Do you prejudge people based on their accents?

Things change I've changed · 18 Apr 2011 at 19:54

I'm probably opening myself up to a bit of flack here but lately I can't help finding myself prejudging people that have thick localised accents, they are really grating to me, how hard is it to learn how to speak properly seriously?

Perhaps I'm being snobbish but I think these people should at least try to make an effort to speak more clearly, I'm personally not brilliant at English myself but I'm always trying to improve upon it, recently I've been doing a few elocutions lessons and it really is a confidence boaster, people tend listen and take what you have to say much more seriously when you speak clearly and articulately.

I know this is wrong but I really find it hard to listen to strong accented people, I think if they can't be bothered to speak properly why should I care about what they have to say?

freefaller's bomber command voice f-t-w tbh.

Rich_L · 18 Apr 2011 at 19:57

Don't worry about it, just make sure you can still speak stupid when you have to visit McDonalds or all the other lower class places where heavy regional accents prevail.

Monkeynut · 18 Apr 2011 at 19:57

WHAT HO, PEASANTS!

VFM Addict · 18 Apr 2011 at 19:58

Nope, I never prejudge people from their accents. But I'm just as bad because I do prejudge people a fair bit on the style and quality of the shoes they wear.

doofer · 18 Apr 2011 at 19:58

You can always tell a Cockney, but you can't tell them much.

Tich · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:00

lowrider007 said:
I know this is wrong but I really find it hard to listen to strong accented people, I think if they can't be bothered to speak properly why should I care about what they have to say?

So if someone doesn't have the same accent as you they aren't speaking properly? So which accent is "correct" then?

RomanNose · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:01

I also find accents can be quite annoying, especially a thick cheap working class accent. Usually much worse when it comes from a lady.
I have heard a fair share of Vicky Pollards in my lifetime, it's best to keep away from them to be honest.

Things change I've changed · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:08

Tich said:
So if someone doesn't have the same accent as you they aren't speaking properly? So which accent is "correct" then?

I personally don't have any particular regional accent tbh, I think most people when they try to learn how to articulate themselves properly lose their regional accent, I have friends that have been brought up in deprived areas of Liverpool and Birmingham that had thick accents but now you would be very hard pressed to know what part of England they came from, they are just well spoken.

lttlejoe · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:11

chaosdestro0 said:
I also find accents can be quite annoying, especially a thick cheap working class accent. Usually much worse when it comes from a lady.
I have heard a fair share of Vicky Pollards in my lifetime, it's best to keep away from them to be honest.

Of course it is best that you keep away from them... after all, it's bad enough they sound thick and cheap, they don't want to catch stupidity too!

franco_22 · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:12

Mhm,

My favourite accent: Newcastle upon Tyne

My least favourite accents: Essex, Cockney

OpenToSuggestions · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:12

Only with the Stoke-On-Trent accent. It sounds common and un-educated.

Cosimo · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:12

Only when I can’t understand half of what they are saying.

Bassmansam · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:13

Troll?

RomanNose · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:15

lttlejoe said:
Of course it is best that you keep away from them... after all, it's bad enough they sound thick and cheap, they don't want to catch stupidity too!

Deary me, I don't have that problem any more since I got a butler

.

Biohazard · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:16

Bassmansam said:
Troll?

Yes.

Deific · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:18

I hate nearly all strong accents tbh. I'm from cheshire, and thankfully most areas of cheshire don't have a particularly obvious accent. You're not alone in finding accents irritating.

However, I do find an irish accent to be rather sexy on a woman.

Robbo · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:19

No. I do not judge people based on their accent.

That would be absolutely, monumentally stupid.

Things change I've changed · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:19

Bassmansam said:
Troll?

No but I'm sure your friends will be along in a minute.

Robbo said:
No. I do not judge people based on their accent.

That would be absolutely, monumentally stupid.

But people do it everyday, it's instinctive, and I'm sure even you have have done it on at least a subconscious level, you honestly can't tell me you when you hear for example a strong Liverpudlian accent you don't have some preconceived notions about that person compared with someone that is well spoken?, we all judge people on one level another.

meghatronic · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:24

I try not to (pre)judge people based on anything like that. Not sure I succeed though.

Robbo · 18 Apr 2011 at 20:26

lowrider007 said:
But people do it everyday, it's instinctive, and I'm sure even you have have done it on at least a subconscious level, you honestly can't tell me you when you hear for example a strong Liverpudlian accent you don't have some preconceived notions about that person compared with someone that is well spoken?, we all judge people on one level another.

At most I might think they are a Liverpool fan, and pity them a bit

I know what you are getting at and yes, I'm sure most of us do it to some extent but its not really anything negative.

Saying its their fault for not speaking clearly enough is just silly though.