What makes a person pretentious vs a person being classy?

A pretentious person asks this question, a classy person does not.

Yes, I'd agree with that. I dont know the difference between Madame Butterfly and La Traviata, but I dont like opera and dont pretend otherwise.

Ask me about country and western, rock or metal, I will have the recordings and the knowledge. But I dont pretend to be classy cos I aint

For me, pretentious is being over the top and clearly trying too hard.

Pretentious is doing things for show. Like for example, people who have their deli meat cut while they wait, even though there is pre-cut deli meat available in a bag ready to go, which is literally from the exact same slab of meat but cut earlier that day. They think ordering a cut rather than picking it off the shelf, or even buying Oscar Mayer, makes them a classier person.

r4, I don't always trust the dates on the precut deli meat, nothing wrong with getting it cut fresh. They will also cut it thicker or thinner if you like...

[quote]Pretentious is doing things for show. Like for example, people who have their deli meat cut while they wait, even though there is pre-cut deli meat available in a bag ready to go, which is literally from the exact same slab of meat but cut earlier that day.

I wish that were the case where I shop. No, I have to take a number and stand in line, being careful this year to stand on the six foot markers as I progress closer to the deli counter. This is pretentious? I don't want to know your perceptions of anything, r4.

Pretentious is always talking about your pretentions...classy is quietly enjoying your life, and allowing others to share it when possible.

[quote] nothing wrong with getting it cut fresh.

Except that it shows you are pretentious. You’re too good for pre-packaged lunch meat, which is all most people can afford? Yes, that’s pretentious. It’s not surprising to find middle-class pretentiousness on DL.

I can’t tell for the life of me if R4 is a joke!

R8 types "YMF losing his shit because someone typed about used Talenti containers."

r8, you're ignorant, it's usually the same price where I live. Maybe you should ease up on the nitrates, known to cause brain fog that you're experiencing.

You can't even spell out Oprah. Troll.

Pretentious is doing things for show, not because you really like something or like doing something. To me that is the very definition of pretentiousness. For example, announcing publicly on social media and at work every time you made charitable donations. There are a few celebs who do this and it rings of desperation.

In my high school we had a girls’ invite-only club that sort of modeled itself after sororities. They publicly promote volunteering work that they do and wouldn’t stop reminding people of it. Problem was, the members were all shallow, popular cheerleaders and mean girls who had to look and dress a certain way or else they weren’t invited to join the club. Pretentiousness starts young and gets worse in adulthood.

r11, be sure to serve your cut-to-order lunch meat on your Royal Doulton. LOL

R11], be sure to serve your cut-to-order lunch meat on your Royal Doulton. LOL

Serve red dragon cheese as well.

and as part of one’s finger buffet.

Please don't fight about lunch meat on here. Not worth it.

Cage meat? Lunch meat? What’s the difference? I’m still trying to find a deli that has a good half sour pickle!

Op—you’re just noting that liars are insincere. True, but not breaking news.

When someone lists their favorite movies and they're all obscure European art films. You know the minute they get home, they put on Billy Madison.

R20 So if I were to say I only watch F.W. Murnau, Paul Leni, or Fritz Lang films, that makes me pretentious?

Discussing opera to arguing about deli meat in 21 responses. So DL meta. Love it.

Pretentious is one of those words where I have a vague understanding of the meaning, but not of its nuances. According to my quick word look up, it's just an affectation of refinement, grace, culture, wealth, etc. that one doesn't actually possess used to impress others (so basically a classy liar/poser). I've always used pretentious to describe cases where people are overly discriminatory against common things to an unnecessary, almost perplexing degree. One of my friends is like this. I will offer her a bottle of water and she gripes about how it wasn't some fancy brand she prefers. I also find this often with cars. People will buy expensive, high-powered sports cars, only to drive them around low speed limit roads. I get having a Porsche (sp?) is cool, but it does the exact same thing as a regular, lower-priced car.

earrings

Caftans!

A pretentious person cares what other people see him doing. A classy person cares about doing the right thing.

[quote] [R8] types "YMF losing his shit because someone typed about used Talenti containers."

Do. Not. Bring up the topic of Talenti containers!

R25 - Very nice encapsulation. Thank you.

I like watching opera every now and then but I don't have recordings. It isn't like I shout it from rooftops or pretend to be an opera savvy , I simply like to go and watch with a friend or two. I don't know what could be pretentious about it.

stop wearing a bowtie unless its a formal function

Only on DL could a discussion of "pretensions" degenerate from opera to... deli meat, pre-sliced vs. fresh-cut.

Dear. God.

R23 I agree. I knew a couple who sent almost all their money on a fancy country club membership. There were other nice clubs in the area, but they just want the prestige of being a member of the "City Country Club" in the wealthiest area in town. I think that is pretention.