Isn’t the word “tacky” just a classist slur?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this board loves to use classist slurs. Tacky, trashy, low-class, trailer trash, etc.

Personally I find anyone who uses these terms to embody that which they are critiquing.

Wow. So.... all the people criticizing political figures embody the descriptive terms they use?

If those people are using a racial slur, don’t you think that choice of words tells you an awful lot about who they are? What about an ableist slur? What about a homophobic slur?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, there is high class tacky behavior. Class status is not the indicator of good manners people think it is.

I do look down on the use of the word "trashy" for people.

Etymologically, this is not true. Trashy and tacky are synonyms.

I can see how they would be used synonymously, but for me tacky = bad manners. I see more people use trashy to mean low class.

Well you should know that etymologically and definitionally, you are misusing it.

[Anonymous]

It can be.

But absurd $10MM McMansions with fake towers in Mclean are also tacky. Those light up emblems on Mercedes are super tacky. Posting on DCUM about how much better you are than everyone else because you vacation abroad instead of OBX is incredibly tacky too.

There's no shortage of tacky behavior in any social or economic class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It is. Sometimes I feel it's used appropriately, and sometimes, as is the case for the "discussing finances is tacky" thread, very foolish and self-destructive.

In that case I think it’s just a synonym for “rude.” And you can debate whether or not it’s rude. But I don’t see the point of using a word that’s so inherently classist. In contrast, in the Beauty & Fashion board, it’s just straightforwardly an attack on not looking like you come from the right class, which is even worse.

People do have the choice to dress in a classy way like Michelle Obama and Jackie Kennedy, or they can try to emulate the Kardashians. If the latter, "tacky" fits.

What I understood you to have said is, “it’s okay for me to be classist and use classist terminology when I am passing judgment on someone for looking, in my estimation, to be of low class.” Did I miss something?

PP here. We are allowed to form opinions and express them about others who choose to be in the public eye, correct? Or are we required to use the descriptive terms of which you approve?

First, your PP wasn’t actually about “the public eye.” It was about people who “emulate” the Kardashians, not the actual Kardashians.

Second, I was young, people used the r word and “gay” to describe people’s dress and behavior. Now we don’t because those uses/words are understood as inappropriate. Both “tacky” and “trashy” should go the way of the r word.

You are welcome to think what you want. I'll also think that if someone goes to the beach dressed like Kim Kardashian in her hot pink suit from the rear view with basically a string, many of us will think it's a tacky way to dress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It can be.

But absurd $10MM McMansions with fake towers in Mclean are also tacky. Those light up emblems on Mercedes are super tacky. Posting on DCUM about how much better you are than everyone else because you vacation abroad instead of OBX is incredibly tacky too.

There's no shortage of tacky behavior in any social or economic class.

I disagree about comments on expensive things like the McMansions. It’s still a classist attack on “new money” people for not conforming to “old money” aesthetics. It’s an attack on their class of origin, even if they’re wealthy now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, there is high class tacky behavior. Class status is not the indicator of good manners people think it is.

I do look down on the use of the word "trashy" for people.

Etymologically, this is not true. Trashy and tacky are synonyms.

I can see how they would be used synonymously, but for me tacky = bad manners. I see more people use trashy to mean low class.

Well you should know that etymologically and definitionally, you are misusing it.

I'll see if I can use the word ill-mannered instead next time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this board loves to use classist slurs. Tacky, trashy, low-class, trailer trash, etc.

Personally I find anyone who uses these terms to embody that which they are critiquing.

Wow. So.... all the people criticizing political figures embody the descriptive terms they use?

If those people are using a racial slur, don’t you think that choice of words tells you an awful lot about who they are? What about an ableist slur? What about a homophobic slur?

You're the one who said "embody" the descriptive terms used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
It is. Sometimes I feel it's used appropriately, and sometimes, as is the case for the "discussing finances is tacky" thread, very foolish and self-destructive.

In that case I think it’s just a synonym for “rude.” And you can debate whether or not it’s rude. But I don’t see the point of using a word that’s so inherently classist. In contrast, in the Beauty & Fashion board, it’s just straightforwardly an attack on not looking like you come from the right class, which is even worse.

People do have the choice to dress in a classy way like Michelle Obama and Jackie Kennedy, or they can try to emulate the Kardashians. If the latter, "tacky" fits.

What I understood you to have said is, “it’s okay for me to be classist and use classist terminology when I am passing judgment on someone for looking, in my estimation, to be of low class.” Did I miss something?

PP here. We are allowed to form opinions and express them about others who choose to be in the public eye, correct? Or are we required to use the descriptive terms of which you approve?

First, your PP wasn’t actually about “the public eye.” It was about people who “emulate” the Kardashians, not the actual Kardashians.

Second, I was young, people used the r word and “gay” to describe people’s dress and behavior. Now we don’t because those uses/words are understood as inappropriate. Both “tacky” and “trashy” should go the way of the r word.

You are welcome to think what you want. I'll also think that if someone goes to the beach dressed like Kim Kardashian in her hot pink suit from the rear view with basically a string, many of us will think it's a tacky way to dress.

Yes and the world is still full of racists, homophobes, classists, ableists, etc. I don’t disagree that you will continue to be a classist no matter how society moves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this board loves to use classist slurs. Tacky, trashy, low-class, trailer trash, etc.

Personally I find anyone who uses these terms to embody that which they are critiquing.

Wow. So.... all the people criticizing political figures embody the descriptive terms they use?

I rarely read about politicians being called tacky, trashy, or low-class, but yes, if you use those terms, you ARE those terms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, this board loves to use classist slurs. Tacky, trashy, low-class, trailer trash, etc.

Personally I find anyone who uses these terms to embody that which they are critiquing.

Wow. So.... all the people criticizing political figures embody the descriptive terms they use?

If those people are using a racial slur, don’t you think that choice of words tells you an awful lot about who they are? What about an ableist slur? What about a homophobic slur?

You're the one who said "embody" the descriptive terms used.

Well, no, that was a different poster. But I think anyone who uses these terms (classist, racist, homophobic, ableist) are exhibiting poor manners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes this term is classist and really needs to be cancelled and go away.

It is discriminatory.

In the words of the great Inigo Montoya:

“I do not think that word means what you think it means.”

Like a pp said: the Kardashians dress tacky while the Kennedys dress classy.

The Kardashians are wealthier than the Kennedys. The Kardashians wear far more expensive clothing. But their fashion choices are garish, attention-seeking, and typically inappropriate for the occasion. That’s tacky. It’s not a socioeconomic measure; it’s a tangible vibe.

The pp posting common usage of the word in the 1800s is being silly. I mean, some means something entirely different in 2023 than it did in 1823 or even 2003.

[Anonymous]

Very rich, high class people can be "tacky"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very rich, high class people can be "tacky"

Ivanka Trump
Donald Trump
The Kardashians
Most wives of professional basketball players
Madonna
Vegas celebrities
Elvis was considered to be tacky.

It’s not related to race or socioeconomics. It’s how you present yourself through manners, fashion, and things.

[Anonymous]

Melania Trump recognized she was considered tacky and tried to emulate Jackie O in her wardrobe early on in her White House days.

Tiffany Trump is typically labeled as tacky while Ivanka is typically styled in classier clothing (although not always).

[Anonymous]

No.

Next time, don't be so fragile.