I had someone on another forum say they thought it was terrible for me to go to a "poor man's dinner" party. They said it sounded like a bunch of rich people getting together to make fun of poor people.
I think what the hosts of the party were thinking was that the economy has taken such a hit; everyone has lost money in stocks, mutual funds, roths, ira's, etc.
So we are all poorer these days, but we are NOT making fun of poor people.
Heck, I don't know anyone who has been poorer than me.
My father died before I turned 10 and his retirement check for serving 32 years in the army, ended. In stead my mother started getting a check from the VA (veteran's admin.) in the amount of $25 a month.
Imagine 3 people (myself, my mother and my older sister)living on $25 a month? That was for food, phone, electricity, heat, gasoline, insurance etc.
That is exactly what we did for over 2 years til my mother found a job. We barely had enough to eat. There was never any snack food or soda to drink.
At age 12, I got a job and worked full time during the summer and holidays and on weekends when I went to school.
My mother was never able to buy me anything. I bought my own clothes, shoes, school supplies , etc. ( I earned $3 for a 9 hour day)
I actually am glad that I had a rough childhood cause it taught me to be frugal at a young age and I just kept on being frugal. We have never earned the big bucks, but we have always been big savers. No, I will never make fun of someone being poor.
Now, I have been poor!
November 12th, 2008 at 07:16 pm
November 12th, 2008 at 07:30 pm 1226518242
This is one of the problems with today's society. Everyone is oversensitive. Everyone is looking how something could be taking as a slight against another group. I mean we can't have Christmas parties because they might offend. Because of these oversensitive people and me not wanting to appear insensitive, my winter solstice cards will be:
"Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, Happy winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all.
(Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.)"
Just kidding, my CHRISTMAS cards will say MERRY CHRISTMAS. Even on the cards going to my non-Christian friends.
November 12th, 2008 at 07:39 pm 1226518780
November 12th, 2008 at 07:47 pm 1226519273
Merch, love the card idea... hehe!!
November 12th, 2008 at 08:08 pm 1226520525
But I have to admit.. I rather call this particular theme dinner party to be "a frugal man's dinner" rather than a "poor man's dinner".
It has a more positive ring to it.
November 12th, 2008 at 09:00 pm 1226523604
If the question is, "Is this party in poor taste?" The answer, in all fairness, depends on who you ask. I'm sure some will think so, and some will not.
However, if the question is, "Did Ima and her friends deliberately throw a party in order to make fun of poor people?" then I suspect the answer will be a straight-forward, "No."
Of course, it isn't wrong to be offended. We all have the right to be, if that is our opinion.
However, in light of the details from both sides, I do not believe they did this to be mean-spirited. Sounds to me they were just having fun with a theme party.
November 12th, 2008 at 09:20 pm 1226524816
November 12th, 2008 at 09:29 pm 1226525385
Really, where will this end? What does "poor person" want? Even though I would gander that the person is using poor to misrepresent themselves. I mean that I doubt this person is actual poor and is making a mockery of poor people.
I find this highly offensive. You couldn't use a neutral screen name or one that would describe you better. You had to play the class card?
Sorry, just tring to make my mountain as big as yours.
November 12th, 2008 at 09:29 pm 1226525395
I really wish you would quit stalking me every where I go.
I really don't need your sympathy, poor person. I went to three parties this past two weeks. How many did you get invited too?
November 12th, 2008 at 09:53 pm 1226526795
November 12th, 2008 at 10:32 pm 1226529154
November 12th, 2008 at 11:05 pm 1226531143
November 13th, 2008 at 01:00 am 1226538036
She appears to be envious of Ima's greater character and perhaps greater hard-saved wealth.
She also appears to be a bit of a bully. I hate bullies.... and it is so easy for them to operate in these kind of anonymous forums...
Ima... be strong and don't let her deflect you from your normal activities.... :-)
Definitely report her if you can.
November 13th, 2008 at 02:47 am 1226544450
November 13th, 2008 at 04:54 am 1226552045
If I was having a "white trash party" (which I have gone to before, and it was FUN) I would wear tight, faded, lowriding jeans with a "tramp stamp" on my back right above the waist band, and a tank top with my bra straps showing, bright blue eyeshadow and spiked hair. My DH would wear a wife-beater (I know, probably shouldn't say that, but I really don't know any other name for those white undershirts that are ribbed) or a white t-shirt with cigarettes rolled up in one sleeve. We would drink trash can punch and Keystone beer, and put a couch out on the front porch. Is that offensive?
I suppose "poor man" would get mad at me for that? Too bad. Dressing up for a theme party is fun because even though stereotypes aren't always true, most of the time
there is a grain of truth in them.
Oh yeah, and what is the big deal that the county commissioner was at the party?
November 13th, 2008 at 09:10 am 1226567456
I might be a peasant but I'm a happy peasant!
Rock on, Ima!
November 13th, 2008 at 09:49 am 1226569771
Grow up and get a life.
I guess the best way to deal with you, as with any sulking troublemaker, is just to ignore you.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:31 pm 1226579476
November 13th, 2008 at 02:35 pm 1226586908
I have NEVER once posted anything about the commissioner. I have been to a few parties and met him but I have no real opinion about him and his duties. I am sorry that I ever mentioned that he attended this same party as I did.
Why do you people find it so necessary to stalk me from forum to forum, constantly changing your names? I should mean nothing to you. I don't do anything to hurt you.
All we do on this forum is post about our lives and what we do to save money and invest. That really does not seem to interest anyone on my local forums cause they do NOT save their money or learn how to invest. I would be happy to help anyone local to learn how to invest in mutual funds or open a roth ira. No one ever asks me to help, even when I offer.
November 13th, 2008 at 02:49 pm 1226587768
how does someone who had such a "poor" life not understand how someone would not have any money left over to save... was your mother able to save money after only living on $25 a month? doubt it...
November 13th, 2008 at 03:05 pm 1226588700
November 13th, 2008 at 04:31 pm 1226593917
Clearly.
November 13th, 2008 at 04:49 pm 1226594963
When we lived on $25 a month, I do not know if my mother saved anything or not. I doubt she could. But, when I started working for $3 a day, you can believe that I saved most of the money to pay for clothing, shoes and school supplies. But, I also opened up a savings account at age 12 and always put something in it, every week.
When I worked at a savings and loan place, we always encourage children to put into their accounts, no matter how small the deposit was.
November 13th, 2008 at 06:43 pm 1226601826
November 13th, 2008 at 07:14 pm 1226603651
November 13th, 2008 at 08:00 pm 1226606413
November 13th, 2008 at 08:10 pm 1226607021
They're just trying to make you upset and ruin your day. They're probably just jealous or something.
You've been poor before, and you're not being mean to anyone. So, if you're crude like me, just point at them and laugh. I am.
But seriously though, the best rule on internet is to simply Don't Feed the Trolls. The more you give them, and the sadder they try, the more it may upset you, and the more their sad attempts seem like victories.
Ignoring them is best.
I don't recommend to delete the entry or the blog. Because the moment you delete what they write, you will not have documented record of what they have written and how things have transpired. They become moving targets and will even deny things that they have indeed said.
Plus, deleting your presence here will give them exactly what they want, which is to tear down whatever you have created. They want to break you and laugh at it... though I do have to say this is about the worst attempt I've seen anywhere. Sad.
Seriously, this is no big deal. I say just step away from this and enjoy the rest of your day knowing that you have friends here who believe in you. Even passerbys with a neutral perspective will see that you've done no wrong here and support you.
November 13th, 2008 at 08:40 pm 1226608823
November 13th, 2008 at 11:08 pm 1226617692
I am giving you a smile and enjoy the rest of your day!
November 14th, 2008 at 03:31 am 1226633487
November 17th, 2008 at 03:26 am 1226892360
November 20th, 2008 at 12:47 am 1227142076
November 26th, 2008 at 06:01 pm 1227722505
November 26th, 2008 at 10:58 pm 1227740312
November 29th, 2008 at 07:43 pm 1227987827
I LOVE your post, and DO NOT want you to be bullied by some "losers." Please do not go anywhere. Haters will hate, because they are not happy. You seem very happy, and you have helped a lot of people.
Continue to ROCK ON!!!
November 30th, 2008 at 12:50 am 1228006228
i know you and your husband have worked hard to get where you are, and everyone who supports you on this blog thinks so too. like others have said on this thread: they're just jealous. and they can go on and on denying it, and abusing you more and more, but the fact is that they've lashed out at you and they obviously have some issues to deal with.
i feel a bit sorry for them really. imagine living the type of life where you stalk someone on the internet and type nasty things to them, just so they can feel something? i mean, gosh, it's a bit of a sad life when you think about it.
so i am thinking... everyone should do whatever it is they do: pray, visualise, dance, meditate etc so that this person will eventually realise that they are missing something in their lives that cannot be filled with trying to make other people hurt.