Do you find it slightly hypocritical

[lillypaddle]

That, while the vast majority of DUers hate poverty in this country and elsewhere (we are a compassionate group), one of the favorite slams used is to call people "trailor park trash"? Who do you think lives in trailor parks? People who can't afford 'real' homes? Poor people? People trying to provide a foof over their family's heads?

Sure, there is a stereotype there (think "Jerry Springer") - but maybe it's hurtful to many people.
One thing that's always bothered me about liberals, and I am one, is the selective progressivity - whether it's intolerance of meat-eaters, smokers, people who live in trailors, etc.

Just wondering. :hi:

[LadyHawkAZ]

1. Some stereotypes and common usage terms

are harder to get past than others. I try to monitor my language, but I still catch myself at it now and then.

[lillypaddle]

6. And I agree

I do the same thing

[Drale]

2. Not everyone who lives in a trailer is "trailer trash"

Trailer trash generally refers to people who are proud of the fact they are ignorant and make no effort to increase their knowledge.

[DenverDad]

8. I agree that it's more a "state of mind".

I've heard a saying that goes, "you can take the person out of the trailer, but you can't take the 'trailer' out of the person".

[lillypaddle]

9. case in point. nt

[RebelOne]

14. Well, you can take the trailer out of the person.

I live in a trailer, but would prefer living in a MacMansion. Do you think all those who live in trailers are lowlifes like on Jerry Springer?

[DenverDad]

30. In retrospect, stating that saying didn't help to make the point I was

trying to make. I sincerely apologize if it came off as insensitive. I certainly don't believe that people who live in trailers are lowlifes. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, or led anyone to believe otherwise.

[lillypaddle]

11. Have you ever heard anyone say,

"there are blacks and there are N*gg*s" or "White people can be N*gg**s, too."

Isn't that just a way to justify the racism, or classism?

[RebelOne]

13. Dupe post

[reggie the dog]

23. or educated people who are proud of their poor

or working class roots, who vote on the left, but who do not want to talk, dress, or act like the "white collar class" who so often look down on their blue collar lifestlye.

[monmouth]

3. Just so ya know, the "elite" refer to them as mobile homes...LOL...n/t

[Harmony Blue]

5. Which is disturbing

giving that a flood or storm could easily destroy such a "home" and the people living in that "home" are left homeless. Worse, many owners of mobile home properties can evict these "home" owners anytime they want, and the "home" owners are left with less than 4-5 weeks to find a new place for their mobile "home". I have heard countless horror stories like this in Florida sadly.

[RebelOne]

19. Same here in Georgia.

There was another mobile home park behind mine and the owner wanted to clear it out to build an apartment building. The people were only given 6 weeks to move out. Most of the people could not afford to have their homes hauled out, so they just walked out and left them. That was 2 years ago and still no building back there.

[RebelOne]

15. I guess I am one of the elites.

I live in a trailer, but prefer to call it a mobile home. And just what is funny about that?

[Obamanaut]

29. So does Snopes.com

http://www.snopes.com/lost/mobile.asp

[G_j]

4. I wouldn't refer to anyone as "trash"

nt

[saras]

7. It's just classism - that runs deeper than D/R politics

One of America's deepest delusions is the idea that we all have the economic position we deserve.

[Hannah Bell]

18. yes.

[RebelOne]

10. I live in a trailer park (prefer the term "mobile home park').

And I hate it when these lowlifes on Jerry Springer are always portrayed as living in trailer parks. And I hate the term "trailer park trash." In my opinion, I am better off those those who call us "trailer park trash." I have no mortgage. I own my home, and I own my car. I have no bills other than the usual utilities, Internet, car and home insurance. I only pay $370 monthly lot rent, which includes water and garbage pickup. And I have a lot of money in my savings account. In the economy today, there are not too many who can claim that. And I am not a meat-eater. I am a vegetarian. And I smoke also.

[lillypaddle]

12. There ya go

:thumbsup:

stereotypes are sterotypes are stereotypes ...

[Odin2005]

16. I spent the first 4 years of my life in a trailer home.

The bigotry against the poor is sickening

[Hannah Bell]

17. yes.

[RegieRocker]

20. I find almost everything man does and thinks hypocritical

and insane. All I can do is chuckle.

[Obamanaut]

21. The mobile homes that many call home are not trailers at all, and are

not named 'mobile homes' because of ease of random transportability. This type of housing became increasingly popular immediately following WW2, and even more so when the interstate highway system began.

These homes are not to be confused with travel trailers, motor homes, campers, and the like. They are normally expected to be moved one time - from the sales lot to a site, where they become more or less permanent fixtures.

Snopes (link below) has much more information. Think of Mobile, Alabama - where the mobile home boom began.

http://www.snopes.com/lost/mobile.asp

[reggie the dog]

22. my brother, sister in law, and nephew just moved into a double wide

at a trailer park tucked in between 4 roads of between 4 and 6 lanes and an 8 lane tollway about 3 miles from a major aiport. they both work, he is a mechanic doing oil changes and tire changes at bmw, she is a nurse's assistant.

those are the kind of people that live in trailers, i spent many a night wathcing football or wrestling in trailer parks. but what do i know, i am just white trash myself.....

[laundry_queen]

24. What bothers me

as someone who once lived in a trailer - most of them are every bit as nice as a 'real' house. And you can get a lot of options that you could never afford in a real house - large walk in closets, ensuites with jacuzzi tubs, lots of extra square footage...The only downsides of owning one are 1. Tornadoes and 2. They don't keep their value like stick-built homes. I find that a lot of towns and cities shun trailers but then lament how all the kids are moving away because they can't afford the housing. Where I live, they are trying to come up with all kinds of new housing developments that are going to keep the young people from moving away. Trailers are never mentioned. As it is, homeowners in the area are FREAKING out because there is row housing going up. They want their McMansions shielded from anything 'lesser' than them. It all disgusts me. Trailers are convenient, very affordable, and nowadays are built fairly well. Most trailer parks in the next town over from me are very clean, well kept and it is ordinary people who live there. Trailer trash is about as descriptive of people living in trailers as is any other sterotypical slur descriptive of any other stereotyped group.

[lillypaddle]

25. Someone was telling me

a few years ago, about an idea for a mobile home park for only seniors/retirees. I thought it sounded like a terrific idea - does anyone know of anything like this in existance? The only thing I think I'd be concerned about is that it not be in an area with tornadoes or high wind, if there is such a thing.

[Obamanaut]

28. According to Snopes, they live in a mobile home, not a trailer. See post

21 or this link http://www.snopes.com/lost/mobile.asp

[pipi_k]

26. Not just where people live...

Sometimes there seems to be an elitism...sort of a snob mentality... toward the types of entertainment people like to engage in.

People insult American Idol and generally imply that anyone who watches/likes it must be uneducated lowlifes.

If we're not paying attention at all times to the SERIOUS politics, we're slackers.

People who enjoyed watching the Royal Wedding were supposed to feel ashamed of themselves or something...everyone else who thought it was superficial sitting on their high horses and all...

Yeah...I thought being "Liberal" meant being able to tolerate the likes and dislikes and little quirks of others, especially when none of it actually does anyone harm.

[lillypaddle]

27. Right on!

I watch American Idol and I even watch ... are you ready for this??? ... THE BACHELOR!
I had a friend who used to give me a hard time for spending too much time on the internet - of course she recorded all her soap operas and watched them all weekend, but me being online was sort of "less than."

I hear ya, pipi :)