Firstly, if you’re posh or feel that you may not be able to bear anti-posh literature then please stop reading. My intention is never to offend btw, but as a human in this vast world trying to navigate my life to feel safe and happy whilst fulfilling my roles, they’ll be times when I piss people off and I’d rather it not be You today.
I know, if you’re anything like me, the concept that we might piss others off is a bit of shock. Surely, it can’t be true because I’m perfect and everyone must like and approve of me. I try to be a good person and my ridiculous insecurities push me try to avidly impress and please others so how could I possibly piss off others. Evidently, quite easily at times.
So, are all posh people twats? And by twats, I mean the stereotypical dim-witted arrogant overly privileged, overly-entitled floppy haired, monacle wearing buffoon, typified by Boris Johnson.
I came across this article which is definitely worth the read (after you’ve read my article first you fabulous human – don’t leave me for another blog as you may discover that everyone is better and then you’ll never return and this could make me sad. Stay until the end, honey). Here’s the link for later – What Oxford Taught Me About Posh People
This article made me think about what I learnt about posh people when I came into contact with a bunch of them and I know you’ve probably just skim read it but don’t feel guilty, I forgive you. I’m from a working-class background when class was a thing (probably last century) and uphold many of the values around this whether this be healthy or a conditioned reaction to doing what’s been ingrained in me and is familiar. Things like having a low sense of entitlement; everything I have and want should be worked for rather than given or provided. Also, we’re all equal as humans and giving and sharing is essential for well-being whether that be love, time, resources or energy.
I’m not saying that every upper class or middle-class person wouldn’t uphold these values but in my life experience, the upper class have a tendency to be ridiculously naïve from their protected and privileged environment and the middle class tend to be overly self-protective twats who cover their insecurities by flaunting their assets and being very tight with their time and energies. Obviously, there’s the potential that these observations are likely to be fed by my own insecurities and needs for acceptant so I re-affirm that I’m good being me with working class being part of me) and it I can prove I’m ok being me by labelling everyone else as a twat in some way. If I’m not like those twats then I’m good. Hurrahh.
So, to the posh and how they’re all twats although now I’ve ranted, the point seems a bit diluted really, but I shall seek to express it nonetheless. So, it was about 2006 ish and I went with friends to Gay Pride in London and from some good fortune I had an access all areas wrist band which we used to gain entry to some bars and parties that would’ve been off limits otherwise. These areas were reserved for the sponsors of the event, but it seemed evident, that the sponsors weren’t bothered and they sent their kids who were in their early to mid-20’s and generally posh. They all seemed to be familiar with each other or maybe herded towards one another upon hearing the posh accent and seeing the sea of red trousers.
Generally, they were a really good crowd to be around as they seemed fun and free and only a few seemed to distance themselves when they heard me speak. What I quickly gathered though that most seem to uphold this belief that they’d be rich and would be successful in life, even though many seemed to be more naïve than the average distribution of the population[1] and naturally there were others that were the stereotypical Tim Nice But Dim. This observation reinforced how their expectation is based on the conditioning of their lives and that’s generally true not matter who you are. Their privilege may have got them into the best schools and provided an elite social world of posh opportunities. This intrigued me and pissed me off due to the unfairness of this in that their destiny will be largely influenced by the family they were born into. But then, like everyone, we live to our expectations and norms. I guess it’s then our job to take that conditioning and do something great with it rather than allowing ourselves to be pushed down the expected avenues and be consumed by it all without really making an active decision: That unconsidered auto-pilot life where the same old generational patterns are blindly repeated.
On reflection of writing this, my resentment of people more privileged than I may be a little problematic. It certainly was when I was in early 20’s and attended the Henley Regatta, but that’s a post for another time.
[1] This is my mere observation that has no referenced research and by now you’re probably aware of my conditioned prejudices from my background.
The frustrations of an overthinker 