Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Oct 11th 2010, 9:17 am
#91
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
I loved living in London and wouldn't change any of the experiences that I've had. The majority of my time was done doing things I loved and I was very lucky to have had this opportunity. I gained invaluable experience in both my personal and professional life. Unfortunately, there is unpleasant people where ever you go but it takes the bigger person to rise above it. I would definitely live in London again when the time is right (joys of having dual citizenship) as it definitely holds a very special place in my heart.
London and Melbourne are impossible to compare in reality. I think you picked up on the fashion/handbag/designer aspect because that is not Melbournes thing, people in general are not so into high fashion (generalisation) but it can be just as pretentious for a girl to have a huge tattoo on her arm, loads of peircings, and wearing gear from an op shop.
Oct 11th 2010, 9:22 am
#92
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Well done MissNyz for having enjoyed your time in one of the worlds great cities.
London and Melbourne are impossible to compare in reality. I think you picked up on the fashion/handbag/designer aspect because that is not Melbournes thing, people in general are not so into high fashion (generalisation) but it can be just as pretentious for a girl to have a huge tattoo on her arm, loads of peircings, and wearing gear from an op shop.
London and Melbourne are impossible to compare in reality. I think you picked up on the fashion/handbag/designer aspect because that is not Melbournes thing, people in general are not so into high fashion (generalisation) but it can be just as pretentious for a girl to have a huge tattoo on her arm, loads of peircings, and wearing gear from an op shop.
and of course, perhaps Melbourne is the most London like city...based on what - I have no idea ....once you get this relative thing - loads of things make sense...
Oct 11th 2010, 9:32 am
#93
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Oct 11th 2010, 9:43 am
#94
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Oct 11th 2010, 9:45 am
#95
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Oct 11th 2010, 9:50 am
#96
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Yes indeed Sir...this is my little list of why Melbourne is like London...
It's the coldest city - forget Tassie now.
It has trams and stuff. OK - I know trolley buses went out a while back...
It's a bit grey in winter.
People are sort of pretentious. Sort of. (Infact they can't win - they're either acused of being bogans or too much like Europeans).
It has 'culture'. (Define culture...)
It's the coldest city - forget Tassie now.
It has trams and stuff. OK - I know trolley buses went out a while back...
It's a bit grey in winter.
People are sort of pretentious. Sort of. (Infact they can't win - they're either acused of being bogans or too much like Europeans).
It has 'culture'. (Define culture...)
Oct 11th 2010, 10:29 am
#97
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Oct 12th 2010, 1:25 am
#99
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Well maybe all the people I associate with are different from the ones you know, because I rarely get asked that question unless I'm filling in an official form - and certainly no-one seems to care.
Oct 12th 2010, 4:43 am
#100
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
I live in a nice area, it's not some outer suburban shithole surrounded by bogans. I'm surrounded by people from stacks of different walks of life, careers, wealth (I guess) and no one gives a flying **** what anyone else is earning/doing/living in.
Last edited by moneypenny20; Oct 12th 2010 at 6:02 am.
Oct 12th 2010, 5:45 am
#101
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
In other private work places though I didn't find it was quite such a hot topic of conversation.
Oct 12th 2010, 6:04 am
#102
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Depends on where you live/work and who you mix with I think, same as any other country. I work for the government, and one of the commonest questions when people meet others at work is "what level are you" as the Public Service is very level conscious, and once you know whether someone is an AO2 or an AO8 you know roughly what they are earning. Its not a culture I like but its one I've got used to.
In other private work places though I didn't find it was quite such a hot topic of conversation.
In other private work places though I didn't find it was quite such a hot topic of conversation.
Oct 12th 2010, 6:17 am
#103
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
I always find it odd when people talk about the UK's entrenched class system and how it affected them. As a Scottish pauper who moved down to London I reckon I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I experienced anything resembling elitism. Once at a party when a girl was aghast to learn that I was 'first generation university'. Another time I went to an assessment centre for a job where I was the only person there not Oxbridge...I didn't get the job, but neither did 10 of them!
Here I've met Aussies who sneer at anyone who got their secondary education in a state school...wouldn't even invite them for an interview, that sort of thing.
Much the same really.
I suppose I am talking about elitism though, not pretentiousness.
Oct 12th 2010, 7:12 am
#104
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
Bit tongue in cheek and a kind of poll really and yes I know it depends on area you live but overall what have been your experiences? Especially if you have lived in both.
Would especially like to hear from school mums who have experienced both.
I admit I lived a different life in oz, no children when I was living there. I mixed with people from different backgrounds and the last question anyone seemed to ask was 'so what do you do then?'
Here in the uk however it seems to be all about three questions 'what does your husband do?' , 'where do you live' (as in which street, proximity to oversubscribed school, period or non period property) and 'Do you work?'.
It seems over here in england to be as my nanna used to say all 'Kippers and curtains'
Anyway am sure this will illicit some strong responses so will duck for cover now.
Would especially like to hear from school mums who have experienced both.
I admit I lived a different life in oz, no children when I was living there. I mixed with people from different backgrounds and the last question anyone seemed to ask was 'so what do you do then?'
Here in the uk however it seems to be all about three questions 'what does your husband do?' , 'where do you live' (as in which street, proximity to oversubscribed school, period or non period property) and 'Do you work?'.
It seems over here in england to be as my nanna used to say all 'Kippers and curtains'
Anyway am sure this will illicit some strong responses so will duck for cover now.
Oct 12th 2010, 8:54 am
#105
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Re: Uk vs Australia which is more pretentious?
I have to be honest and say that I can be very elitist at times which is different to pretentious.. but I have met elitism where it joins a bit of spunk and hard work - so it is seen as OK. There is nothing more satisfying than operating at a high level surrounded by like-minded people ...who also know how to take a few hard knocks....just to remind themselves that it's not all easy come - easy go. It's an outlook and can be very refreshing and it beats many other modes of operation...
Indeed. For others, it must create some sort of antagonism because if you know someone at the same grade as you and with the same broad education chances, if you then discover they have a very comfortable standard of living - there must occasionally be a sense of 'why me' - especially if your career has paralled theirs..same department perhaps same city...
hmmmm..interesting. I had been here for years before I had even realised the relative pecking order of Melbourne Unis...
Depends on where you live/work and who you mix with I think, same as any other country. I work for the government, and one of the commonest questions when people meet others at work is "what level are you" as the Public Service is very level conscious, and once you know whether someone is an AO2 or an AO8 you know roughly what they are earning. Its not a culture I like but its one I've got used to.
In other private work places though I didn't find it was quite such a hot topic of conversation.
In other private work places though I didn't find it was quite such a hot topic of conversation.
Definitely UK, no doubt at all. A millenia of class hierarchy established by the Normans is hard to rub out. Your observations are astute, IMO. I notice, in a similar way that when I tell anyone about my degree, in Australia (same for US) the first question asked is what subject, whereas in the UK it's more often than not where?