Things that are unintentional status symbols.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jotting quick notes to the teacher on properly monogrammed stationery.

RSVP'ing to a wedding on same rather than sending back the little "check fish or chicken" cards.

HA! I do this. Only because I hate those reply cards

I used to do this until my son's friend's mom said -- very sweetly-- that it screwed up her box of reply cards for kid's Bar Mitzvah.

I just write a sweet note on the back of the RSVP card unless I receive one without an RSVP card (which seems to not happen anymore).

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There, that is a perfect one! Sending out wedding invitations with no reply cards! Very very old school and an unintentional status symbol. Only those with enough knowledge will even get this. What is really sad though is people who don't even know how to reply to such an invitation.

[Anonymous]

There is a curious combination of frugalness and privilege. For example - borrowing a violin rather than buying or renting one when your kid first starts violin lessons. You wouldn't want to buy one until you are sure your kid will really do violin. On the other hand, one disappears for half the summer to a vacation cottage and takes off for Paris over spring break. One never talks about these trips - one just does it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Never thanking the waitstaff at a restaurant.

Actually, quite the opposite. The Kennedy girls would always say "thank you so much" in a slightly breathy voice.

So true. Well bred people are always polite. It's nouveau riche people who act like asses to servers and customer service workers.

I agree with much on this thread, but I also agree that a lot of people aren't "getting" it. Some of the claims made me laugh... organic milk? I buy that because it lasts much longer than regular milk. Traveling abroad? My dad was a career fed for DoD... we lived practically everywhere NATO was. A lot of third culture kids speak other languages; I do (German and Spanish). Old car? My parents drove the same Volvo for 25 years, because it was a good car, and that's the ONLY reason. No makeup? That's only because I'm rushed in the morning and five year olds don't care. Correct grammar and spelling? Well, that's just how I roll. Some of the assumptions here are ridiculous.

I'm a teacher, BTW, living in genteel poverty in a third floor walk up in DC. I can't afford to move. My apartment is rent controlled so I'm stuck here. And yes, I do WALK to the grocery store with a granny cart, which is not meant to signify anything to anybody. It's just how I get to the store.

[Anonymous]

Well traveled children (internationally, that is)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well traveled children (internationally, that is)

My kids have had passports all their lives and now we all have Global Entry and TSA Pre Check. But that's all intentional.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Competing in triathlons, marathons, etc. It's trickling down a bit, but still largely belongs to upper middle class and up. Although they are show-offy pursuits, it's athletic prowess that's being shown off; I don't think most participants do it to flaunt wealth. Therefore, unintentional status symbols.

Yes plus the free time to train et

Here's my secret -- I do both because I can't get a job, acknowledgement of my resume, or an interview. I have lost track of the applications I have submitted, the number of networking events I have attended, recruiters I have talked to who have not helped in the least bit and informational interviews I have pursued that have gone nowhere.

I am incredibly discouraged and down on myself and exercising is the one consistent thing I can do. Oh yeah, I don't wear make-up either because I can't be bothered.

WTF? I did all of my marathons from age 26-33.

I find the annoying types get into this shit when they're old, bored and middle aged and then we all have to listen to their training logs, tips and runs. STFU!!! It is so highly annoying. I just went out and ran. Period.

Uhh, sorry to upset you, I ran my first marathon at 28, I've been running for 20 years.

PP is a sour puss who is a poor representation of the running/tri community.

[Anonymous]

I think the obsession with "old money" is so weird. Many people on this forum speak about it as though these people are morally superior to others with less money or, even worse, new money. Which is funny considering the number of a$$holes that I know who would be considered "old money."

[Anonymous]

Proper use of pronouns. Specifically, not using "I" as a direct object.

Whenever someone says "send it to Mary and I" I immediately know that even though she might have gone to good schools, she comes from an uneducated family. It is a dead giveaway.

[Anonymous]

Ok, now we're starting to assign value judgments to these symbols. Those of privilege are well-spoken and everyone who uses grammar incorrectly is uneducated, and we know how unsavory that is. *fans self with ivory-ribbed fan inherited from great-grandmother*

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Having kids who are the III or IV, esp if they have very formal names -- Winthrop John Humphrey IV.

Yeah, but it's only a true status symbol, intentional or not, if you call him Gus.

Or Tripp or Trey or Chase or Chip.

No, Gus is the anti-Tripp. Tripp screams "we're old money"; Gus whispers it at a pitch that only other old money folks can hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids who are the III or IV, esp if they have very formal names -- Winthrop John Humphrey IV.

Yeah, but it's only a true status symbol, intentional or not, if you call him Gus.

Or Tripp or Trey or Chase or Chip.

No, Gus is the anti-Tripp. Tripp screams "we're old money"; Gus whispers it at a pitch that only other old money folks can hear.

Doesn't Sarah Palin have a kid named Tripp or the like? She's the epitome of white trash IMO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to private school and know hundreds of people who did as well. Not once have I ever seen any of them wear a class ring. I remember that Jostens would come to my school every year and not a single person would get a ring.

lol did you go to Putney
where did you go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having kids who are the III or IV, esp if they have very formal names -- Winthrop John Humphrey IV.

Yeah, but it's only a true status symbol, intentional or not, if you call him Gus.

Or Tripp or Trey or Chase or Chip.

No, Gus is the anti-Tripp. Tripp screams "we're old money"; Gus whispers it at a pitch that only other old money folks can hear.

Doesn't Sarah Palin have a kid named Tripp or the like? She's the epitome of white trash IMO.

why what is the "Gus" reference to? or are you just winding us up…because this sounds like bs.

[Anonymous]

Being a good skier.

Straight teeth.

Dietary requirements.

[Anonymous]

This thread. Keeps getting weirder and weirder.