How do you define being Common !!!

Oh No I'm Common - quite partial to a pint of real ale and read the Daily Mail and Sun!

ah, anagram. sad to say, so did i!

I don't like the hearts or kisses over an i or j - not even an 'o'.
But I have been known to wear big earrings (in my heyday!!)

Now, I like a heart or a kiss used as a dot over an i or j.

Agree about the large earrings.

When the kids comment on my (teacher) daughter's clothes/hairstyle, whether complimentary or otherwise , I think that is beyond the pale.

exactly the circumstance i had in mind.

as for the social rank, it would have to be quite clearly defined... but just in case, don't ask questions.

glammanana I am a particular admirer of the mother of the two you mention who goes around in a buggy. She doesn't have any problem saying no (different thread). I am thinking of making her my role model, especially re. her grandparenting skills

petallus The actress who plays the mum to young Michael plays a good part in Downton Abbey though doesn't she ? can't think of her name and the bloke who plays her DH has some amazing parts on TV over the past few months. My memory must be suspect as I can't think of their names.

Having more than one plasma tv!

Just about all the characters in 'Benidorm' are common (I'm a big fan).

Americans crack me up. They pretend they have no class system and that we have a Class System (i.e. nobility - I usually point out that I have never even been in the same room as one). But get 'em started on "trailer park trash" and they tell you all about "common" . They invented "trailer park names" like Dar-leen and exported them to us...

I must be common . We had sterilised milk for years because we did not have a fridge and it kept longer. I also ring people I know well in the evening ( sometimes after 9pm!) this is often the first opportunity I have to speak to friends/ family as I sometimes work until 8pm. I think swearing in general conversation is common, women drinking pints and people with no table manners. Also when I used to smoke ( some years ago ) I would never smoke in the street as I thought it looked very common

How about reading the Sun ?
or the Daily Mail ?

I must say I was bring up with all of grannybunnys aphorisms!
But being plumb hignorant, and decrepit:-
I think I am sufficiently decayed (G&S) to get away with it

I must admit that I thought that also but I must admit I was a wee bit tetchy yesterday after helping DS2s girlfriend to move into their new flat and had spent hours on the phone to get the services up and running so maybe when I responded it came over a bit abrupt.

The same idea has occurred to me, ff.

I think granbunny isnt really on GN but something put there to get us at it. If you are for real granbunny sorry but you now live in the 21st century.

I meant pupils there, of course. Not her kids!

When the kids comment on my (teacher) daughter's clothes/hairstyle, whether complimentary or otherwise , I think that is beyond the pale.

But they are mostly typically middle class common. (the worst kind in my opinion)

Common to me is starting a meal before everyone has their dinner in front of them.

Also talking about money, for example "this is our new .... and it cost ££££" I am not interested in how much you paid, nor do I want to be questioned on how much I may have spent. Very rude.

General appearance and speech/accents do not offend me BUT good manners are everything and cost nothing.

The social ranking thing IS an issue in non-English speaking countries that have a different word for 'you' depending on whether you are family, friends or not.(eg 'you' or 'thou') It has to be the more 'important' or the older person who suggests switching to 'thou' ie the 'you' for people you are familiar with. It can be a minefield. I was horrified about 10 years ago when a young student used 'thou' (ie German 'du') to a lecturer at university, but he was a young bloke and quite OK with it.

Our language is a great leveler, when you think about it!

As for what I see as common: foul language in public! Other words don't bother me - toilet or lav, lounge or settee etc are just a matter of where you were brought up.

Grannybunny Anyone of a higher social rank than yourself ? so what do I call my NCO DS1,do I call him son or Sir ! or my doctor nephew do I now not call him Phillip and as for telephone calls what if an emergency with my family or when one of my boys are working in a differant time zone ? do I tell my beautiful DGS not to tell me I look nice ? There is no one on a lower or higher "social rank " than anyone else every one goes and comes from the same place.annobel I think I shall now have a 2nd glass of that lol.

I think we are on a different planet or in a different century, Granbunny or are you taking the p***? I can't say I'd object if a child told me I looked lovely, though I might suggest an eye test. Nor do I admit to being of a lower or higher 'social rank' than anyone else. I am also glad to receive phone calls in the evening, though I do not like cold callers at the door at any time but particularly after 8pm.

OMG! I redo my lippy in restaurants but I don't hold my knife like a pencil - help! Another thing - my Mum said only common girls had their ears pierced so I was 32 before I dared do it. My granddaughter had her ears pierced at 7 years old - I have had to bite my tongue!

A girl at my grammar school was expelled for eating a lollipop in the street whilst wearing her school uniform. This was about 1962 and it made headline news in one of the red tops. Fings ain't wot they used to be.

Asking questions of a higher social rank than yourself, granbunny???

putting anything over the i or j except a dot - circles, loops, hearts, teardrops, crosses... all common.
wearing a lot of make-up.
large ear-rings.
putting on make-up in public. particularly common are women who refresh their lipstick at the dining table.
speaking loudly in a public place.
drawing attention to yourself.
asking questions of someone of a higher social rank than yourself.
making personal remarks inappropriately - for example, an adult may say to a child 'you look lovely' but a child may not say that to an adult. it would be 'common' because it would display a lack of understanding of good manners.
anyone who phones in the evening. some say after nine - i say after 7 30.