Forum Topic

Snobbery in Isleworth!

Returning from Foodies Festival yesterday (which was great, btw) I stopped off with friends for a drink in the Apprentice. I overheard a woman laughing disparagingly at all of the 'visitors' who had stopped on the way to have a look at the river...later she approached my table and I asked her if she had been to the festival. With a sneering laugh she said, 'Oh no, I'm a local.' So am I, I replied.WHAT was that?

Julie Evans ● 3357d13 Comments

The reality is that even with 2 degrees and loads of professional qualifications, most occupations are paying less than 40k now.It's only certain occupations where the salaries are good.But with an overpopulated and rising population in the market for jobs the competition is fierce and is subsequently driving down salaries.Plus the fact that if you are lucky enough to get a decent salary job they expect at least 50 hours a week out of you.'Essential' jobs are considered non productive by most companies and organisations. The accountancy culture only view those who generate income as worthy of a decent salary.

Raymond Havelock ● 3348d

My son is actually in his 30s and has been doing this type of job - working with 'difficult' and 'challenging' young people for years, not everybody's cup of tea. Having been made redundant from a school he has struggled to find a permanent job, and it seems to be more cost effective for colleges etc. to use agency staff on a zero hour basis.What do you suggest people who do similar jobs and those essential jobs we all rely on to be able to live in a decent society, have to do to earn a decent, acceptable salary?

Vanessa Smith ● 3348d

Hi, by the sound of it your son is young, so he needs to get on the work ladder and needs to start somewhere, I wasn't given a job of 60k just like that....work your way to it, fyi, maybe search for jobs in inner London, salaries are more and travel cost isn't that bad, when you consider how good it is.Teaching jobs and government jobs pay low and that's a crime against society....

Raki Smith ● 3349d

Still awaiting news of these £35K jobs from Raki - but my oldest son who is looking out for a permanent job e-mailed me this this morning. A local college advertising for 3 full time inclusion teaching assistants - salary £13,500 - £15,700, who could live on that?

Vanessa Smith ● 3349d

It's also overlooked by Raki that there are people who work in our communities, caring for the vulnerable, street cleaners, refuse collectors, people who maintain the sewers, nurses,you could go on and on. None of those jobs will pay anything approaching this £35k, most will be on the so-called living wage, but ALL are essential to our lives. There are many people committed to jobs that serve the public because they think it is rewarding and worthwhile. When you see some of the obscene wages paid to these executives and - dare I say it - football players - you do have to wonder if we have a very skewed idea of how we value people.

Vanessa Smith ● 3354d

Raki, with respect I don't think the difficulty is in finding them on the Internet.  Manchester United were looking for a new manager a week or so ago - I was aware of that job, I just wasn't very likely to be offered it.But I'm still not clear what you mean by bettering oneself.  You say it isn't about money but follow that statement immediately afterwards with comments which suggest that that is precisely what it is about.Speaking personally, I have no issue with people who make more money than I do because they have worked harder or have acquired skills which I don't have.  But I do object when they begin to develop the peculiar notion that because they live in a bigger house and have a higher income their right to breathe clean air somehow overrides mine, which is the issue which was touched upon earlier in the thread.

Phil Andrews ● 3355d

Sorry by top, I meant people who are trying to better themselves, in general they go to the top statistically in any means. It is not being self-absorbed and self-interested, it’s just what happens in the real world. And also what is wrong with be self-interested, as at the end the day, people want to protect themselves. Money has nothing to do with it, I had nothing, I worked my arse off, however I do have a good education, which I have used to my advantage, or maybe some people call this self-interested.In ref to £35k jobs, there are plenty out there, just need to work toward it, no one is going to earn that right after university or be given it for fun….may I suggest to go on job websites and using the filter button to only show maybe £32/35k upwards jobs……. May help you to find these jobs.

Raki Smith ● 3355d

I'm still waiting to hear where all these £35,000 a year jobs are that Raki was banging on about, and exactly what you have to do for it. I don't consider people who take a 'sod-you-Jack-pull-the ladder-up' view are better than anyone - rather the reverse if you ask me.

Vanessa Smith ● 3355d

Yes Raki..please explain what makes a 'top' person and where you see yourself in the pecking order? I would love to know.Does it mean being self absorbed and self interested to the point of considering one's self on a higher plain to others? And how do you quantify ' bettering' yourself? Does that mean having more money?

Keith Iddon ● 3356d

"The top" being what Raki?  Who are these people in my community who are "on top" of me and in what way does this status manifest itself?

Phil Andrews ● 3356d

lol, every town has two communities, its just how it is...there are those who have it and those who dont....very hard for the council to have same level, as people who want to better themsleves always goes to the top.....

Raki Smith ● 3356d

Sounds like the efforts made by our wonderful Council to create two communities in Isleworth where there used to be one are coming nicely to fruition.  They will be feeling very proud of themselves when reading your post.

Phil Andrews ● 3357d

Could well have been one of the up themselves Church St. residents who have decided they are far too delicate to have common people driving through their hallowed street, and have stuck two fingers up at the rest of us in the process. Sounds about right from their behaviour so far.

Vanessa Smith ● 3357d