Education, education, education
We all vary in our degrees of self-consciousness, but it's always hard for any given person to judge how he or she is perceived by the average member of the public. In my own case, a randomly chosen person who passed me on the street might notice a tall, dark, slightly gangly Caucasian gentleman with long hair, not dressed to fit any fashion, blundering around with a slightly vacant expression. It's hard to guess whether I appear harmless or slightly shifty, good- or bad-looking, approachable or intimidating, or just like a student.

I was, however, made aware of one preconception that seems to be triggered in most people the moment I open my mouth: apparently a number of people jump straight to the conclusion that I went to public school*.

I didn't. I went to a state comprehensive school and my parents have always made it abundantly clear that, even if they could have afforded the fees, they would never have sent me to public school. So I was very surprised, when I first rolled up at university, that I was being mistaken for a public schoolboy. Odder still, the people who made this mistake invariably turned out to be former public schoolboys themselves.

Because it wasn't hard for school to be mentioned in conversation, and there was always something insipid about the way they'd ask,
"Oh, so which public school did you go to?"
"Erm...I didn't. I went to a state comp..."
"Oh..." they usually replied, with a tone that wasn't quite disgust but often seemed a little stronger than disappointment. Well, you did ask. And since we're on the matter, why did you specify public school? It's safe to assume I went to a school, but the fact you specifically asked about public school just makes your question even more snobbish.

I know, I know, it's the voice. Somehow I've ended up being rather well-spoken, with quite a nice, home counties RP accent. It's got quite a deep tone to it as well and I quite like the way it sounds (it even came in handy when a family member asked me to do a voiceover on a video for his publishers, sadly fame and fortune have not followed).

But why did these snobs assume that, because I sound a bit posh, I could only have gone to some extortionately-priced school with all the rich kids? Are they actually taught this prejudice that only other "old boys" from "the good schools" speak properly, and that's how you can pick them apart from the proles in these modern times? Are they given a little booklet entitled "Know Your Enemy: The Prole," detailing the hilarious regional accents and behavioural quirks with which the commoners will present themselves?

So Daddy paid a small fortune for you to be educated with all the rugger buggers, so that you could lodge yourself in some old boys' network. Well bully for you. My Daddy didn't, I think I just got too much exposure to Radio 4 as a child.

*_{That is, "private school" for those not familiar with the British education system.}
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 13:49, 11 replies)

I had this time and time again, myself.
Eventually I realised that saying I went to school at Winchester, which, whilst entirely correct, suggested that I went to Winchester College (I didn't: there was no way on God's earth I was going to go there, as my father was a don there). This ended the discussion on most occasions leaving me free to continue my sad little life unencumbered by a pointless discussion.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 13:55, closed)

One of them did try to tell me that the flappy hair suggested a public school education
Naturally I found this deeply offensive. I think in the end I just got used to answering their question with "Teddington."
"Oh, I don't think I've heard of that one. Rah."
"You won't have. It's a state comp just up the river from Kingston Bridge."
Usually good for killing that conversation dead in the water.
(LongJohnBaldry, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 17:43, closed)

"deeply offensive"
really!?
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Tue 6 Apr 2010, 22:07, closed)

Sorry, bit of an /offtopic in-joke that one
Monty and I take our beautiful flappy hair very seriously.

VERY seriously.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 7 Apr 2010, 11:14, closed)

I'm Somerset born and bred, yet i'm well spoken and don't sound like Justin Lee Collins.
People think i'm posh, I'm not. Just because I went to a shitty comp doesn't mean I can't be well mannered.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 14:15, closed)

Ah but do remember dear chap
That being well spoken and well mannered are completely different things and don't always go hand in hand.......
(Purpledoris I've got afeckin' job, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 14:24, closed)

Good point
I would say that I am well spoken and polite.
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 14:28, closed)

There is also a difference between...
...being well spoken, and speaking English with a Received Pronounciation accent.

Most continuity announcers on Radio 4 are "well-spoken" yet have a variety of accents including Scottish and West Indian (and RP).

Melinda Messenger has a mostly RP accent (with a tinge of Swindoo) yet can barely string a sentence together. Jimmy Carr speaks textbook RP yet you wouldn't want him effing and blinding and making cock jokes at your nan's funeral, would you? (Ok, maybe you would. Weirdo.)

QED. What do I win?
( shinyshinyscalp less a man, more a way of life, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 17:22, closed)

me too
I remember as a child once giving up my seat for a little old lady. She remarked on how well mannered I was, and asked which school I went to. When I replied (local comprehensive) she said "oh" in a tone suggesting I'd just turned into a week-dead rat. In contrast, my Dad went to a private school and his accent and manners resemble Alf Garnett
(biscuitsocks random gene expression, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 15:00, closed)

Have some Monty Python "tungsten carbide drills".
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQDeU6dHX-c
(Stashie is plotting against his blender on, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 15:50, closed)

Yeah
I get this too. I went to school with Vicky Beckham, yet somehow I turned out with a fairly posh accent. People often think I went to a public school instead of the shitty comp in Cheshunt.
(Seebeedee, Tue 6 Apr 2010, 16:53, closed)