Translation please?

[oggbashan]

I found this in a story:

"a little bit like upper class trailer trash."

As a Brit, that doesn't mean much to me. As far as I can work out "upper class" and "trailer trash" are contradictory.

In the UK "upper class" has a specific meaning. "trailer trash" doesn't exist. Mobile Homes, which are our closest equivalent, are often retirement locations in desirable rural locations. Sited caravans are seasonal holiday homes for people who have houses elsewhere so as second-home owners have reasonable incomes.

Help, please.

Og

 

[hiddenself]

It's a way of life, man.

I'm not sure there's an "official" definition but these are some features that come to mind.

Usually low education, low SES, mostly white. Live in trailer homes (of course). Often in the South (US). Beat-up truck parked outside. Satellite dish. Belongings that you find in yard sales (mismatched objects, ripped couches, chipped dishes), scattered about. Smoking, drinking, country-music listening.

Cheap. Kitsch. Crude. Uncouth.

White trash is a related term.

Well, all generalizations are untrue, but that's my understanding of the term.

http://www.missouritrailertrash.com/quiz.htm

"Upper-class trailer park" is an oxymoron, of course. But maybe it means a sort of "refined" or "upper-class" equivalent of trailer-trash (if one such exists). Hard to tell without the context.

 

[oggbashan]

Thanks

Thank you, hiddenself, for the explanation.

I thought I knew what it meant but it didn't fit the context.

The quiz was helpful.

Now I'm confused by the story. The author seems to enjoy mixed metaphors or else has confused himself.

I'll go back and read it again but I think I'm wasting my time.

Regards,

Og

 

[MathGirl]

"a little bit like upper class trailer trash." As a Brit, that doesn't mean much to me. As far as I can work out "upper class" and "trailer trash" are contradictory.

Dear Og,
Many people here live in mobile home parks, and some of them are really not bad at all. Unless, of course, a tornado hits. Then they look like someone spilled the silverware drawer.

"Trailer trash" has come to mean poor, uneducated whites who live in single wide mobile homes and are perceived to be of lower moral standards than the person who is describing them.

"High class trailer trash" would be a guy who pulls his jeans up so his butt crack doesn't show and likes Budweiser on his morning cereal.

Helpfully,
MG

 

[Weird Harold]

Only speculation, but...

I found this in a story:

"a little bit like upper class trailer trash."

I suspect that the author thinks of "Trailer Trash" as a mindset rather than the more common view of "poor and uneducated."

I would take the phrase to mean someone who who has the background and money of the upper class, but the low morals and bad taste attributed to poor, uneducated southerners.

 

[Pookie]

<---- White Trailer Princess


Although I never lived in a trailer. But I have been called white trailer trash during some "discussions" that seemed to get a bit out of hand.

Pookie

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Only speculation, but...

I would take the phrase to mean someone who who has the background and money of the upper class, but the low morals and bad taste attributed to poor, uneducated southerners.

Dear Mr Harold,
As usual, you got it exactly right.
MG

Ps. Dear Og,
Can we please have the cake as hat back?
MG

 

[openthighs_sarah]

Re: Only speculation, but...

I would take the phrase to mean someone who who has the background and money of the upper class, but the low morals and bad taste attributed to poor, uneducated southerners.

Or it could be exactly the opposite, as MG suggested -- someone who rises to the top among the bottom-feeders.

Depends on whether "trailer trash" is modifying "upper class", or the other way around.

Either way, sounds like good people.

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Only speculation, but...

Either way, sounds like good people.

I believe DG's Jukes Fambly would fit the description.
MG

 

[Pure]

I agree with Open Thighs,

If the context is a lot of upper class people, their 'trailer trash' is the bottom of that barrel, your aristocrat who's turned his estate into a souvenir shop, and doesn't button his trousers any more.

If the context is the 'trailer trash' low sort of ignorant folk, then the 'upper class' is the best of this bad lot, who actually watches NYPD Blue instead of Cops and has Maxim rather than Hustler on his kitchen table.


J.

 

[oggbashan]

Re: Re: Only speculation, but...

Ps. Dear Og,
Can we please have the cake as hat back?
MG

Sorry, I'm wearing it in RL this weekend. It'll be back.

Og

 

[MathGirl]

If the context is a lot of upper class people, their 'trailer trash' is the bottom of that barrel, your aristocrat who's turned his estate into a souvenir shop, and doesn't button his trousers any more.

Dear Pure,
You got that bass ackwards. All trailer trash start out with the red neck, okie ethic which they never lose. They may become upper class selling used cars to Mexicans, but they never lose sight (or smell) of their roots.
MG

 

[Monazwx]

I found this in a story:

"a little bit like upper class trailer trash."

As a Brit, that doesn't mean much to me. As far as I can work out "upper class" and "trailer trash" are contradictory.

In the UK "upper class" has a specific meaning. "trailer trash" doesn't exist. Mobile Homes, which are our closest equivalent, are often retirement locations in desirable rural locations. Sited caravans are seasonal holiday homes for people who have houses elsewhere so as second-home owners have reasonable incomes.

Help, please.

Og

So, this would be a "Beverly HillBillies" equivilant?

For UK folks, these were a family from the Okies(?) who struck it rich when they discovered oil on their land.
They moved from the backwater to posh Beverly Hills and brought their hick lifestyle with them.
Funny as hell though.

And that MissouriQuiz was a hoot!

 

[snooper]

Re: Re: Translation please?

For UK folks, these were a family from the Okies(?) who struck it rich when they discovered oil on their land.
They moved from the backwater to posh Beverly Hills and brought their hick lifestyle with them.

Believe me, Beverley Hillbillies was very popular in the UK also. Occasionally we get a repeat (US re-run) episode and it usually does quite well for audience.

Noises off (singing) ... 'bout a man named Jed, a poor mountaineer barely kept his fam'ly fed ...

 

[wildsweetone]

Re: Re: Re: Translation please?

Noises off (singing) ... 'bout a man named Jed, a poor mountaineer barely kept his fam'ly fed ...

rats rats rats rats!

i so don't want this song going around in my head all day!!! snooper you are in BIG TROUBLE!

 

[MathGirl]

Re: Re: Re: Translation please?

... 'bout a man named Jed, a poor mountaineer barely kept his fam'ly fed ...

Trivia question:
What famous bluegrass duo sang and played the song?
MG, Trivialist

 

[gauchecritic]

Flatts and Scruggs.

A better and more equivalent term for you Earl: Doleites. (Dole-ites).

Victims of capitalism. (If you MUST argue I'll be happy to oblige)

Gauche

 

[TheEarl]

A better and more equivalent term for you Earl: Doleites. (Dole-ites).

Gauche: I haven't actually posted in this thread yet. Presumably you mean Ogg. Nice to know you still think about me when you're with someone else.

The Earl

 

[gauchecritic]

Gauche: I haven't actually posted in this thread yet. Presumably you mean Ogg. Nice to know you still think about me when you're with someone else.

The Earl

CSWE

Gauche

 

[Pookie]

Here is one source to find trailer trash. You don't even have to leave your family room.

http://btv.freeyellow.com/jspringer.jpg

 

[MathGirl]

Huh?

Dear Pooks,
Whozatt?
MG

 

[MathGirl]

Flatts and Scruggs.

Close enough, Gauchie. Well done.
MG

 

[TheEarl]

CSWE? Wassat?

The Earl

 

[snooper]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Translation please?

snooper you are in BIG TROUBLE!

Promises, Promises.

Flatt(without an s) and Scruggs would be flattered that you find it so catchy.

Noises off (singing) ... out one day shootin at some food, when out of the ground came a bubblin' crude.
Oil, that is. Black gold. Texas tea.

 

[snooper]

CSWE? Wassat?

The Earl

It is, of course an acronym. It stands for the well known native American phrase "Crishicumi Waga-ucha Simililis Engalisha" which being translated means "All English contributiors to Literotica are indistinguishable to gauche critics".