Sick of the upper class bashing

[clarabelle]

Clarabelle,

I respect that you have situations you need a larger home for but we all seem to be in this cookie cutter mode of what entertaining people means. I don't do a lot of it so maybe I am just dense. I guess if you have to have large dinner parties or such you will need the space to do that but so often it goes beyond that. I recently saw an article in our paper about builders making two master suites because that is what is expected now. I am alarmed that we just take all that for granted these days.

For us entertaining means having 20 -30 people over to interview or welcome a new partner or something similar. Im not saying it is completely necessary to have a big house (in this case big means 4400- with 1000 of it being finished basement). I'm just saying there may be more motivations that just trying to impress.
I guess we all have our push buttons. I know a family that drives a porshe, a hummer and a jag and I have trouble not thinking judgemental thoughts when I see them. But there may be more to it that what I know and I have to remind myself it is none of my business

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I'm so confused by this thread.

Me too!

I don't care how much anyone makes. It isn't important. You know the Red Hot Chili Peppers song, "Give it Away?" The line in it that goes, "unimpressed by material excess," is what always goes through my mind when I see Hummers or McMansions. To me, they are excessive and unnecessary and I am absolutely entitled to that opinon. Stating that isn't bashing, nor does it mean that I can't afford either item. I just choose to spend my money on less conspicuous things.

 

[daisax]

I grew up in the 70s a small town that happened to have a lot of professional athletes living there. These guys were millionaires by anybody's definition. The houses they lived in (and some still do after retiring) are dwarfed by the houses being built by working class people around them.

Again, we're not saying people can't spend their money on what they want. Some of us are saying we find the choices baffling, and even humorous.

I'm not worried about creeping socialism -- I'm worried about an increasing percentage of the population that thinks that the right "designer" handbags and sneakers are inherently worth 800x their actual manufacturing cost. The ones that pay $200 for a knockoff of a $900 designer handbag.

And the people who pay $900,000 for a house that's built of papier mache because from the curb it looks impressive (even though you can hear the pipes humming for 5 minutes when a toilet flushes 6 rooms away).

 

[SadieDog]

Actually, I find just the opposite to be true. Those living paycheck-to-paycheck (or worse) seem to be ragged on the most.

I agree.

 

[RNMOM]

Just as long as you don't live in a nice house and drive a nice car right?

No one is saying you can't live in a nice house and drive a nice car. My big gripe is why do so many people seem like lemmings and live in these huges homes with the 2 story foyers and big chandeliers? The homes around where we live are just all alike. What is special about that? I guess I would admire a person who took the time to have a home built that suited their needs and wants more than just buying something that is as nice as what all the others have. Builders around here tear down the wooded lots and put up these homes so fast you head would spin. I don't find that desireable but that is JMO. I am no threat to you, or shouldn't be. I can have an opinion and so can you. If that is the lifestyle you really want then go for it and don't look back. I am just saying that is not what I strive for or desire. I want to make something special to my own tastes if and when I get the resources to do so. Till then I aim to be happy where I am.

 

[CheshireVal]

Me too!

I don't care how much anyone makes. It isn't important. You know the Red Hot Chili Peppers song, "Give it Away?" The line in it that goes, "unimpressed by material excess," is what always goes through my mind when I see Hummers or McMansions. To me, they are excessive and unnecessary and I am absolutely entitled to that opinon. Stating that isn't bashing, nor does it mean that I can't afford either item. I just choose to spend my money on less conspicuous things.

But, apparently they are "nice" things. And if you don't have one, you're not "upper class," and if you don't want one, you are bashing the "upper class."

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Exactly. If you are upper middle class and drive a heap but spend $40K a year for vacations and live in a tenement, you're OK.

Anne

Oh please. Maybe people get tired of those who seem to brag about what they have all the time. It's not what they have, but the flaunting of it.

P.S. I have a house around 1600 sq. ft. under air (30 year conventional loan), DH's truck is paid for, but I have a CTS that we make payments on. We are both government, non-unionized workers though DH has a "blue collar" job. Don't know where I fit in.

 

[disneyfan67]

but don't you see? He's set it up perfectly so that whoever follows him will get blamed for it all. The majority of the people in this country have the attention span of a gnat and when taxes go up, everyone will blame the folks that raised them, not the fools that spent us into a situation where taxes HAD to be raised.

I think they just didn't care, period. I feel for the next POTUS, whoever it may be, because they aren't in for a easy ride. You can almost picture what's going to happen if Hillary is elected and when the recent tax breaks are taken away. The cries of "my taxes went up" and "she sucks", "she lost the war in Iraq for us", "she's evil and too secretive" and the list will be endless. Rush Limbaugh will be back in his glory and his ratings will be at an all time high within a year of her Presidency.

I'm no fan of hers and won't vote for her, but I don't envy her if she's elected. I don't envy any Democrat who's elected POTUS in 08, that's for sure. I have a strong feeling it will be "payback time in 09" and I probably just gave the GOP their new motto.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I know the threads you're talking about. I guess I just don't see it that way. I think people's attitudes have a lot more to do with how they are perceived than simply their financial status.

That's it exactly. I could care less what you have, but if you're cold and unfeeling towards those less fortunate than you-I'm going to call you on it.

I was only in grammar school when he was killed, but I can still remember Sister talking about Bobby Kennedy saying that with great blessing comes great responsibility. That responsibility isn't just about ourselves, it's also about others who need a hand.

 

[Christine]

I think they just didn't care, period. I feel for the next POTUS, whoever it may be, because they aren't in for a easy ride. You can almost picture what's going to happen if Hillary is elected and when the recent tax breaks are taken away. The cries of "my taxes went up" and "she sucks", "she lost the war in Iraq for us", "she's evil and too secretive" and the list will be endless. Rush Limbaugh will be back in his glory and his ratings will be at an all time high within a year of her Presidency.

I'm no fan of hers and won't vote for her, but I don't envy her if she's elected. I don't envy any Democrat who's elected POTUS in 08, that's for sure. I have a strong feeling it will be "payback time in 09" and I probably just gave the GOP their new motto.

It almost makes you hope a Republican gets in.

 

[Philagoofy]

No one is saying you can't live in a nice house and drive a nice car. My big gripe is why do so many people seem like lemmings and live in these huges homes with the 2 story foyers and big chandeliers? The homes around where we live are just all alike. What is special about that? I guess I would admire a person who took the time to have a home built that suited their needs and wants more than just buying something that is as nice as what all the others have. Builders around here tear down the wooded lots and put up these homes so fast you head would spin. I don't find that desireable but that is JMO. I am no threat to you, or shouldn't be. I can have an opinion and so can you. If that is the lifestyle you really want then go for it and don't look back. I am just saying that is not what I strive for or desire. I want to make something special to my own tastes if and when I get the resources to do so. Till then I aim to be happy where I am.

This is sort of how I feel when watching House Hunter type shows. Everyone just has to have granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. That's fine, I don't care what other people want, it just seems that if you don't have that, there's something wrong with your house. Someday the avocado fridge & oven will be back in style. (I would love to have ceramic tiles though instead of linoleum or whatever material it is.)

In my neighborhood of single homes with only a few yards between each, they tear down one home & put up 2 or 3 in their place. The houses are pretty but I guess they are the McMansions that people are talking about. It's changing the look & feel of the neighborhood, only because it's becoming more tight & congested looking, taking away the uniqueness of different styles homes. But even that I don't care that much about. It's the fact that the builders are trying to squeeze every last little penny out of the area that they can.

When I go out of my city, I look in awe & amazement when I see a plot of ground with grass and trees, with no building equipment. There doesn't seem to be too much of that left in my city anymore.

 

[DVC Sadie]

Not in this thread, but in other threads it's been made very clear that those of us (and I know there are a lot of us on the DIS) who have sacrificed to have an upper middle-class income must be jerks who ran over old ladies and babies in strollers to get to where we are in life.

I guess hard work and sacrifice don't count for much these days.

Anne

Thanks for putting into words what I was going to type.

Sometimes I get urked when someone assumes that I/dh never had to work (two jobs), save or plan for what we have earned.

I live in a large house that is 35 years old and sits on 5 acres with very old oak trees but I am sure someone would call it a Mc Mansion due to the square footage and I really don't care a rats patootie.

 

[wvjules]

It almost makes you hope a Republican gets in.

Don't go that far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[CheshireVal]

Thanks for putting into words what I was going to type.

Sometimes I get urked when someone assumes that I/dh never had to work (two jobs), save or plan for what we have earned.

I live in a large house that is 35 years old and sits on 5 acres with very old oak trees but I am sure someone would call it a Mc Mansion due to the square footage and I really don't care a rats patootie.

If you have 5 acres and your house is 35 years old, it's not a McMansion. McMansions have no land and are fairly new.

 

[ducklite]

Oh please. Maybe people get tired of those who seem to brag about what they have all the time. It's not what they have, but the flaunting of it.

Some people have a fit if certain people say they bought a can of peas at the grocery store. I don't live in a huge home home, I don't drive a "luxury car," and I certainly don't have all sorts of electronic gizmo's.

The last purchase I made was a "Doogie Dooley" to dump the dog crap I scoop up each day into--now there's a real luxury item.

I don't have a "Coach Girlie," a cleaning lady, or any number of things that people come onto these boards and talk about. So if you're addressing that comment to me, I think you need to look elsewhere.

Anne

 

[jemiaule]

I was referring to the people who are duped into spending thousands of dollars for a Kincaid "painting" which is merely brush strokes superimposed on a print by an assembly line of workers.

They think they're getting an original painting by TK, but they're not.

Ah, and lucky me...I live in the same town these are produced. We locals call it the TK Sweatshop.

 

[disney junky]

I will defend to the death my right to make fun of people with no taste. Money doesn't buy class, and there are some nouveau riche who like to show off their status by flaunting expensive but ultimately cheap objects, like McMansions and Humvees and Thomas Kincaid "art." Their goal is to impress, but it's kind of pathetic -- doubly so if they really can't afford the price tag of the life they're so anxious that everybody think they live.

I have Thomas Kincaid "art" in my living room along with my Elvis on black velvet and my Last Supper Dogs. Here I thought I had class....

Seriously, I bought the Kincaid for the meaning. I know it's not original and I never thought of it as an investment. I just like it. What does that make me? I certainly am not upper class. I don't think I'm pretentious.

 

[disneyfan67]

It almost makes you hope a Republican gets in.

To be honnest, I don't care for any of the current GOP candidates and I just don't even have the passion or desire to vote. I'll get the "if you don't vote you can't complain" motto, but can you show me any candidate that really stands out and will fit my needs? I would really like to see Colin Powell run, but that ain't happening. Rudy Giuliani kind of turns me off and his past behavior is really odd, IMO. I think Fred Thompson will just continue on the current course of action that the POTUS has already been on for the past 6 years. I don't think the country will sit still for the sequel of "GWB" The next Generation" (cue the Star Trek music)


If I had a choice in picking the next POTUS, it might be Obama because he seems to be different from the Clinton/Bush cycle we have been on. I would like to see someone fresh and different from the normal DC culture, but I have no idea on how he would be as POTUS. All I know that the next few years won't be a cake walk for who sits in that chair come Jan 09.

Sorry to the OP for getting off course and hijacking your thread.

 

[CheshireVal]

Some people have a fit if certain people say they bought a can of peas at the grocery store. I don't live in a huge home home, I don't drive a "luxury car," and I certainly don't have all sorts of electronic gizmo's.

The last purchase I made was a "Doogie Dooley" to dump the dog crap I scoop up each day into--now there's a real luxury item.

I don't have a "Coach Girlie," a cleaning lady, or any number of things that people come onto these boards and talk about. So if you're addressing that comment to me, I think you need to look elsewhere.

Anne

*tiptoes in*

But we all know how apparently successful and well-off you are because you do kinda mention it a lot.

*tiptoes out*

 

[hydster]

Oh please. Maybe people get tired of those who seem to brag about what they have all the time. It's not what they have, but the flaunting of it.

Sometimes even money cannot buy "class" as is the case with one of our brothers!