Vanity (personalised) license plates

Why not treat yourself if you worked hard and can afford the finer things?

Only "poverty-mind" draws a line on enjoyment in this life.

It's a chance for the have-nots to sling some mud.

I am no social climber and I do have one.
It`s easy to spot in a car park and also it`s an investment.

I don't think there's anything strange about people spending their money on things they want.

I agree with Ethelbags. We are supposed to mgive our views. So why all the abuse for those who can't see the point of personalised numberplates.

mgive give

Nobody in my family has a vanity plate- But one of my children has taken a keen interest in them- When the opportunity arises, strikes up conversation with vehicle owner about the plates- Many are memorials to lost loved ones, while others are designed to make other drivers smile or bring them joy- Each plate owner, when asked, has shared a deeper meaning, a history, even the ones that seem smug-

As I said I couldn't care less, I would never have one ...

That is an opinion.

... but I do think its showing off.

That is an insult. It suggests a negative quality and indicates limited thinking whereas having an opinion suggests a view has been formed but you are prepared to examine it and could/would change it if convincing fact or logic were offered.

No one is "entitled to an opinion" it is just a simple fact that you will have them and no one can stop you. That is not an entitlement. It is when you come to voicing that opinion and being judgemental that the problem arises. What you are "entitled to" is to be criticised if you are insulting, rude or have a closed mind.

Apparently although many on here believe they are "entitled" to voice their opinion they don't believe others are equally entitled to comment on their rudeness, judgemental attitude or small-mindedness.

I have no objection at all to negative views.
However, it's the use of vocabulary like,
hedonistic, attention seeking, vulgarity and social climbing to express opinions I find offensive.
It's only a number plate, which is harming no-one. No need to make personal remarks about those of us who own one.

They seem to be particularly popular in Essex!! Every time I got visit my Mum there are loads. I always think it makes you far too easy to identify! DH once took part in an auction for a number plate for his pride and joy (sports car!) and luckily dropped out when the bidding got into the thousands! I agree they can be bought for a lot less and it's up to the individual

My comment
Personally why would you get excited over having one. I don't get it at all. Its only a number plate. How does it add to your life/happiness?

Kalu's response
I have never understood why others get so het up and spout their disapproval so rudely should anyone mention what they have purchased......It’s NOT your money and none of your business.

In my "opinion" Kalu's response was much ruder than my comment.
I often find this on GN. If you dare to disagree people get very aggressive very quickly. I wouldn't like to be disagreeing with them in real life.

* annep1* I suspect in real life they wouldn’t say anything, it’s the anonymity that enables them to say things.

I wonder sometimes Oopsadaisy3 how many of us behave on GN exactly the same as in real life.

Yes I too, wonder why it is acceptable to hide anonymously behind a keyboard to use nasty vocabulary about people posting on here, who are perfectly entitled to give their opinion, without being subject to abuse.
As I said previously terms like:
hedonistic, attention seeking, vulgar and social climbing are offensive and unaceptable.
Would you call me those names if I was standing in front of you?

I can't see where Kalu's comment was directed at any particular poster. She is entitled to voice her opinion too, just like the rest of us.

The ultimate personal plate is one that is worth more than the car - today I parked next to a Porsche with such a plate, if you’ve got it flaunt it!.

Only criticize others if you have never bought anything frivolous, fashion shoes or handbag, jewelry and any of the other trivialities that get bought without a second thought.

Whatever floats your boat is fine with me.

No Marydoll I wouldn't. I get your point and some remarks are wrong. Attention seeking and social climbing aren't in my view abusive or derogatory. Just views, possibly based on people whom posters know who have bought number plates.
But it's the way some react so angrily that I don't like. Why not reply calmly. Quite often posts just end up as bickering imo.

Kalu began her post with my name. It was aimed at me.

annep thanks for responding. I feel this thread is starting to get a bit out of hand and perhaps it might be better to let it die a death. However, that is only my opinion.
I feel that those words I mentioned are derogatory, as I am definitely none of those things. (Well I don't think I am). It's all about perception.
I just cannot understand why posters cannot just state their opinion, say they agree or disagree and leave it at that. No need to resort to insults.

Who would have believed that ownership of a personalised numberplate could cause such an upset? ?
There are dreadful things happening in the world just now and this thread is nothing in the scheme of things.

I try to be nice, even though I now find that even that word makes people shudder, along with the number plates. I just wonder why people get so wound up about stuff that completely goes over my head.
Although I sometimes ask the OP a question that gets jumped on by everyone except the OP!
I stay away from posts that have certain people on them, because they get so nasty it isn’t worth my time. I do think though that sometimes humour gets lost in the writing down, unlike a face to face conversation.

Vulgar? Well usually not, they're usually just the owners initials or something. However, I did see one years ago that was definitely on the vulgar side. I was sitting in traffic in Central London behind what looked like a boy racer in his souped up car with my adult daughter. His number plate was, wait for it....... PEN15! . My daughter and I were in absolute hysterics and he was glaring at us in his rear view mirror . Yes, he was a PEN15 in my opinion. What on earth possessed him to choose that? Bizarre.

Evie64
Ha ha talk about putting yourself out there. Was he showing off do you think or just stating that he had one

Sorry Marydoll. I was just upset at how Kalu had responded to me. I didn't mean to ruin the thread.
I think though if we all just say I agree or disagree, threads would be very uninteresting.

On rereading I can understand that some folk actually enjoy choosing numberplates for various reasons.
My own views are based partly on those people I know who have them. And I know they all like to impress. And partly just that it wouldn't appeal to me.

I must agree that Gagajo's views are a bit extreme. Personalised plates are neither vulgar or an example of social climbing.

Apologies again.

Annep no need to apologise to me. I was generalising about how ridiculous it was all becoming, not meaning anyone in particular.

I'm a bit odd quirky and my number plate appealed to me, that's all there is too it. ?
Anyway, it's too late for me to become a social climber, I don't have the energy nor the finances..?

Nor me. The only climbing I'm interested in right now is into bed. ?

May 7, ha ha. I think he was actually undicating that he was one

Errr, indicating. Undicating, I think I've just made up a new word??