Sick of the upper class bashing

[Christine]

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....
But I can afford it. Me 'n the missus won bingo at the firehall.

Did you know you can't find the Elvis on Velvet anymore???

My co-worker was desperately searching for one for her brother and they are no longer being sold at gas stations and strip malls in Virginia?

 

[ducklite]

*tiptoes in*

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

*tiptoes out*

I have a comfortable life, I would not consider myself "well-off" and never said I was. And I would say that those who flaunt their expensive handbags or are always complaining about being broke far outnumber me. But whatever, think what you want. I earn a living, give to charity, and can sleep well at night.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Did you know you can't find the Elvis on Velvet anymore???

My co-worker was desperately searching for one for her brother and they are no longer being sold at gas stations and strip malls in Virginia?

I saw some of them on ebay a while back, if you are serious about finding one. An ex-boyfriends mother must have had 30 of them in her house--it was like a shrine to Elvis.

Anne

 

[Tyler's Dad]

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.

I think you will find most people dont think that. What people get offended by are the upper-middle class people that have an attitude of "why can't everyone else just do what I/we did." There just seems to be a few too many people that believe everyone's lives are the same.

 

[disneyfan67]

Did you know you can't find the Elvis on Velvet anymore???

My co-worker was desperately searching for one for her brother and they are no longer being sold at gas stations and strip malls in Virginia?

Just got to know how to use Google and look for it.

I found this for you at thevelvetstore.com and I'll see if I can post the picture below.

http://www.thevelvetstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv

I prefer the velvet pictures of a lion on a rock or a unicorn, but that's just me.

 

[jbthi]

I haven't read all these posts and I'm not sure what upper middle class income needs to be so I'm not sure whether I qualify or not. My children definitely do. We do drive a new fairly expensive car; we have a nice but very modest home. Noone would ever know we have a pretty large estate.

I refer to the McMansions quite often in a very derogatory way. We spend our winters on Sanibel Island. It used to be a quaint little island with island cottages. Now the newcomers are building multi-million dollar McMansions that are beautiful but look out of place here. What really gripes me is that many are vacant most of the time, they are just used for vacation homes. They ruin the island so they can have that home for short vacation times.

June

 

[wvjules]

*tiptoes in*

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

*tiptoes out*

 

[ducklite]

I think you will find most people dont think that. What people get offended by are the upper-middle class people that have an attitude of "why can't everyone else just do what I/we did." There just seems to be a few too many people that believe everyone's lives are the same.

Conversely the upper-middle class who work two jobs to maintain that income level get tired of people who are SAH mom's to four kids (their choice) whining that they need free health insurance, an EIC, and food stamps to use at WDW.

It's a two way street.

Anne

 

[Christine]

I saw some of them on ebay a while back, if you are serious about finding one. An ex-boyfriends mother must have had 30 of them in her house--it was like a shrine to Elvis.

Anne

Nah! It was a "last minute" idea they had for a 60th birthday party. They thought it up and assumed they could run out and buy one.

 

[PghLybrt]

I don’t really think it is upper class bashing. After all, if you are truly upper class you are not putting 3,000 dollar reproductions up on your walls, you are putting half million dollar original paintings up.

I think it is “I want to be perceived as if I have money” bashing.

 

[Tyler's Dad]

Conversely the upper-middle class who work two jobs to maintain that income level get tired of people who are SAH mom's to four kids (their choice) whining that they need free health insurance, an EIC, and food stamps to use at WDW.

It's a two way street.

Anne

The difference is that you have to exaggerate to get to those conclusions. I haven't seen anyone whining they need free health insurance, an EIC, and food stamps at WDW. What I have seen is discussion on children needing to be personally responsible for not having health insurance, people saying way more people abuse welfare than actually need it, and generally disregarding anyone who doesn't have the means to take care of themselves.

 

[ducklite]

The difference is that you have to exaggerate to get to those conclusions. I haven't seen anyone whining they need free health insurance, an EIC, and food stamps at WDW. What I have seen is discussion on children needing to be personally responsible for not having health insurance, people saying way more people abuse welfare than actually need it, and generally disregarding anyone who doesn't have the means to take care of themselves.

Then you've missed a lot of posts.

 

[Crankyshank]

I am so confused by this thread. I don't know where I fit in as some who was raised working then upper middle class, and is definitely middle class now.

My parents have 3 Volvos and I make fun of them for it. Does that make me a upper class basher? They have a nice house, but it's not a McMansion, and I have a tiny house with 2 nice-ish cars.

 

[ducklite]

I am so confused by this thread. I don't know where I fit in as some who was raised working then upper middle class, and is definitely middle class now.

My parents have 3 Volvos and I make fun of them for it. Does that make me a upper class basher? They have a nice house, but it's not a McMansion, and I have a tiny house with 2 nice-ish cars.

As far as many are concerned, the mere fact that you mentioned the word "Volvo" makes you an elitist snob. Quit while you're ahead.

Anne

 

[Crankyshank]

As far as many are concerned, the mere fact that you mentioned the word "Volvo" makes you an elitist snob. Quit while you're ahead.

Anne

They're not mine though. I tell my parents that it's so embarrassingly bourgeois that they have 3.

 

[crcormier]

I don’t really think it is upper class bashing. After all, if you are truly upper class you are not putting 3,000 dollar reproductions up on your walls, you are putting half million dollar original paintings up.

I think it is “I want to be perceived as if I have money” bashing.

I think this sums it up perfectly.

 

[Fitswimmer]

It's NOT the stuff. It's not the Coach bag or the McMansion or whatever consumer goodie you've worked hard enough to possess. It's the attitude about it and about those less fortunate.

If a person is going to brag about their Coach bag, their huge house, their traveling around the globe, their car, their iPods or whatever it is-and at the same time talk about how irresponsible and ignorant people are who have fallen on tough times through no fault of their own-then they're going to get slammed.

I know people here who probably have a lot of nice stuff, but they are also caring and considerate people who want the best for EVERYONE not just
them and theirs.

 

[DVC Sadie]

I think you will find most people dont think that. What people get offended by are the upper-middle class people that have an attitude of "why can't everyone else just do what I/we did." There just seems to be a few too many people that believe everyone's lives are the same.

I know that everyones life is not the same and we do everything we can to help those who help themselves.

What bothers me the most is that the true middle class is diminishing and it is frustrating to know that something needs to be done without having the exact answer.

All I know is what worked for us, so that is what I have tried to convey.

 

[Crankyshank]

I know that everyones life is not the same and we do everything we can to help those who help themselves.

What bothers me the most is that the true middle class is diminishing and it is frustrating to know that something needs to be done without having the exact answer.

All I know is what worked for us, so that is what I have try to convey.

I think the true middle class are really the people that need to be helped the most, because they're the ones who are affected the most by things like the rise in energy costs, healthcare costs, etc... the lower/working class folks will qualify for assistance and the upper class will still have money to cover their needs and wants.

 

[jemiaule]

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

I think cars can be so deceptive and hard to judge what is spendy for the most part. (Not talking like a Ferrarri or anything)

My dad drives a really pretty classic Mercedes 450SL convertible. He got it used 2 years ago and paid $4000.00 for it.

I used to drive a gorgeous Mercedes 560SEC (until some butthead hit me head on 2 years ago - grrrrrr). I bought it used and paid I think around $6500 for it.

So at some point (if dad was over here) you would see two Mercedes in our driveway. That doesn't make us showy and it certainly doesn't mean we are living beyond our means.

That is what I was meaning by cars can be deceptive.