Originally Posted by Zen10

An interesting post but I certainly take issue with this sentiment. My reading of the situation is that people can be divided by different things and different groups and polarizations can be formed depending on the issue. On the issue of "self-loathing" as a nation, it seems clear to me that none are so proud as the English working class - the type that paint St George's crosses on their faces and pronounce England with three syllables. The ones that really loathe the place in the middle class are the right of centre Mailers, but the most proud are the British middle class Left who see places like Australia and South Africa as hopelessly backwards and inherently racist and look up strongly to mainland Europe, and more specifically Scandinavia, as social role models.

Originally Posted by mar68

Not a big fan of Eddie McGuire but have to say that his commentary on Ch. 9 was very good. Not too talky he only broke in when there was a change in scene to explain what it was about. I watched it live and thought Ch 9 did a good job.

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack

My view is that the Daily Mail (lower middle) and Telegraph (some of the rest) classes love the place - just are scared as to what they think is happening to it, or has happened to it.

My experience is that parts of both the working and established middle classes love the UK in equal amounts. Others are too left wing to be too noisy about it..

Certainly the middle class left are smug.

Originally Posted by RedT

What happened with Paul McCartney & the synch? I could hear a recording of the song playing, him singing along a good line or so behind...why was there a recording at all? Surely if he was live they might have a backing track at most to amplify the band but not a recording of the singing too? Either way, it was very very poor and it's time he was bloody retired.

Everything else was good, some absolutely fab. Thought the NHS thing was a bit weird, absolutely love the torch made from petals but do think Sir Steve should have lit it.

Originally Posted by Zen10

When I say loathe it I mean what they think it is now, yes. Just read the comments on DM or Telegraph website to know what they think of it.

Originally Posted by Zen10

Ah yes well noticed! I heard that as well. The recording seemed to be a second or two ahead of McCartney. His singing was so awful I wished he had mimed.

Originally Posted by DeadVim

I quite enjoyed the highlights, anything that soundtracks Pink Floyd as the climax gets my vote.

I particularly liked the fact that they featured some of the stadium construction workers at the end during the flame running. Something about that got me.

Originally Posted by RedT

Yes, it really was third rate. Considering he's wheeled out for being such a legend, he rarely lives up to that status any more. He was very poor at the Jubilee too. Plus he actually seemed a bit stunned by the whole thing (meds hadn't kicked in maybe?). The whole 'now the ladies, now the lads' singing Hey Jude was beyond cringeworthy.

Originally Posted by IvanM

I am watching beach volley ball naked.

Too weird?

Originally Posted by Tr1boy

The Aussies I get on with least are the ones that have never lived anywhere else but like to think they know about other countries and still conclude that that Oz is best. And the Brits that I could happily take out and shoot are the ones that have not lived anywhere else and declare that Britain is a craphole and everywhere else in the world simply 'must be better'.

Oz just needs to learn that it does not have a monopoly on being proud. On one of my sporting forums someone was complaining that the Brits 'shove their wins in your face' and then said 'only Aussies are allowed to do that'. That's the kind of one eyed BS I can't stand.

Originally Posted by Nanna9

Quote:"Only Aussies are allowed to do that" and "It's just so pathetic isn't it"

I am surprised that you didn't recognise this as laconic Australian humour....you know...that which we are not supposed to have. Almost always said with a dead pan face.

Originally Posted by chris955

Thats right, anything that can be considered offensive or in bad taste is in fact just the Aussie sense of humour

Originally Posted by commonwealth

Hmmm who would have thought it's an Aussie made cauldron?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=4PON7VJtJ4g