve as status symbols. "I'm from this "posh area", my car reg is a 13, I holiday 4 times a year".

The people who they want to emulate, the very very wealthy, drive 10 year old Volos, have dog hair all over the furniture and out of date mobile phones, they are content and not concerned what others think. It's something these striving self-loathing snobs can never buy.

April O Neill · 09-02-2013 04:59PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

The other thing is my mams side of the family are all barristers, economists historians and probrably a lot better off than he was.

Is this not also snobbery?

slavetothegrind · 09-02-2013 05:02PM

shoos wrote: »

Are you sure you're not mistaking a very general conversation starter for snobbery? That's a very typical "get to know the person" kind of question that I've asked and have been asked, and never felt there's any bigoted judgement going on behind it

EDIT: just wanted to include that I'm unemployed atm, so it's not like I relish the chance to boast when people ask me.

there's a certain tone to the type i am thinking of, very distinctive and judgemental

I suppose i generalised a bit....

Sorry

Latchy · 09-02-2013 05:02PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

''there's a big difference difference between the calibre of people from Kimnage and from Terenure mate".

He couldn't be for real but either way, you should have replied with '' yes...the difference is you lot in Terenure still use newspaper to wipe your arse with ''

The other thing is my mams side of the family are all barristers, economists historians and probrably a lot better off than he was.

Snobbery !

fathead82 · 09-02-2013 05:06PM

Biggest snob I ever met was in a night club,met her at the bar & listened to her talking ****e for an hour about going to college in Trinity,thought I was getting places with her when she asked me what I did,I told her I work in a factory. She says " a factory? as in,on a production line?,good for you." pats me on the arm & walks away.

shoos · 09-02-2013 05:06PM

slavetothegrind wrote: »

there's a certain tone to the type i am thinking of, very distinctive and judgemental

I suppose i generalised a bit....

Sorry

Think I've got the voice in my head - "So, what do you do then" as if no matter what the answer, they probably won't be impressed?

But yeah, I wouldn't write people off for asking that question in general. Cause that'd mean you'd write me off, and for all you know we could be soulmates

donegal_man · 09-02-2013 05:06PM

I used to work alongside a member of the traveler community, who had a successful career as an interior designer and when I happened to mention his name to a friend of my father he replied "he's still a k****er"

dd972 · 09-02-2013 05:07PM

As regards snobbery, there's a social fascism in Ireland about things like the types of faces people have, they way they speak, dress, where they hail from and their perceived level of education or sophistication.

There is also a crass, vulgar, mean spirited and obnoxious manner of expressing it quite frequently without even thinking of having a conversation with the target of the abuse to ascertain what sort of person they are. Judgement without investigation reigns supreme.

The words 'knacker' and 'tinker' are bandied around to describe anyone perceived to be of a lower social caste, even those perceived to be ordinary working class.

This is even evident in Central Dublin which gives away the small time and parochial nature of the city compared to Central London, Brussels or Berlin.

somefeen · 09-02-2013 05:11PM

Its like the Blackrock/Mahon thing in Cork.
Vast majority of Blackrock is old corporation houses, vast majority of Mahon is new corporation houses.
Only reason Blackrock is considered more affluent is that after a couple of generations the people who lived in the Corpo houses eventually bought them and their kids grew up and got decent jobs and inherited the house.
Same thing will happen to Mahon.

By all accounts Blackrock was an absolute ****ehole back in the 70's. Anyone who thinks they're better for living there is a knob anyway.

steddyeddy · 09-02-2013 05:11PM

mikemac1 wrote: »

Was he once of these OP?

http://www.thejournal.ie/residents-claim-tds-do-not-represent-middle-class-in-dublin-suburb-325310-Jan2012/

I rent in Ballyer, now I know the good people of The Association of Residents of Terenure want nothing to do with us

Jesus that's scary. Do these people have genetic reason for their stupidity?

steddyeddy · 09-02-2013 05:15PM

BMJD wrote: »

lolz, he called yer ma a knackbag and you did nothing :pac:

Yep as I said I regret it. I would have had a happier memory if I had smashed a bottle of carlsberg in the low life's face shouting "stitch that jimmy"!!!

token101 · 09-02-2013 05:19PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

Jesus that's scary. Do these people have genetic reason for their stupidity?

Seems a bit stupid to be dividing one area over two constituencies and they probably don't want to be represented by Aengus Ó Snodaigh and I don't blame them. Imagine the amount of litter he'd stick through your letterbox with 50,000 worth of ink. Suppose on the upside you'd save on jacks' roll in these harsh economic times.

ejmaztec · 09-02-2013 05:20PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

Would you care to step outside? (what I should have said to the snob in my opening post :-P)

He would probably have agreed to that so that he could issue instructions to his ex-navy seal chauffeur who was waiting outside for him. He would have then sat back on his shooting stick eating Beluga caviar whilst watching said chauffeur paralyse you from the neck down.:(

stop animal cruelty · 09-02-2013 05:23PM

BillyMitchel wrote: »

It's everywhere in Ireland, anyone who says otherwise is deluded.

Met a chick before on holidays and at the very start of the conversation she asked where I was from and when I told her she just got up and walked off. Stuck up slag.

Worked out well though, me and my friend four balled her mate who was much better looking!

so where are you from? :pac:

steddyeddy · 09-02-2013 05:25PM

token101 wrote: »

Seems a bit stupid to be dividing one area over two constituencies and they probably don't want to be represented by Aengus Ó Snodaigh and I don't blame them. Imagine the amount of litter he'd stick through your letterbox with 50,000 worth of ink. Suppose on the upside you'd save on jacks' roll in these harsh economic times.

Well If they didn't like the td then they should make that point. Not throw in some neanderthal dribble about class differences. And yes before people criticise me I am a snob regarding snobs and will look down on their lack of intelligence.

Where To · 09-02-2013 05:26PM

I had a neighbour who emigrated to the States, returned five years later and went to the local post office and asked in a loud Texan accent for directions to his mother's house. (the house he had lived in for thirty years).

Madam_X · 09-02-2013 05:28PM

true-or-false wrote: »

So he said "calibre", you've interpreted it as meaning money, found a deeper meaning of profession, and he's the snob?

I don't think the calibre of a person is anything to do with their money, where they live OR their job.

Saying the calibre of people from a certain area is better than that of people from a different yet close-by area is a tossy thing to say though, whatever he meant.

Reverse cultural snobbery is something I've noticed the past while - dismissing any people who like "arty" or whatever stuff as pretentious and a cultural snob as if it can't simply be personal preference with no snobbery or pretentiousness there at all.

somefeen wrote: »

Its like the Blackrock/Mahon thing in Cork.
Vast majority of Blackrock is old corporation houses, vast majority of Mahon is new corporation houses.
Only reason Blackrock is considered more affluent is that after a couple of generations the people who lived in the Corpo houses eventually bought them and their kids grew up and got decent jobs and inherited the house.
Same thing will happen to Mahon.

By all accounts Blackrock was an absolute ****ehole back in the 70's. Anyone who thinks they're better for living there is a knob anyway.

Of course anyone who thinks they're better because of their address is a joke of a human being but I'd be very surprised if Blackrock was a sh1t-hole in the 70s. Council houses doesn't always mean sh1t-hole and the ones in Blackrock were the very old ones, not the estates built in the 60s and 70s whose poor planning led to anti social problems, which is the case with some of the estates in Mahon. Plus I'm not sure the vast majority of Blackrock was council housing back in the day. Some of it was but it's still one of the most affluent parts of Cork. Look at some of the absolute mansions out there.

They're very different places in fairness - just close to each other. You're right that Mahon is settling down now though - it was a lot tougher years back.
The notable thing I've picked up over the years re the two is that older people from Mahon say they're from Blackrock, and younger people from Blackrock, trying to be "working class hero" say they're from Mahon. :pac:

Well-off people being ashamed of their background is amusing too... as if they'd be ashamed when they need to get money off the folks.

token101 · 09-02-2013 05:51PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

Well If they didn't like the td then they should make that point. Not throw in some neanderthal dribble about class differences. And yes before people criticise me I am a snob regarding snobs and will look down on their lack of intelligence.

Dribble? If they want the boundary lines redrawn because they feel they'll be better represented, they're entitled to ask and if there's 300 houses and they all want it, it should be done. If people in Inchicore or wherever want to get offended at snobbery or whatever else, leave them off.

the culture of deference · 09-02-2013 05:52PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

"There's a big difference between the calibre of people from Kimnage and from Terenure mate".

The correct response to that is an immediate headbut

Pherekydes wrote: »

Tits who think St Brigid's NS is in Castleknock. It's in Blanchardstown!

P.S. So are Roselawn and Delwood.

We have friends that live in

Carpenterstown

CASTLEKNOCK.

MaxSteele wrote: »

My mate dropped out of engineering in Trinity recently because and I quote ...

An old one.

How do you know if the person sitting beside you on the train or bus went to trinity.

They will tell you

jaffacakesyum · 09-02-2013 05:56PM

shoos wrote: »

Yeah, I think poeple forget that the Irish are just as guilty of reverse-snobbery as traditional snobbery.
You're not deadly cause you've been to America, but you're also not deadly because you've not been to America. Get over yourselves.

Ugh God I forget about these type as well!

The type that think they're better than you because they've backpacked through Europe, went to Oz for a year, stayed with locals in Thailand

versus

The type that gives out about anybody heading away for a year or two. "la de dah look at you thinking you're such a free spirit, travelling all around the world"

I really don't like people do I

:pac:

Latchy · 09-02-2013 06:04PM

holy guacamole wrote: »

Who gives a sh*t about where you're from, or where you live, or what car you drive, or how much you earn, the only people that are bothered with that stuff are shallow, pretentious oafs who measure popularity in €€€€.

Be proud of your background whatever it is and in the process congratulate yourself for not trying to hide your roots and be ashamed of where you're from like so many others in this country do.

I think also you'll find that a lot of people are happy with who they are ,their backgrounds and where they come from .It's the perceived notion by pretentious snobs that somehow they shouldn't be which annoys and piss's people off .

The King of Moo wrote: »

Of course, I can't ignore the fact that some people are just c*nts whatever they're born into.

Yes, working , middle class or any other class you care to name those c*nts are to be found in all sections of society .

Ava_e wrote: »

It's these snobs I truly feel sorry for, they strive for validation of their existence from society, they have no extraordinary talent, IQ, or personality. Just average. Empty shells.

They will only accept themselves if they can feel superior to others in society. And the only way they can do that is through having what they perceve as status symbols. "I'm from this "posh area", my car reg is a 13, I holiday 4 times a year".

The people who they want to emulate, the very very wealthy, drive 10 year old Volos, have dog hair all over the furniture and out of date mobile phones, they are content and not concerned what others think. It's something these striving self-loathing snobs can never buy.

+ 100

HerrScheisse · 09-02-2013 06:09PM

FFS if you have to work you are all working class! There are very few genuine aristocrats in Ireland.

Whether you lay bricks or replace kidneys, the difference is a matter of degree.

What peaves me, is that you can almost be certain the first question you will be asked upon encountering an Irish person either inland or abroad is - "where are you from?"

And ye Gods the judgement begins from there. Shaw was right that an Englishman cannot open his mouth without provoking contempt of another Enlishman, he could equally have said that an Irishman cannot say where he lives without invoking the spite of another Irishman.

mikemac1 · 09-02-2013 06:13PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

The other thing is my mams side of the family are all barristers, economists historians and probrably a lot better off than he was.

People look down on lawyers, not look up to them

snobbery

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