Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to take an unpopular view here. But bear with me. I’ve been around a lot of the trades and while you may find yourself attracted to a specific person, it’s the entire lifestyle and their buddies that might be a problem. Construction and the trades tend to be a respectable way for people with a troubled background to make a living. Nothing wrong with that. But are you going to want to socialize with the plumber’s friends, their families, plumber’s family? It’s a different world if you’re used to a UMC background of white-collar educated people.

This isn't a bad point. We really liked the GC who worked on our house, but I know from our conversations that he and his family, and likely most of his friends, are Trump supporters/2nd Amendment supporters, and while we got along just fine in a business relationship, we'd have no interest in being friends with them in real life. And I have voted for Republican presidential candidates (not Trump) and we own guns, so I'm not a total far left liberal or anything, but I just know certain people and I will not be close friends.

All the more reason to date him.

I wish I hadn’t been such a snob when I was in my 20s and early 30s. I couldn’t have imagined dating a guy who hadn’t gone to college. Now I can see that some of the smartest, kindest and hottest men I know are ones who never set foot on a college campus.

Yes he will keep your pipes clean and satisfied.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to take an unpopular view here. But bear with me. I’ve been around a lot of the trades and while you may find yourself attracted to a specific person, it’s the entire lifestyle and their buddies that might be a problem. Construction and the trades tend to be a respectable way for people with a troubled background to make a living. Nothing wrong with that. But are you going to want to socialize with the plumber’s friends, their families, plumber’s family? It’s a different world if you’re used to a UMC background of white-collar educated people.

+1 My parents own a water systems business for decades and have a networth of several million dollars (lot’s of big projects, including large government projects). I am married to a professor. They are significantly wealthier than us, but are strangely insecure around my husband and try to one-up us a lot regarding material things. Neither one of them went to college and are fish out of water among the educated set. You have to decide if that matters to you.

Very well put. This!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to take an unpopular view here. But bear with me. I’ve been around a lot of the trades and while you may find yourself attracted to a specific person, it’s the entire lifestyle and their buddies that might be a problem. Construction and the trades tend to be a respectable way for people with a troubled background to make a living. Nothing wrong with that. But are you going to want to socialize with the plumber’s friends, their families, plumber’s family? It’s a different world if you’re used to a UMC background of white-collar educated people.

If the guy is rich he will live in a nice neighborhood and hang out with rich people just like other rich people.

I live in a city that has many well-off trade and industrial workers. They have their big, expensive houses and toys but it is in a different style than the white collar UMC. There are pockets of blue-collar rich Neighborhoods and white collar rich neighborhoods. They often have different values and different ideas of fun.

My husband got tired of his desk job. He wanted to go into a field that he found more interesting and paid well without student loan debt. He wanted a chance to make more money. He loves his new job but he is mostly surrounded by guys who love Trumps, trucks, their motorcycles, and speedboats. He feels like a fish out of water but doesn’t regret changing.

I don’t think it is derogatory to say there is generally a difference between the two groups because I’m certain they would tell you so themselves.

This!

People here are so snobby. I live in a PA suburb with top ranked schools. I just got an estimate for concrete work to redo my driveway. I noticed that the address of the company lives on one of the most expensive streets in our town. Good for him! I wish we had a successful business like that. Downside is the physical labor. But obviously one can do very well in the trades.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. Because he will still be living the blue collar life in terms of activities, beliefs and interests. Also will most likely still have the same blue collar friends. Nothing wrong with that but is is a different lifestyle from the white collar educated world. Rednecks with money baby! Have at it but be warned that lifestyle most likely will not change.

I know some extremely smart people that didn’t go to college

Of course there are extremely smart people that don’t go to college. Just saying a lot of people hang out and identify with people who work in the same industries because they do spend a lot of time with them at work.

Anonymous wrote:No. Because he will still be living the blue collar life in terms of activities, beliefs and interests. Also will most likely still have the same blue collar friends. Nothing wrong with that but is is a different lifestyle from the white collar educated world. Rednecks with money baby! Have at it but be warned that lifestyle most likely will not change.

I know some extremely smart people that didn’t go to college

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to take an unpopular view here. But bear with me. I’ve been around a lot of the trades and while you may find yourself attracted to a specific person, it’s the entire lifestyle and their buddies that might be a problem. Construction and the trades tend to be a respectable way for people with a troubled background to make a living. Nothing wrong with that. But are you going to want to socialize with the plumber’s friends, their families, plumber’s family? It’s a different world if you’re used to a UMC background of white-collar educated people.

If the guy is rich he will live in a nice neighborhood and hang out with rich people just like other rich people.

No absolutely not. He will hang out with people in his industry.

No.

No. Because he will still be living the blue collar life in terms of activities, beliefs and interests. Also will most likely still have the same blue collar friends. Nothing wrong with that but is is a different lifestyle from the white collar educated world. Rednecks with money baby! Have at it but be warned that lifestyle most likely will not change.

Anonymous wrote:Classist DCUMs would you date a plumber who is rich because he owns his own company?

wrong question. Is he a decent person? Do you like him? If yes to those two than of course!

My CPA's husband is a commercial welder. He out earns her significantly. The commercial welder is her second husband. No complaints on her end.

Depends on if I like his Plumber's Crack.

I grew up on a farm in the midwest. I grew up with a lot of men who are farmers or are in the trades. Even though my life took a very different direction than theirs and I have far greater academic achievements and income, those guys are great. Some of them are Trump supporters and there's no way I could date them (or would want my DD to date them). But, those who are aligned with me morally and politically, I would have no problem dating them. They can be highly intelligent, pragmatic, fun, interesting and handy to have around the house. My mother's 2nd husband (she was widowed) was a master builder who 'only' had a high school diploma. Yet, that man had his own construction company and there wasn't a thing around the house he couldn't build, fix or improve. He was a great partner for my mother.