Things that are unintentional status symbols.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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*

You are the one reading the value judgment into that statement. Also you need to work on your reading comprehension.

And yes, I think it is reasonable to expect a purportedly educated person to know the most basic rules of grammar. Do you teach your kids to say "give she the toy" and "her wented to the store with he?" Because that's what it sounds like to me when people say "give it to her and I." This is not complicated stuff. If someone routinely sent you emails that said "forward the draft to I" would you not wonder about that person?

[Anonymous]

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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.

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

It's only white trash if you name your kid Tripp and that's his actual name, not a nickname for being a III.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

+1 (but I am a poor rube from a public school, and my parents only have HS diplomas)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Hmmm . . . DH is old money and went to Princeton undergrad as did his dad. FIL says "send it to Mary and me"; DH says "Mary and I" --
it drives me crazy. Even though I'm new money (or at least new-very-comfortable SES), I learned grammar, thanks to the California public schools.

The thing about old money is that there's a lot more awareness of the anti-status status symbols and intentionality about deploying them than you might think. And, the thing about new money is that if you're observant, you can discern the anti-status status symbols and procure them. (See, for example, the vintage boat bag on ebay cited by a PP.) Even skills and knowledge that can be perceived as status symbols can be bought -- e.g., sailing lessons, fly-fishing lessons, reciting poetry from memory, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Being a good skier.

Straight teeth.

Dietary requirements.

I agree with this except for dietary requirements. I think the opposite: being able to eat anything in moderation, drink and function, smoke a cigarette occasionally when with prep school friends and still look attractive and not be self conscious at all. "Grandmother smoked and drank gin until she was 92"

[Anonymous]

"These data"

"None of these is . . ."

No gratuitous "whom"s

No "drapes" or "window treatments"

[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.

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.

If you have to ask . . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Hmmm . . . DH is old money and went to Princeton undergrad as did his dad. FIL says "send it to Mary and me"; DH says "Mary and I" --
it drives me crazy. Even though I'm new money (or at least new-very-comfortable SES), I learned grammar, thanks to the California public schools.

The thing about old money is that there's a lot more awareness of the anti-status status symbols and intentionality about deploying them than you might think. And, the thing about new money is that if you're observant, you can discern the anti-status status symbols and procure them. (See, for example, the vintage boat bag on ebay cited by a PP.) Even skills and knowledge that can be perceived as status symbols can be bought -- e.g., sailing lessons, fly-fishing lessons, reciting poetry from memory, etc.

Excellent point PP.

[Anonymous]

There can be an ironic use of "bad" grammar. The British upper classes would say "ain't".

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:An immaculately kept 15-plus-year-old Mercedes or Audi. One buys nice things, but treats them well so they last a long time. If it doesn't have a CD player (let alone iPod/bluetooth connection), one must deal with it.

Going back to more mainstream unintentional status symbols:

... Genuine Hunter wellies (olive green, not leopard print or Georgetown Cupcake pink)
... Monogrammed cardstock stationery, and if you use it to thank a neighbor who handed down some old baby clothes to you
... If you google yourself and one of your first hits is your wedding announcement in the New York Times (no other paper counts)
... Ski or boat rack on your car roof
... High school ring not manufactured by Josten's (i.e., no large fake gem in the middle)

Yeah well, my sister's ring from Cathedral came from Josten's and my Sidwell ring (with an onyx stone) also came from Josten's so you know nothing.

Again the difference between "intentional" status symbol vs. "unintentional" status symbol. You went to Sidwell, they did not cover "new vs. old money" … sad, you should sue for your money back.

What are you even talking about…I don't think 1st PP knew that signet rings from elite schools do come from Josten's…whatever, you sound like a very small minded, barely have any meaningful values sort of garden variety grotesque, so, carry on.

This poster is the definition of doesn't get it.

Very Sidwellian.

Almost nothing about Sidwell is Sidwellian anymore -- sigh.

[Anonymous]

Eating a "paleo" diet.
Running marathons.
Doing yoga more than once/week.
These to me are the biggest show of people who have way too much damn time on their hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I guess that's true. That extra 20 min does make a huge difference when traveling with children!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"These data"

"None of these is . . ."

No gratuitous "whom"s

No "drapes" or "window treatments"

what is the oh-so-posh term for drapes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cars.

Rich people drive Mercedes Benz.

Poor people don't.

They drive Kias.

Or Hyundais.

Or Honda Odysseys.

[Anonymous]

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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.

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

Sarah Palin's son's name is Tripp, as in his given name. Tripp is only okay as a nickname. Same reason you don't "name" your child Katie or Charlie or Pippa. These are all nicknames, not given names. You name your child the proper full name and call him/her the nickname. That is a huge clue as to one's background.