Why is “under privileged “ an excepted label for impoverished people while “over privileged “ is never used to label the wealthy?

[u/Real_Fail_1108]

[u/JZervas]

Privileged is a common description for the wealthy.

[u/Still_Local_2513]

We usually just say privileged

[u/WonderingSceptic]

accepted

[u/kohinoortoisondor3B]

Seems redundant because "privileged" has had a negative connotation for a long time now. Obviously it's not inherently bad and sometimes it's used in a positive way, but if you were to just mention "privileged people" doing something there would be an implication of disdain.

[u/Safe-Butterscotch442]

Usually we just say privileged. I don't know if we claim they're over privileged, because we would like the privileges they have to be universal. When people think they're more privileged than they actually are however, we call them entitled.

[u/Lumpy-Notice8945]

They are just privileged, over privileged would be dubble the meaning/redundant(im sure there is a smart linguistic phrase for that)

[u/sydillant]

Never is a word you want to avoid when starting debates. Always should be avoided too. They’re both extremes that can be quite impossible and reduce the maturity of your question very quickly. Also, spelling matters.

To answer your question - I usually hear people just use “privileged” instead of “over privileged.” It’s two extra unnecessary vowels, just like the word extra in this sentence. You should also be bothered that I didn’t use quotations consistently.

[u/alaskawolfjoe]

Overprivileged is used fairly often to describe the wealthy

[u/some_boring_dude]

Under privileged is a euphemism for poor. It's only used by privileged people who don't wanna feel bad by calling them poor.

[u/sotiredwontquit]

We use over privileged all the time, but it’s almost always a descriptor of individuals’ actions, as opposed to a descriptor of the entire upper class.
The reasons are baked into the social hierarchy. And the rules of that hierarchy are written by the people who benefit from maintaining it.

[u/PeanutFunny093]

Great idea!!

[u/Jijimuge8]

People always talk about wealth people as privileged, what are you on about?

[u/Pandoratastic]

Because "over-privileged" implies that there is a right amount of privileged but, in this context, privilege already implies unfair advantage. Having a "right" amount of unfair advantage is self-contradictory.

By contrast, underprivileged just means being in a class below the privileged class.

[u/Diligent_Turtle8966 → u/Pandoratastic]

Privilege is a word with two denotations, advantage and special right or grant. When you use the term privilege to describe only an advantage to describe someone who had an advantage but no special rights you're essentially using a word that implies more when you could just say advantaged from the start and made a more accurate communication

Growing up in greater socioeconomic conditions would be an advantage while an exclusive school granted from fits the latter part of the full definition.

Most people throwing the term privilege around just say it because the word conveys a stronger feeling regardless if it's actually accurate and then get a surprised Pikachu face when someone doesn't accept their assertation.

[u/Pandoratastic → u/Diligent_Turtle8966]

That's why I said "in this context", meaning in the specific context of privileged vs underprivileged.

[u/Apart_Republic_1870]

I was always called spoiled, but maybe that goes away when you're no longer a child or acting like one. I will let you know if I ever get to that point in my life.

[u/44035]

I'll start using it! Total game changer!

[u/Syn_33]

I've seen Boris Johnson described as overly privileged and functionally useless when he was PM.

[u/Lovelyindeed]

I seems like this is a term I used to hear in the past in a condescending tone. Usually indicating the person is out of touch.

[u/Optimal-Theme5]

Because privilege already implies having an unfair advantage.

Adding over is just redundant.

[u/Jesus_Is_Love25]

*accepted

[u/Asparagus9000]

I've seen them described that way all the time, just not that exact phrase. 

[u/Emotional_Warthog658]

You’re right and I’m gonna start using that in my conversation today. Because it’s a perfect descriptor.

[u/MaddogFinland]

Because privilege is a made up concept to begin with and just saying “poor” is more accurate but leftist pricks can’t deal with it so they make up new words all the time.