..."...keep up with the Joneses."...
Do you, or does anyone you know, try to do do this?
If not, is it because your are a member of the "Jones" family?
And if you ARE a "Jones", do you think other "non-Joneses" are trying to keep up with you?...
..and...
Is the phrase a statement of passive envy, or is it just another head-rattling cliche?...
Your thoughts?...
2006-07-11 15:38:30 · 9 answers · asked by Saint Christopher Walken 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Well, my neighbor's last name is not Jones but at Christmas time we have a little runabout about who can put out the best lights and decorations. Now since I have taken up gardening it's going to be about all that. Theirs is 4 years old, I have just started mine. But little do they know I went out and bought 8 big boxes of lights last year and some other cool stuff.
I believe that phrase is both of passive envy and a head rattler. Someone has to have a neighbor out there with the last name of Jones or another that they compete with on a "who has more and who has the best" level. And the ones that don't are trying to figure out who it is, they're saying, "Who in the h is the Jones's?? thus creating a mind rattle.
2006-07-11 15:51:12 · answer #1 · answered by windandwater 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
i believe it started as passive envy in a rich community with way too much time on their hands and turned into a cliche. i personally am not one of the Joneses or trying to be, but i know how it can look. each year my neighbor on the left and right have a Christmas cookie contest and then the people across the street from us are the judges. it is rather stupid IMHO, but they go at it every year. what people do in the name of good appearances!!
2006-07-12 04:27:36 · answer #2 · answered by Llama_Gurl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i don't know anyone who does this..but i do know a few people who would like you to think they were a Jones...
you know the type the ones who are forever bragging about what they brought or where they shop or what they have...
there is this girl i work with who is one of those look at me kinda girls...and after listening to this everyday and then finally going to her house (turned out to be a trailer) that was a mess and i mean a mess...and the smell well we wont go into that...
all-in-all I think this is just a passive-rattling cliche
2006-07-23 15:53:50 · answer #3 · answered by midnite 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just another head-rattling cliche. At sometime in the past I believe that it was a true statement. In the early 1900's to 1950's. In to days age and time I do not believe we as people have the time or the energy to do so. We have better things to worry about in our every day lives.
2006-07-11 15:54:05 · answer #4 · answered by Bree 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, I have never even heard anyone say that before.
This is what Wikipedia thinks:
Keeping up with the Joneses is a popular phrase in many parts of the English-speaking world referring to the common desire to be seen to be as good as one's neighbours or contemporaries, thus maintaining a favourable image in comparison with them. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as demonstrating one's socio-economic or cultural inferiority.
And this is a funny play on it:
Keeping up with the Gateses is a variation of the phrase being used more recently. It refers to the desire of living lifestyles comparable to that of the very wealthiest in the society such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates. Such desires are fueled by portrayal of the spending habits of the rich on television and in magazines. It often leads people to overconsumption and spending more than they earn, thereby falling into debt.
But, to be honest... it really seems like cliche to me. Thanks for answering my question, just trying to do the same. ♥
2006-07-14 07:14:58 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why? who are the 'Jones's that we should try to keep up with them? My opinion is 'Be your own self' Don't try to keep up with anyone but set the standards for them to keep up with you. But yes, it really is a head-rattling cliche
2006-07-11 15:45:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i imagine the point of this actual cliche is to apply the smallest achieveable denomination. Even saving one penny, in accordance to the cliche, is like incomes one extra penny. do not spend any more advantageous than you should, is what its putting forward. So, as long as there are pennies in the U. S. economic equipment, i imagine those who "coined" this word (no pun meant) ought to advise for it to stay "penny."
2016-11-01 21:35:54 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm just trying to keep up with the Stanislovsky's. They have a brand new wide screen TV. We just have a 19 inch black and white with rabbit ear antennas.
2006-07-13 14:41:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. I live the way I am comfortable. I only feel sorry for the ones who are up to their eyeballs in debt and pretend to have it all.
2006-07-11 15:53:20 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋