Egalitariasm in Australia?
Aug 7th 2008, 2:20 am
#1
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Egalitarianism in Australia?
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news...702136071.html
This is a well written and balanced article about the class system in the UK and the apparently emerging class system here in Australia.
It's written by an Australian too.
This is a well written and balanced article about the class system in the UK and the apparently emerging class system here in Australia.
It's written by an Australian too.
Last edited by DunRoaminTheUK; Aug 7th 2008 at 4:15 am.
Aug 7th 2008, 2:23 am
#2
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news...702136071.html
This is a well written and balanced article about the class system in the UK and the apparently emerging class system here in Australia.
It's written by an Australia too.
This is a well written and balanced article about the class system in the UK and the apparently emerging class system here in Australia.
It's written by an Australia too.
Do we use that phrase much these days i wonder.
Aug 7th 2008, 2:25 am
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Aug 7th 2008, 3:27 am
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
Very interesting article, agree with most of the content. One thing he has got wrong, Is the UK isnt the only country where class is important. It's far more important in India than the UK, however thats a digression.
The Major difference between the UK and here in Aus, is I cannot recall ever feeling uncomfortable in any situation in Aus on account of social status. Where in the UK, there were plenty of places you knew you wouldn't fit in, because of social graces at a higher status and a lower status. Just to be aware of that is a sad indictement of the UK. I will admit that the North/South divide is far less in the UK now than when I left in 1980, so maybe class awareness has also.
Personally I think Australia's Egalitariasm is one of the things that most people see as a noticeable major positive when they arrive here.
As for the Bogan label, people that really believe that people are lesser because of what they drink and wear, are the people with the problem. In Australia it's very unwise to judge people by their appearance. I will admit to doing a little of this myself, but do take time to have a second thought about situation.
The Major difference between the UK and here in Aus, is I cannot recall ever feeling uncomfortable in any situation in Aus on account of social status. Where in the UK, there were plenty of places you knew you wouldn't fit in, because of social graces at a higher status and a lower status. Just to be aware of that is a sad indictement of the UK. I will admit that the North/South divide is far less in the UK now than when I left in 1980, so maybe class awareness has also.
Personally I think Australia's Egalitariasm is one of the things that most people see as a noticeable major positive when they arrive here.
As for the Bogan label, people that really believe that people are lesser because of what they drink and wear, are the people with the problem. In Australia it's very unwise to judge people by their appearance. I will admit to doing a little of this myself, but do take time to have a second thought about situation.
Aug 7th 2008, 3:44 am
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Aug 7th 2008, 3:59 am
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
LOL, yes I take your point. Although dissecting appearance a little further. If there are people hanging around on a corner somewhere, with your typical shorts/things/flannel shirts drinking VB, in an area like Logan or say Doveton here, then yes its probably safe to assume they are indeed an actual real Bogan. Whereas see someone dressed like that in a pub, drinking a can of VB, it could actually be a far better educated than one would anticipate, Tradesman..... Complete with 6 figure turn over business... especially in the country.
Aug 7th 2008, 4:07 am
#8
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
Very interesting article, agree with most of the content. One thing he has got wrong, Is the UK isnt the only country where class is important. It's far more important in India than the UK, however thats a digression.
The Major difference between the UK and here in Aus, is I cannot recall ever feeling uncomfortable in any situation in Aus on account of social status. Where in the UK, there were plenty of places you knew you wouldn't fit in, because of social graces at a higher status and a lower status. Just to be aware of that is a sad indictement of the UK. I will admit that the North/South divide is far less in the UK now than when I left in 1980, so maybe class awareness has also.
Personally I think Australia's Egalitariasm is one of the things that most people see as a noticeable major positive when they arrive here.
As for the Bogan label, people that really believe that people are lesser because of what they drink and wear, are the people with the problem. In Australia it's very unwise to judge people by their appearance. I will admit to doing a little of this myself, but do take time to have a second thought about situation.
The Major difference between the UK and here in Aus, is I cannot recall ever feeling uncomfortable in any situation in Aus on account of social status. Where in the UK, there were plenty of places you knew you wouldn't fit in, because of social graces at a higher status and a lower status. Just to be aware of that is a sad indictement of the UK. I will admit that the North/South divide is far less in the UK now than when I left in 1980, so maybe class awareness has also.
Personally I think Australia's Egalitariasm is one of the things that most people see as a noticeable major positive when they arrive here.
As for the Bogan label, people that really believe that people are lesser because of what they drink and wear, are the people with the problem. In Australia it's very unwise to judge people by their appearance. I will admit to doing a little of this myself, but do take time to have a second thought about situation.
I think percieved social class is pretty much evolved around money e.g. the haves and have nots. It is the same all over the world, just in different ways.
I am not so sure it is Egalitarianism. It just seems that Aus is much younger and class has involved in a different way. The rich and poor divides are still extant.
Aug 7th 2008, 4:11 am
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
Didn't see anything in that article about an "emerging class system". All I saw was evidence of rich people looking down on people who aren't as well off as themselves. Which happens everywhere, and does not constitute a "class system".
If Australia had its own aristocracy with a swathe of inherent hereditary rights (such as the right to govern the nation, as the Lords do) and a social hierarchy in which some people were considered a higher class than others purely by the virtue of their birth into a particular family (as the UK and India both do), then we'd have a class system.
People seem to be defining "class" on the basis of income these days, which is rather strange and a vast departure from the original meaning of the term. Class has nothing to do with money; you can be Lord Daventry with less than 2p in your pocket, but you can't be Lord Daventry simply by virtue of the fact that you have £1.5 million in the bank. Class is something you're born into, like the caste system.
Economic snobbery ≠ class system.
If Australia had its own aristocracy with a swathe of inherent hereditary rights (such as the right to govern the nation, as the Lords do) and a social hierarchy in which some people were considered a higher class than others purely by the virtue of their birth into a particular family (as the UK and India both do), then we'd have a class system.
People seem to be defining "class" on the basis of income these days, which is rather strange and a vast departure from the original meaning of the term. Class has nothing to do with money; you can be Lord Daventry with less than 2p in your pocket, but you can't be Lord Daventry simply by virtue of the fact that you have £1.5 million in the bank. Class is something you're born into, like the caste system.
Economic snobbery ≠ class system.
Last edited by Vash the Stampede; Aug 7th 2008 at 4:13 am.
Aug 7th 2008, 4:14 am
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
Didn't see anything in that article about an "emerging class system". All I saw was evidence of rich people looking down on people who aren't as well off as themselves. Which happens everywhere, and does not constitute a "class system".
If Australia had its own aristocracy with a swathe of inherent hereditary rights (such as the right to govern the nation, as the Lords do) and a social hierarchy in which some people were considered a higher class than others purely by the virtue of their birth into a particular family (as the UK and India both do), then we'd have a class system.
Economic snobbery ≠ class system.
If Australia had its own aristocracy with a swathe of inherent hereditary rights (such as the right to govern the nation, as the Lords do) and a social hierarchy in which some people were considered a higher class than others purely by the virtue of their birth into a particular family (as the UK and India both do), then we'd have a class system.
Economic snobbery ≠ class system.
apparent adj 1 easy to see or understand; obvious. 2 seeming to be real but perhaps not actually so. 3 physics said of the results of an experiment, etc: obtained by observation alone and usually without taking certain variables into account. apparently adverb. See also heir apparent.
You can go back to bed now.
Aug 7th 2008, 4:26 am
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
Interesting that the UK remains one of the worst developed nations for social mobility. That's what you get with a class system.
Australia's social mobility is higher of course, though not as high as the Scandinavian nations. But at least we're better than the Yanks.
Australia's social mobility is higher of course, though not as high as the Scandinavian nations. But at least we're better than the Yanks.
Aug 7th 2008, 5:15 am
#12
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
Didn't see anything in that article about an "emerging class system". All I saw was evidence of rich people looking down on people who aren't as well off as themselves. Which happens everywhere, and does not constitute a "class system".
If Australia had its own aristocracy with a swathe of inherent hereditary rights (such as the right to govern the nation, as the Lords do) and a social hierarchy in which some people were considered a higher class than others purely by the virtue of their birth into a particular family (as the UK and India both do), then we'd have a class system.
People seem to be defining "class" on the basis of income these days, which is rather strange and a vast departure from the original meaning of the term. Class has nothing to do with money; you can be Lord Daventry with less than 2p in your pocket, but you can't be Lord Daventry simply by virtue of the fact that you have £1.5 million in the bank. Class is something you're born into, like the caste system.
Economic snobbery ≠ class system.
If Australia had its own aristocracy with a swathe of inherent hereditary rights (such as the right to govern the nation, as the Lords do) and a social hierarchy in which some people were considered a higher class than others purely by the virtue of their birth into a particular family (as the UK and India both do), then we'd have a class system.
People seem to be defining "class" on the basis of income these days, which is rather strange and a vast departure from the original meaning of the term. Class has nothing to do with money; you can be Lord Daventry with less than 2p in your pocket, but you can't be Lord Daventry simply by virtue of the fact that you have £1.5 million in the bank. Class is something you're born into, like the caste system.
Economic snobbery ≠ class system.
Aug 7th 2008, 7:37 am
#13
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Re: Egalitariasm in Australia?
Everyone is middle class in Australia and the one thing I admire about Aussies is that they don't give a hoot who you are.
I remember someone saying to me "do you know who I am" I said "I don't care who you are" he was most miffed. Too bad. That was at work someone ringing me trying to change my mind about something.
I remember someone saying to me "do you know who I am" I said "I don't care who you are" he was most miffed. Too bad. That was at work someone ringing me trying to change my mind about something.
