hippyboy1

I personally hate all forms of snobbery, and no place is more rife with snobs and w-nkers than the capital cities of Western Europe- I couldn't care less if they all were nuked, personally. History, old Buildings, theater - people give way too much importance to. However, Australia is far from immune from snobbery, and Sydney is full of people putting on Airs-however large parts of Australia do still maintain an egalitarian culture.
These people that whine about Australia having no culture don't seem to realize that you can't have your cake and eat it too-culture is built with the sweat of low paid workers-like good food.
The day Australia ceases laying any claim to being a working mans paradise I will happily look for somewhere else. Although I personally think this place is very far removed from the vile non-culture of the refined capital cesspools of europe.

NKSK version 2

Beautiful buildings at every turn. History going back 2000 years. The monarchy (as a republican I can still see that the pageantry adds buzz to the city), the West End theatres, Harrods, the National Gallery, St Martins-in-the-fields, Westminster and the parliament buildings, the bustle of the Thames, Covent Garden buskers, St Pauls,........"these are a few of my favourite things".

NKSK version 2

And, as you've said, Australia cities are also rife with it. Have you been to the western suburbs of Perth recently?

What? Sounds like a Marxist diatribe.

hippyboy1

Yeh-but what does it all do for you personally.

melbournegirl

I don't know how people can compare London to Perth. They are two completely different places. One is a huge, central, world city with a long history and the other is a laid back, very isolated, modern city with a small population. Maybe people who choose Perth aren't that fussed about the 'buzz' (or lack of) and choose to live there for other lifestyle reasons such as space, cleanliness, weather, outdoor activities etc. I personally wouldn't live in Perth because I am happy with and used to the much more vibrant lifestyle of Melbourne but it suits many others. As for 'buzz' there is plenty of that in Melbourne and in Sydney but on a smaller scale to what you would get in a city like London or New York but it is the right balance for me.

NKSK version 2

Well, it's all a bit esoteric. For me it makes me feel lots of things - excitement, wonder, amazement, pride.
It feels as though lots of things are happening and that there is movement and advancement. It feels as though as I am part of a much wider, integrated society. I feel as though every sense can be stimulated - the aesthetics of St Pauls or of the paintings in the galleries. The enormity of history; the excitement and emotion of the theatre. It goes on - a real buzz!

And the more I try to articulate it the more that I feel that Perth and many of the other cities I've visited in Australia - possibly with the exception of Sydney and/or Melbourne - just don't do it.

NKSK version 2

We've already done the lack of correlation between size and buzz!!

hippyboy1

Fair enough, the thing is Australians by and large never really cared for the 'buzz'-so it is natural that it doesnt exist in most places. It is a founders effect-those that loved the 'buzz' of London never went arrived here-unless possibly in chains.

Nu-Shooz

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Renth...have you decided to move back then?

NKSK version 2

You've got a very interesting socialist/ structuralist view on this haven't you?

I'm not sure that I agree. I think that in many instances - I suppose I can only speak for Perth - it's nothing to do with any historical connection and everything to do with a lack of imagination, vision and drive.
I won't go into details but there have been two significant interesting development ideas here in Perth - North Quay and the Riverfront - both would have added massively to the buzz of Perth. And yet both have had powerful critics who want to keep the status quo.
I can't see that that has anything to do with some notion of the founding fathers.

NKSK version 2

Sorry Renth - I thought you'd finished which is why I carried on the debate - over to you!

Nu-Shooz

Debate is healthy, but it sometimes goes nowhere...abit like living here

hippyboy1

I think the key issues would be small population, isolation and cultural background. Its a funny debate, I suspect most Australians would think that if Australia lacks vibrancy it is the consequence of it being settled by people of British extraction.

Grayling

Lots of Australians seem to like London.

G

hippyboy1

Personally, I would say that comes down to bad taste. Lots of people like Macdonald's too (I don't mind it myself). I must say I can enjoy Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona-but to me London is just busy and drab.