Social Class

[Pursuivant]

Well if I'd had that money I'd done something sensible with it. As it is now he lost all the money and some more in the IT bubble and is a pauper.

[EP]

A savvy fund manager managed to lose my pension money.

[Karhunkoski]

A savvy fund manager managed to lose my pension money.

At your age, I would have shifted my pot into low-risk investments. That advice is written into most pension funds, at least the handful I have.

[Upphew]

Is that what happened? I don't believe in investing in shares myself, as I would never know what to pick. It is best to invest in a mutual fund, where the savvy fund manager picks for you.

The Rytsölä brothers started a company that became after few buyouts and mergers Saunalahti. So it was less investing in shares than keeping the shares, as dumping them would take too long/affect seriously the value.

[EP]

At your age, I would have shifted my pot into low-risk investments. That advice is written into most pension funds, at least the handful I have.

I know. But I am known to be a person who never reads instructions or manuals or the small print. I just lived up to my reputation.

[brengun]

Hmmm... coming to think of it I think I am quite freely mixing up social status and class. Basically if you can afford a Mercedes and a house in Westend you're posh even you'd never opened a book after grade 9.

What's the Finnish for 'vulgarity'?

but more to the point, does Finnish have a word for "snobbery"? it needs one , the place is stuffed to the gills with it.

[sammy]

but more to the point, does Finnish have a word for "snobbery"? it needs one , the place is stuffed to the gills with it.

v. noppailla

"Älä ny rupee noppaileen."

Yes of course there is "social class" here, just like in any country - but each society has it's own ways of defining social class. For example, in principle things like free education for all make it possible for the "poor" to attend the same schools and universities than the "rich" (social class isn't as clear-cut as that though, financial wealth is just a part of it but maybe we can allow for this simplification) but IIRC various studies have shown that e.g. entry into higher education is more likely if your parents have been to the university. It's not so much a question of money, it's a more vague idea of "what's the proper path to take", what people expect of you. This can be fairly subtle though, and IMO choosing otherwise is not generally a taboo - depends.

It's a matter of opinion - for example in the above you might think that "going to university" already represents a positive social value, a step up in the social ladder. "It's not real work, you know. Books and all that."

If you know Finnish, this book gives some interesting perspectives into the matter...

Anyway I'd expect there are regional variations of this theme. I spent my schooldays in various locations here in Finland, small schools mainly, and the question of "which school to attend" was never really even there. Everyone in the area just went to the same school. The Helsinki concept of "getting your children into one of the better schools" that some people seem to cherish seems utterly alien and somehow vaguely funny to me

[Upphew]

For example, in principle things like free education for all make it possible for the "poor" to attend the same schools and universities than the "rich" (social class isn't as clear-cut as that though, financial wealth is just a part of it but maybe we can allow for this simplification) but IIRC various studies have shown that e.g. entry into higher education is more likely if your parents have been to the university. It's not so much a question of money, it's a more vague idea of "what's the proper path to take", what people expect of you. This can be fairly subtle though, and IMO choosing otherwise is not generally a taboo - depends.

It's a matter of opinion - for example in the above you might think that "going to university" already represents a positive social value, a step up in the social ladder. "It's not real work, you know. Books and all that."

The origin of the wealth matters, or at least it used to matter. If you make 5k/month as a doctor or lawyer your status is higher compared to paper worker (as in paper mill) earning the same amount.

[Pursuivant]

but more to the point, does Finnish have a word for "snobbery"? it needs one , the place is stuffed to the gills with it.

Theres words of "being as if they were someone" or "thinking they are someone" or "being wide" as the kids say "being elvis"... or then "better people"...

[TampereOwl]

I think I can come up with a few vulgar expressions about that But "showing off with money" is crass, like the Rytsöla brothers and their Lambourghinis... you just don't do stuff like that without being ridiculed.

There's different types of vulgarity, though. Vesa Keskinen seems to have the image of a miser, but having visited his establishment(s?) several times, I can't think of any word but vulgar to describe it/them.

[sammy]

Theres words of "being as if they were someone" or "thinking they are someone" or "being wide" as the kids say "being elvis"... or then "better people"...

Elvistely and leveily

Maalaisserkku kaupunkiin
saapuu katsomaan
hän heti stailin omaksuu
ja oppii tsaivaamaan
ja kun himaansa hän matkustaa
ja siellä tsaivailee
niin on aivan päivänselvää
hänhän diivailee.

Sometimes it's hard to decide which is the bigger sin - plain snobbery, or just standing out from the crowd.

And yes - Vesa Keskinen - happened to flip through the HS Monhtly Mag article on him and his "estate" - couldn't believe my eyes.



One is rendered speechless. And that's just the fr|gging shop. You should see his private mansion

[Pursuivant]

Hopefully the river won't flood Vesa Potemkin's store

[TampereOwl]

How is he seen, though? What's his class, social status, standing in society?

[sammy]

How is he seen, though? What's his class, social status, standing in society?

I'm tempted to ask, "who cares"...

[Pursuivant]

Country hick for me. How do you spell "turha julkkis"?