Moments "Normal" People Realized Someone Was Privileged

Buzz Feed

4 days ago

There are many privileged people in the world. However, there are some who choose to acknowledge their privilege, while others seem to simply think of their extravagant lifestyle as the "norm..."
That's why when TikTok user @howdoewedo said, "I'm bored. Tell me one moment you realized someone was actually super privileged — like they said or did something so out of touch it made you pause." Over thirty thousand individuals responded with stories of discovering that people in their lives were verrrry well-off. Without further ado, here are 23 of their wildest realizations:
"I had a college roommate who casually told me how she would just THROW AWAY her designer clothes if something didn't fit or she didn't like it because she just didn't feel like returning it."
"I begged her to donate. She always threw away the stuff at her family's home; otherwise, I would've saved it all."—emchenderson
"I knew a family who bought a home and thought the house next to theirs complemented it. They bought it too, so they wouldn't have to worry about someone changing it."
"My college roommate didn't realize the trash didn't take itself out. She threw away a whole rotisserie chicken in the kitchen trash can, didn't take it out all weekend, and we got roaches."
"I mentioned to someone that a certain political party plans to implement a national dental care plan, and she said, 'My dad already pays for my dental work.'"
"I didn't know how to explain that she should care about other people who don't have that luxury."—anonswer
"I was working at a bank when I noticed someone casually had $500k sitting in their CHECKING account. I mentioned a money market account, so they could grow interest, and their response was 'This is just my play money.'"
"I knew someone whose AirPods were stolen, and instead of confronting the person (since they were tracking-equipped) or telling the cops, she just bought an entirely new pair, with her parents' money because she, of course, doesn't work."
"I had a friend who complained about the wildfires in Hawaii because she had planned a vacation there. She wasn't upset that people were suffering; instead, she was sad because she couldn't go snorkeling somewhere she had already been."
—rosecoloredbrains
"An ex and I were visiting NYC from Canada. He asked a local, 'How much does it cost to speed?'"
"In high school, my friend totaled five cars in one year, and she would get a better car each time."
"When I was in college, I was talking to this guy, and I went to his parents' house (he still lived with them). Turns out, they lived in a rich neighborhood."
"When we got there, he asked his mom for $800 for a new synthesizer. She said, 'I just bought you a new guitar,' then gave him the $800 anyway. I couldn't believe it. I was scared to ask my mom for $5, and I had a job!"—wither2death_
"One of my childhood friends wanted to clean out the dishwasher with me (it was my chore) because they had never had a chore and thought it looked fun."
"A college classmate was complaining because her (head of neuroscience at a prestigious college) dad told her he'd only cover $1100 out of her $1200 rent, so she'd have to get a job. I was flabbergasted."
"My senior year, my dad bought me a new pair of Nike Blazers. Later on, a random cheerleader stepped on my foot and tore the leather. When I was upset and yelling, she told me to just 'buy a new pair' then acted confused when I told her why I couldn't afford to do that."
—jai.dawg24
"I was cooking a staff barbecue once, and my boss told me I was doing a great job. I said, 'Thanks, I love to cook. My mum got me in the kitchen as a teenager and now I love it.'"
"Someone told me, 'Don't get a used car, it's better to just get a brand new one to avoid all the maintenance.'"
"When I was 18, I visited my cousin who lived close to the suburbs around Dallas. We met with some of her friends for lunch (which I typically didn't do because of money, but it was the norm for them), and one of them had shopping bags. She told us that she wanted to buy only the top in a boutique, but ended up buying the entire outfit off the mannequin."
"I had never even considered buying a whole outfit before because I always bargain shopped for random mix and matches that could last me through the entire year."—madelinefayephoto
"Someone I knew said, 'I love caviar so much. I wish my parents would just open a farm for it. I mean, we already funded one. I don't know why we can't HAVE one.' I thought, 'Bro, what?'"
"A girl in my choir pulled up to a CHARITY event in a Tesla. Her mom scolded her for not 'taking one of their older cars.'"
"My friend had to live alone for a job in another city for eleven months. She told me that she would order food in for all her meals or eat out in restaurants because she was 'too afraid to use the stove.' She never needed to know how to cook since she always had a maid at home."
—mariacomhnofinal
"My boss asked me why I don't just get a nanny for my kids instead of staying home with them while they're sick."
"A guy I know said he grew up poor. His family had two houses and a plane hangar, WITH a plane in it. He said, 'Well, it wasn't a nice plane.'"
"I told him, 'If it wasn't a paper plane, it's safe to say your parents were wealthy.'"—thebloomingtoker
"In college, we were talking about FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), when a girl panicked and called her mom to ask if they had filled it out. Her mom picked up and said, 'Oh, honey, we don't do that.'"
"When the first Nintendo Switch was set to be released, my friend pre-ordered one immediately. He excitedly said that I should buy one, too. I said, 'I can't. You know, being a broke college student and all?'"
"He replied, 'Yeah, but the sad thing is, I'm not.' He actually made a sad face, too. I told him that it wasn't 'sad' and he should be grateful. He still said it constantly."–abbykreutzer722
Did any of these stories surprise you? Do you remember an exact moment when you realized someone in your life was privileged? Tell us in the comments or answer anonymously using the form below!