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Pretentious?

post #1 of 37
10/31/09 at 9:47am
Thread Starter 
Has anyone that you've met that may not appreciate certain things like the rest of us here such as nice clothing, "top shelf" wines and spirits, etc. ever called you pretentious? Not because you may or may not be acting by definition of the word but simply because of the way you dress or otherwise? What did you say, or how did you react?

something similar happened to me and I didn't even say anything, I simply took my boots off and this person saw the tag and called me pretentious.

I didn't know weather or not to take it as a joke or to tell them to fuck off.

*shrug*
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post #2 of 37
10/31/09 at 9:52am
Pretentious? Moi?
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post #3 of 37
10/31/09 at 10:04am
No. Not pretentious. People use it incorrectly all the time, like "ignorant." Main Entry: pre·ten·tious Pronunciation: \\pri-ˈten(t)-shəs\\ Function: adjective Etymology: French prétentieux, from prétention pretension, from Medieval Latin pretention-, pretentio, from Latin praetendere Date: 1832 1 : characterized by pretension: as a : making usually unjustified or excessive claims (as of value or standing) <the pretentious fraud who assumes a love of culture that is alien to him — Richard Watts> b : expressive of affected, unwarranted, or exaggerated importance, worth, or stature <pretentious language> <pretentious houses> 2 : making demands on one's skill, ability, or means : ambitious <the pretentious daring of the Green Mountain Boys in crossing the lake — American Guide Series: Vermont>
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post #4 of 37
10/31/09 at 10:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xperii View Post
something similar happened to me and I didn't even say anything, I simply took my boots off and this person saw the tag and called me pretentious.
He couldn't be all bad, he at least he recognised the tag.
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post #5 of 37
10/31/09 at 10:12am
"Got me nailed to a tee!"

Say it with such gusto he feels like a dick, which he should since he's bringing negativity when you're just going about your own business.
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post #6 of 37
10/31/09 at 5:46pm
Pretentious means you're pretending/feigning to understand or appreciate something you don't. More broadly it means you're affected or fake, or showy. In most cases it's a very hypocritical thing to accuse another of, since most people spend their excess cash on one unnecessary or another (you just happened to choose clothing, etc). Even self-proclaimed "non-materialistic" people usually have some hobby that sucks up expenses. If you want to turn the tables on this guy that offended you, just find out whatever it is he spends his money on and call it pretentious.

That being said, the fact that you were annoyed enough to post this thread might mean that you think there's a strand of truth to this guy's rude remark. It's true, with all the poverty in the world, forums like this, with people who spend way above the average expenditures on certain stuff, seem a bit over the top. That's why I'll never pay retail and refuse to get carried away with accessories (e.g. cufflinks or watches)
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post #7 of 37
10/31/09 at 11:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Svenn View Post

That being said, the fact that you were annoyed enough to post this thread might mean that you think there's a strand of truth to this guy's rude remark. It's true, with all the poverty in the world, forums like this, with people who spend way above the average expenditures on certain stuff, seem a bit over the top. That's why I'll never pay retail and refuse to get carried away with accessories (e.g. cufflinks or watches)

get the fuck out of here.
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post #8 of 37
11/1/09 at 12:01am
I take it as a compliment. When you reply to to someone's accusations of being pretentious in a way that says "Thanks for realizing I have better taste in you." they seem to fuck off by themselves because the insult preys on the insecure. I see it as the root of the insult is the person calls you pretentious because they think the way you are displaying yourself is excessive and hoping you are "compensating for something." When you're confident in everything and don't bother overexplaining things they will have nothing to say. Of course, be polite in doing this... I'm not saying you should actually SAY "Thanks for realizing I have better taste than you." Just subtly imply it.
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post #9 of 37
11/1/09 at 7:14am
I do agree that there is a degree of pretension with some of the aspects of this forum.

For example, cigars. You can simply enjoy a nice cigar at home. Or you can be out at a bar and smoke a cigar while sipping a single malt.

If you're doing the latter, it's obviously for show. If however, you're doing something which you enjoy, and it's genuinely for your own pleasure, it's not pretentious.

The thing about clothes is, we don't want them themselves to look good, we want them to make us look good. As soon as the clothes become the focus rather than the person, that's when i think things start becoming pretentious.
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post #10 of 37
11/1/09 at 7:17am
But anyway, my response would be:
"Haha yep, I like my boots!"

The wimp out option (one I do take occasionally) is:
"O these? I got them from ebay. Apparently they're real expensive"
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post #11 of 37
11/1/09 at 7:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xperii View Post
Has anyone that you've met that may not appreciate certain things like the rest of us here such as nice clothing, "top shelf" wines and spirits, etc. ever called you pretentious? Not because you may or may not be acting by definition of the word but simply because of the way you dress or otherwise? What did you say, or how did you react?

something similar happened to me and I didn't even say anything, I simply took my boots off and this person saw the tag and called me pretentious.

I didn't know weather or not to take it as a joke or to tell them to fuck off.

*shrug*

Seems to me that pretense lies in the intent of its potential possessor. Basically, I think you WOULD actually be pretentious if your reasons for wearing the boots or drinking the wine were related to the way you'd be perceived, but not so much if you just enjoy the boots.

I'm not sure if you made a point to show off the tag when you took them off or if there were other subtle social cues that would make more sense out of the situation, but generally, if someone called me pretentious for simply enjoying something, I'd probably just tell him to eat a dick and let it go.

And for good measure
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post #12 of 37
11/1/09 at 8:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hendrix View Post
But anyway, my response would be: "Haha yep, I like my boots!" The wimp out option (one I do take occasionally) is: "O these? I got them from ebay. Apparently they're real expensive"
I would only say something like that if it was meant in humour. By the sound of it though, I would have completely ignored him for the rest of the evening. That is way way over the line of civility. If I had to reply it would be something along the lines of "What's with the insults?" or if he sounded like a drunk yob, more like "What's up your arse?" Consider those shoes as arsehole detectors.
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post #13 of 37
11/1/09 at 8:41am
People who constantly accuse others of being pretentious are tedious. I am more commonly mistaken for one of the gays. ...wait, just noticed that you took off the boots and showed the tag? Not sure what one is to say to that.
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post #14 of 37
11/1/09 at 11:37am
It wasn't the PRICE tag was it?
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post #15 of 37
11/1/09 at 11:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by hendrix View Post
But anyway, my response would be:
"Haha yep, I like my boots!"

The wimp out option (one I do take occasionally) is:
"O these? I got them from ebay. Apparently they're real expensive"

option 3:

"now i know you cant afford them".
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