White Trash Cooking

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't give a
hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people "battlers", and
we try and help them. Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do
Americans think about it?

david said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't give
a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people "battlers",
and we try and help them. Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do
Americans think about it?

It's essentially a joke, far less serious than you take it.

nancy

Quoted message said:

Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do Americans think about it?

It's usually used ironically, with reference to a historical context, these days, to refer to a
concept of social class that no longer really holds. It doesn't necessarily connote poverty as much
as a radically independent rejection of Brahmin social norms. The term "trailer trash" is a little
more current, with much the same nuance.

Neil

The Heap said:

I came across a web site that offers what they call "white trash" recipes. I don't know how to cut
and paste so I can't give the URL but it is called yumfood.net. They have recipes for Tatertot
casserole, Tuna loaf, a lot of things with saltine crackers (both savory and sweet) and a whole
lot of stuff that uses weiners. Someone in ths group posted a recipe for "Hamburger Gravy" and it
sounded to me like what could be thought of as "white trash cooking" but it was DELICIOUS. What
comes to mind when you think of "white trash cooking"?

A few months ago I was channel surfing and came across a cooking show featuring white trash cooking.
The hostess was a large women in poofed hair and very tightly stretched pants making canap=E9s with
cheese is a spray can and other cocktail goodies usually available at corner stores.

"david" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't give
a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people "battlers",
and we try and help

them.

Quoted message said:

Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do Americans think about it?

My opinion.... There is a difference in being poor, being trash, or being homeless. One can be poor,
but still be decent--they take the trash out, they do their, um, business in the toilet, take baths
and brush teeth on a regular basis, children in the family go to school, they behave
appropriately... White trash are those that don't take their garbage out or bathe, or go to the
bathroom in the toilet, etc--even though they could afford to do better and know better and are
physically and mentally able, they don't because they're lazy . Then, there are homeless people, and
they may not be able to bathe, etc, but I don't tend to lump them with white trash. I'm originally
from a classic southern small town, and even there, the term white trash is only used in reference
to the kind of people desribed above. It's by no means a blanket term used for poor people.

From my pov, being poor is no excuse for being lazy and filthy. I kind of feel that unless a person
is willing to try themselves to improve their situation, no matter how much help, sympathy, etc, I
give, then they're probably not going to change. However, if a person is willing to do the
slightest bit to try to make things better for themselves, then I feel that I should do what to
help them. Sometimes, a person needs a little guidance, or someone to give a hand or show them the
way. But, if you show someone and offer to help, and they still don't change or aren't willing to
try... you know...

Hopefully, I haven't upset anyone or anything... I'm sure this could be quite a touchy subject.

Anyway, as far as the phrase "white trash cooking" i'm not a fan, as I think it encourages food
snobbery. My philosophy on food is you eat what you want, I'll eat what I want. I think some people
try to put others down because they don't eat fancy food, or cook with cream of whateve soup, or eat
velveeta. Kind of the same way some people look down at people because they don't wear expensive
clothes or drive expensive cars...

In article <[email hidden]>,

(WardNA) said:

Quoted message said:

Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do Americans think about it?

It's usually used ironically, with reference to a historical context, these days, to refer to a
concept of social class that no longer really holds.

That depends on what you mean by "social class." I would argue that class divisions are becoming
more and more pronounced in the US, although the boundaries are now determined less by ethnic/racial
criteria, and more by economic status and business affinities. We are moving from democracy to
plutocracy.

But this is probably not the forum to debate such matters.

--
Julian Vrieslander

"david" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't give
a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people "battlers",
and we try and help them. Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do
Americans think about it?

David,

I'd disagree that "battler" just means poor people in general. A battler need not be poverty
stricken. The Macquarie Dictionary Book of Slang
(macquariedictionary.com.auanonymous@FF982909775+Open ↗ /-/p/dict/slang.html) gives the
following definitions of "battler" which I would agree with from the everyday usage I'm
familiar with.

battler noun 1. a decent and fair person who struggles continually and persistently against heavy
odds; a doer. 2. Also, (little) Aussie battler. a typical member of the working class in Australia.
3. a conscientious worker, especially one living at subsistence level

I think the term "white trash" 1. does not have so much to do with how much money the people have
as to how they behave and 2. when used as it was here with regards to cooking etc. is used in a
joking manner.

The same sort of things go on here, regardless of how egalitarian the country is supposed to be. I
grew up (and still live) in the outer west of Sydney which would make me a Westie to many people
(though I'm not necessarily uncouth and without culture, and I don't think I ever wore a pair of Ugg
boots outside the house, although I have worn flannelette shirts - see definition of Westie below
sig). I remember as a teenager referring to people who lived on the other side of the harbour bridge
as Northie snobs - although I don't think I'd ever met any at that stage!!

Rhonda Anderson - proud to be a Westie <vbg> Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

From The Book of Slang - westie noun 1. (Derogatory) a person from the western suburbs of Sydney,
usually characterised as being unsophisticated, uncouth, and typically wearing certain
distinguishing items of clothing, as flannelette shirts and ugh boots. The word is applied
negatively to any people living west of one's own suburb, thus a Bondi inhabitant may call a person
from Ryde a westie, but Ryde inhabitants would not consider themselves such, and instead apply the
term to people from Parramatta, who in turn apply it to people from Penrith, etc. --adjective 2.
pertaining to a westie; characteristic of a westie. Also, westy.

"Nancy Young" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

david said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race

point

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of view - couldn't give a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we
call poor people "battlers", and we try and help

them.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do Americans think about it?

It's essentially a joke, far less serious than you take it.

Fair enough. Hard for me to tell over here.

the 'mock apple pie'

Makes 1 - 9 inch pie

" Love apple pie, but hate apples? Your prayers have been answered! "

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups white sugar 1 1/2 cups water 1 tablespoon butter 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 16 double-wide soda crackers
1 (1inch) pie shell

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). 2 In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, butter,
cream of tartar and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, and continue to boil for 2 minutes. 3 Break 16
(double) soda crackers into pie shell. Pour hot syrup over. 4 Add top crust, seal and flute edges.
Bake at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 30 to 35 minutes. yumm yummm!

"The Heap" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I came across a web site that offers what they call "white trash" recipes. I don't know how to cut
and paste so I can't give the URL but it is called yumfood.net. They have recipes for Tatertot
casserole, Tuna loaf, a lot of things with saltine crackers (both savory and sweet) and a whole
lot of stuff that uses weiners. Someone in ths group posted a recipe for "Hamburger Gravy" and it
sounded to me like what could be thought of as "white trash cooking" but it was DELICIOUS. What
comes to mind when you think of "white trash cooking"? Here is a recipe from that site that I am
going to try:

Corn Dog Muffins

1) Corn bread muffin mix
2) 1 cup milk
3) 2 eggs
4) 1 cup oil (seems like a lot)
5) 1 pack of paper muffin liners
6) 1 muffin tin
7) 1 package of the cheapest hot dogs money can buy

Mix muffin mix and other ingredients (except hot dogs) Place muffin liners in muffin tin Pour
batter into muffin liners Cut hot dogs in half and center in each muffin with the round end
pointing out Bake until muffins are goldne brown

The Heap

"david" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't give
a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people "battlers",
and we try and help

them.

Quoted message said:

Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do Americans think about it?

Oh bull - as an Aussie (now living in the USA) I heard the term "white trash" used many many times
over the years in Australia. Far more often than "battlers".

"Rhonda Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"david" <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
I'd disagree that "battler" just means poor people in general.

Well, I didn't mean poor people in general. Here's my point:
australianbeers.combatters.htmOpen ↗

"A Adams" <[email hidden]> wrote in
:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"david" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:pODQb.26435$Wa.15388@news-
server.bigpond.net.au...

Quoted message said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't
give a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people
"battlers", and we try and help

them.

Quoted message said:

Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do Americans think about it?

Oh bull - as an Aussie (now living in the USA) I heard the term "white trash" used many many times
over the years in Australia. Far more often than "battlers".

Just out of curiosity, what part of Australia were you in? I immediately associate the phrase "white
trash" with America. It's a term I'm familiar with from American TV shows etc. Certainly not one I
would use. Plenty of other Australian terms that would mean the same thing <g> but I wouldn't use
"white trash" nor do I think I've ever had a conversation with someone who used it.

"Battler" does get used, though lately mostly by politicians and reporters I think <g>.

Rhonda Anderson Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

"david" <[email hidden]> wrote in news:TpFQb.26579$Wa.13863
@news-server.bigpond.net.au:

Quoted message said:

"Rhonda Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"david" <[email hidden]> wrote in :"]news:[email hidden]:
I'd disagree that "battler" just means poor people in general.

Well, I didn't mean poor people in general. Here's my point:
australianbeers.combatters.htmOpen ↗

OK, I was just going by what you wrote in the initial post which was

In Australia we call poor people "battlers", and we try

Quoted message said:

and help them.

Figured you meant all poor people! Sorry.

From what I had already thought "white trash" meant, and the definitions several people have posted
in this thread so far, I think we can safely say that "white trash" and "battlers" do not refer to
the same sort of people!

Rhonda Anderson Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

david said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't give
a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people "battlers",
and we try and help them. Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about America. What do
Americans think about it?

The Aussie equivalent to white trash are the bogans, the westies, the ferals, etc. We're just as
nasty and willing to degrade here too.

The only person I know that says 'aussie battler' are fools like Ray Martin, waving from his
palatial home in somewhere far away from the poor people ....

--
something witty

In article <[email hidden]>,

Rhonda Anderson said:

Rhonda Anderson - proud to be a Westie <vbg> Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

From The Book of Slang - westie noun 1. (Derogatory) a person from the western suburbs of Sydney,
usually characterised as being unsophisticated, uncouth, and typically wearing certain
distinguishing items of clothing, as flannelette shirts and ugh boots. The word is applied
negatively to any people living west of one's own suburb, thus a Bondi inhabitant may call a
person from Ryde a westie, but Ryde inhabitants would not consider themselves such, and instead
apply the term to people from Parramatta, who in turn apply it to people from Penrith, etc. --
adjective 2. pertaining to a westie; characteristic of a westie. Also, westy.

"Westie" is also used in NZ, meaning "From West Auckland" and with the connotations above. We
sometimes use the word "bogan" for the same type of people, and that comes from Australia too.

Miche

--
If you want to end war and stuff you got to sing loud. -- Arlo Guthrie, "Alice's Restaurant"

A Adams said:

"david" <> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't
give a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people
"battlers", and we try and help them. Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about
America. What do Americans think about it?

Oh bull - as an Aussie (now living in the USA) I heard the term "white trash" used many many times
over the years in Australia. Far more often than "battlers".

I think David thought he would be the only Aussie here, and be able to create a land in his own
image and fool the yanks in the process 😉

--
something witty

david said:

"Nancy Young" <> wrote ...

Quoted message said:

david said:

To me white trash is a horrible horrible phrase. And not from a race point of view - couldn't
give a hoot about that - but from a "class" point of view. In Australia we call poor people
"battlers", and we try and help them. Even the phrase "White trash" to me, says a lot about
America. What do Americans think about it?

It's essentially a joke, far less serious than you take it.

Fair enough. Hard for me to tell over here.

oh come on, David !

--
something witty

Rhonda Anderson said:

From what I had already thought "white trash" meant, and the definitions several people have
posted in this thread so far, I think we can safely say that "white trash" and "battlers" do not
refer to the same sort of people!

Here's my definition for what is "white trash" in the States:

They are people who most probably know how to act better but are simply too lazy to try. They could
improve their lot/behaviour but they choose not to. They choose not to act with dignity.

And "white trash" doesn't necessarily mean poor people - there are plenty of middle - class and
wealthy people who exhibit white trash tendencies. I've known plenty of white trash types who come
from reasonably good homes, have great educations, good jobs, etc. but they are still white trash.
Why? Because they engage in stupid/irresponsible behaviour, e.g. getting into fights, drinking too
much, engaging in a lot of emotional "drama", affairs, being close - minded to new ideas and
experiences. They are the types who have to fire off a gun at midnight on New Year's Eve, always
drive pickups, let their snot - nosed kids run wild (because the kids are invariably a product of
several bad marriages, so why bother?), engage in grossly stupid "Jim - bob" and "hillybilly" (to
steal a phrase from Sheldon) behaviour, etc. etc., etc....

They are a staple of the US South, but they are extant everywhere from the wilds of Maine and
upstate New York down to Texas and up to Washington State...they's in city and country,
suburb and town.

As an example, pretty much everyone white who lives in the state of Missouri qualifies as some form
of white trash. I used to go down to hang out in St. Louis with some friends and I met absolutely
*tons* of gay white trash, for example. If you think hetero white trash is *bad*.....

Another good example of US white trash would be our current "President" Gee Dubya Bush. White trash
to the core, despite having all the advantages that wealth and status can provide.

Bill Clinton was white trash, too, but he sought to rise above that level and largely succeeded,
e.g. excelling in school, going to an Ivy League uni, being a Rhodes Scholar, exhibiting
intellectual curiousity...although his affair a la Lewinsky is a perfect example of stupid white
trash conduct, as was his cavorting with several other pea - pickin' Southron gals....

--
Best Greg

"Gregory Morrow" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]... , always drive pickups,

I largely agree with your assessement of white trash, but the pick-ups? What's wrong with always
driving a pick-up? I know plenty of people who always drive pick-ups, but aren't white trash...