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I might be an elite tosser but at least I can spell

Simon J Green

by Simon J Green

20 Jun 05:50am

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310 comments

Uh Oh, I Think I’m Elite.

Fancy this? You bloody elitist, you.

This morning, I was minding my own business, reading The Punch, when I came across an article decrying the Elite. I read on, looking for clues to who these Elite might be. They appeared in several articles, all different topics: The NBN (“We country folk might not be the Elite, but we still use the Internet.”), Carbon Tax (“It’s all right for those Elite to cop an extra $100 on their power bill; they can afford it.”) and even feminism (“The inner-city Elite can handle women in short skirts, but we outer-suburb types have needs the wife isn’t fulfilling!”).

I linked together some of the factors that make one Elite, and came to a horrible conclusion.

I frequent cafes. When I meet with friends, we like to test out new places. I take clients to the good ones. When I’m at cafes, I sip lattes. I only had mochas to start with, before coffee really grabbed me. Now it’s latte, latte, cafe latte. I read books, too. I have shelves of them. I also fall on the left side of politics. I technically work for the media and live in the inner-city suburbs. I don’t watch much TV, and what I do watch tends to be ABC24 or even worse, SBS World News.

Could it be? Am I Elite?

What do I do? Is there a treatment? I looked it up on YourDiagnosis.com, but couldn’t find anything. I figure it’s more of a psychological problem. Is being Elite contagious? Should I stay in the house? What if my girlfriend gets it.

Hang on… my girlfriend sips lattes right next to me in the same cafes. She might already be infected! Knowing full well the lethality of being Elite, I’ll do what any good anti-elitist would do and hack into her email account.

Sure enough, there’s shared links to HuffPo and comment feedback from articles on The Age. I fear she’s already beginning to spread her infectious ideas online. I look in the drawer in front of me and there’s ticket stubs not to Hoyts, but to the Melbourne Theatre Company. She’s lost to being Elite.

It’s too late, best to leave her behind.

I can still get out. I’ll use her hacked account to sign her up to Andrew Bolt and Miranda Devine Google alerts and hope for the best.

Now, what about me? If I’m going to get rid of this Elitism, I need to think like their opposite. What’s the opposite of elite? Let’s see what dictionary.com has to say:

adj
Definition: best, first-class Antonyms: common, low-class, lower, lower-class, ordinary, poor, worst n
Definition: high class persons Antonyms: commonality, low-life, lower class, ordinary

OK. Low-life. Ordinary. Common. I can do that. Am I already off course using a dictionary? Dictionaries are pretty common. Let me rewrite that to sound ‘worse’: Dictionary’s are pretty common.

What do lower-class people do? They drink beer instead of lattes, yeah? Is that what I’m supposed to drink; a tonic for my Elitism? I don’t really like beer, but it’s not about that, is it? I’ll go buy some beer. Can I afford beer? This is hard. I suppose affording beer is pretty important to being anti-elite, so yeah, I can lose money on that. Six pack of Carlton Draught, cheers.

‘Ordinary’. That means I shouldn’t stand out. What’s everyone wearing? Oh no, they’re all wearing different things! Jeans are a safe bet. Denim, head to toe. Shouldn’t we ALL be wearing denim? If we all wear exactly the same thing, we’ll never be caught being Elite! OK, I’ll email everyone I know telling them they should all wear denim.

Now, on to where I live and work. I love where I live because it’s close to the city and most of my clients are there, but if im going to stop being Elite, I cant work anywhere that pays me well, nor can I live anywhere that’s expensive.

I could move to Sunshine West, that’s pretty low-class, but that place is full of nationalities that aren’t white. I dont think im being Elite living with them, but i might be accused of being liberal and sympathising with criminals and boat people. Domain has some four bedroom houses in Cranbourne. I cant afford them, but i think its pretty ordinary to get a mortgage i cant afford, so ill do that. Now I’m not thinking like the elite!

Now for work, I cant do anything that requires university education. TAFE at best, so maybe a trade? I’m too old to start a trade. Factory work it is.

I can barely pay my mortgage and groceries now, so ill pull the late shift. Gee, I miss my girlfriend. No! Shes Elite now, back in the city, sipping her latte and eating cafes while reading media iPad liberals. im gettin by. I got me beer and me work and me four bedroom. australian dream, mate. no worries at all, except the bills, but thats what bein an aussie battlers all about.

If only there was something (not a book) that told me where to get the cheapest groceries… The Age is too big. The Herald Sun’s alright, but it feels too much like readin. What’s this????? OMG! TODAY TONIGHT! AND ACA! This is perfickt. Sweet as. I’ll be right for yonks now. Hey, the ads are on. I might buy that…

Am I a better person now?

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310 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Erick says:

      05:55am | 20/06/11

      Leaden, low-humour-content satire which emphasises the very thing it seeks to discredit. 3/10

      Reply

    • Reggie says:

      08:29am | 20/06/11

      In seems, by their reaction Simon, that you have trod on a few toes who regard themselves as being attached to the elite. How revealing. As this is a gathering puddle of the right, the very suggestion, is likely to bring on a sense of moisture under the arms and in the bum-crack, as shown by Erick and others.

    • Max Redlands says:

      08:29am | 20/06/11

      Very succinctly put Erick. 10/10

    • Tubesteak says:

      09:15am | 20/06/11

      I’d give it 6/10.

      It went for an easy target. No reall challenge there.

      Some simple points made but on the whole it didn’t really move the argument forward.

      But there were some laughs.

    • John says:

      09:56am | 20/06/11

      Lets get down the point, the elite are bankers, media barrons and the politicians follow the party line, you might as well include the law also, who seems have restructed it’s self, to support and protect elite’s and their policy’s. It is the idea that democracy does not seem what it seems, and that a few control the culture, political and war agenda’s of the west. One someone utters the elite, he or she see’s past the facade of the democracy, and see’s an authoritarian system. There many that state that there is no elite, and that society is run via chance.

      You being a lefty, in some eye’s, your brainwashed by the government, media to follow a certain political outlook, this is beneficial to the elite, the upper party. They create your thoughts and use you for their interests. They play your political views with other political views so that the upper party can remain in power. The reality is, the upper party control both right and the left. EG Obama, Bush, Blair, Brown…etc

      It’s interesting that you mentioned SBS and ABC, i know that SBS push’s multicultural agenda, and ABC push’s government agenda, also foreign policy agenda. The other channel’s just follow the party line, and spew mindless nonsense.

    • Tchom says:

      10:00am | 20/06/11

      I found you review of Erick’s comment to lack sufficient critical analysis, but overall, a good effort, Max Redlands. 7/10

    • killerbee says:

      10:33am | 20/06/11

      Congratulations to alcotrel.
      The winner of the Demtel award for this post for a Tony Abbott attack by ALP supporter in an unrelated post.

      At 6:21 alcotrel said “Especially Tony Abbott - he’s so bad that he’s good! ”

    • Pete says:

      12:20pm | 20/06/11

      20/10 Erick but it’s not really much of a contest. At least he knew how to spell tosser

    • kate says:

      12:26pm | 20/06/11

      Poor Erick.  Got up before 6am and the article wasn’t about him AGAIN.

    • Replete with Elite says:

      01:03pm | 20/06/11

      Oh no, Simon, I think you hit the spot.

      It’s nice when you get to the people you want to get to, huh?

    • Matt says:

      01:08pm | 20/06/11

      You’re being generous Erick.  1/10 at best because I’m in a good mood today. Your description of the piece is spot on. However, the word tosser in the heading should be changed to wanker, has a more defined meaning.

    • Magnet says:

      01:50pm | 20/06/11

      Erick 10 Simon 1

    • Thomas Anderson says:

      02:13pm | 20/06/11

      What does latte have to do with the elite anyway? I switched my preference to the flat white, and I am sill very much an elitist.

      An elitist attitude is the attitude of a person who believes that the only right (or the best) way of doing things is their own way. Which, provided that the person is intelligent enough, should probably be an attitude well respected and adhered to by the masses.

      If you are just talking about the very wealthy, when you say “Elite”, we are talking about different things here.

    • Replete with Elite says:

      05:50pm | 20/06/11

      Hmm, all this agreeing with Erick seems to belie his claim to being a “lone dissenting voice” spreading a “message” that is ill-received… http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/erick-i-am-just-one-voice/

      It’s almost as if he’s doing the opposite; pandering to the bigotries and hatreds of the majority to get affirmation of those bigotries and hatreds.

      Who woulda thunk it?

      The cynical might even claim that The Punch editors know Erick’s views reflect a large part of their readership, and use his posts to embolden that readership into making their own posts. After all, when did moderate views stated moderately ever generate eyes on pages / posts on forums?

      The cynical make baby Jesus cry, though. So who cares what they thing?

    • John T says:

      06:37pm | 20/06/11

      Erick, get over yourself.  This piece was a great p*ss take on the superficiality of the charge of ‘elite’ that usually accompanies all of that ‘latte sipping’ nonesense that passes for argument when you have nothing of substance to argue.  In the cleverest of ways it showed, writ large, just how simplistic you and your ilk are when it comes to playing the man and not the ball.  Scratch the surface of a a conservative blogger and all you get is a crybaby.

    • Replete with Elite says:

      07:44pm | 20/06/11

      Erick, forgive me for not clicking on your link.

      I have done so before (your links from the article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-sluts-protest-too-much-methinks/) and found the kind of vitriol and hatred expressed there to be not to my liking.

      Of course, as long as The Punch editors allow it, you can link to whatever you like. However, after seeing you link to a site in which the author of an article stated “I’ll admit I do blame the victims”  in reference to rape, I’ll pass on any more of your offerings (Link originally inserted here, but it seems The Punch has blacklisted it now, preventing its posting. Excellent. Link is still present in the original article I mentioned earlier though).

      Keep on being that “lone dissenting voice” and spreading your “important message”. You really exude ... courage. No, truly.

    • Leopard says:

      07:58pm | 20/06/11

      @Erick Really well said!  Love the “leaden”.  10/10 from me too.

    • JCS says:

      04:50am | 21/06/11

      What am I then?  I love coffee, work in environmental permitting, live very inner city, try new places on an almost daily basis but before you shout elitist at me, I work in Oil and Gas,  earn a veritable mint, believe climate change is a crock and vote coservative!!! 

      Confused elitist, centred elitest??  HELP

      The article was funny, but I don’t think you really fall in the Elite, just the tosser part.  Me too probably for that matter.

    • Gregg says:

      06:01am | 20/06/11

      Yep, a tosser in deed!
      ” What do I do? Is there a treatment? ........... Is being Elite contagious? Should I stay in the house? What if my girlfriend gets it.

      Hang on… my girlfriend sips lattes right next to me in the same cafes. She might already be infected!
      That’ll teach you to be hosting the swingwers set and the Gf giving the come on in the minis.
      Bet you have no plumbers or brickies on the guest list.
      They might even be able to let on about doing some real work.

      Reply

    • fml says:

      09:44am | 20/06/11

      “real work”

      HAHAHA, thats the most elitest comment i have heard yet.

    • EM says:

      12:23pm | 20/06/11

      Tradies doing work?  LOL, thanks I needed a good laugh.

      The term “Elitist” is used by those who do nothing (yet expect everything) to try and denigrate those of us who work hard, make good career choices, and pay all the taxes…  It’s nothing but prejudice bread out of jealousy and Tall Poppy syndrome.

    • Muttley says:

      01:02pm | 20/06/11

      So you have a clear understanding of everyone who uses the word elitist eh? Wow, your ability to generalise is astounding. By the way, i work, have never been out of work, support my family. So where do i fit in as you sound like an elitist tosser to me. “Oh, boo hoo. Anyone who doesnt accept what i say must be an uneducated, unemployed bogan”

    • James1 says:

      01:17pm | 20/06/11

      “It’s nothing but prejudice bread out of jealousy and Tall Poppy syndrome.”

      Perhaps, but all that proves is that you are not part of the elite.  See if you can guess why.

    • Michael N says:

      03:00pm | 20/06/11

      @ EM. Don’t let them get to you, they’re just poorly bread…

    • Britney says:

      06:46am | 21/06/11

      Agree. I think he was confused about the message he wanted to convey. First it sounded like he was taking the piss of out of being labelled elite , but then he ended up undermining the “lower classes” to prove that he isn’t really elite, but is actually better than the “alternative” to elite… and just ended up coming off as a tosser.

    • Bloggs says:

      09:29am | 21/06/11

      Britney nailed it.

    • Lee says:

      11:25am | 21/06/11

      Maybe not elitist I thought you would classify yourself as bourgeoisie middle class, it sits nicely between elitist and the poor and explains your town lifestyle and aspirational tendancies.

    • acotrel says:

      06:21am | 20/06/11

      I’m comfortable in my own skin, and I don’t care what others call me.  I don’t hate anyone in my life, and there are even a few that I love.  Especially Tony Abbott - he’s so bad that he’s good!  His story is not over yet, and I’m watching with interest. Some people even seem willing to vote for him - very strange!

      Reply

    • RyaN says:

      10:36am | 20/06/11

      @acotrel: we know you don’t hate Tony, you obsession with him verges on absolute love.

    • S.L says:

      06:25am | 20/06/11

      So Simon you live in the inner city (the Melbourne inner city worst still), drink latte and work in the media. Pal you’ve scored the trifecta in the wanker stakes! Congratulations!
      You guys are refered to as elite because you consider yourselves to be. In my job I deal with all three of your trifecta and I can sense whoever I’m dealing with considers they are talking to someone “below” themselves. Like westies it’s a pigeon hole you’ll never climb out of.
      I’ll fly blind today and not use spell check. I hope my year 10 education holds up!

      Reply

    • Aly says:

      09:41am | 20/06/11

      Well said S.L.

    • cc says:

      12:04pm | 20/06/11

      It didn’t.

    • Elite says:

      05:15pm | 20/06/11

      Referred. Prob should have used that spell check…

    • Dr Deano says:

      07:47pm | 20/06/11

      S.L., I take my hat off to you; you’ve nailed it exactly: Simon is a wanker extraordinaire.
      PS Simon, fyi and btw, my diagnosis has nothing to do with your loving to read or enjoying a good restaurant - these traits alone are not symptoms of chronic tosserness.

    • TimB says:

      06:32am | 20/06/11

      I don’t know about elite, but you’re certainly a tosser judging by that article.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      07:43am | 20/06/11

      Probaly a big CB Doggies Man, too, TimTimB

    • Dave says:

      07:54am | 20/06/11

      @TChong - what the hell is the cb doggies? Some amateur ham-radio club?

    • TimB says:

      08:15am | 20/06/11

      I’m not happy about the Doggies right now Chongy.

      They’re capable of playing so much better than that. Recent months have just been embarrasing.

    • Tim says:

      08:35am | 20/06/11

      Haha TimB,
      I posted nearly the same comment but it didn’t get through.
      Apparently “Knob” is banned on The Punch.

    • Shifter says:

      12:11pm | 20/06/11

      @Dave - I’m guessing it’s the Canterbury Bulldogs NRL team. Not being from NSW I’m not really Elite enough to confirm the jargon.

    • Scott says:

      01:54pm | 20/06/11

      I recon he irons his elitist undies too Tim….. Well said!

    • Carz says:

      07:10am | 20/06/11

      “so ill do that”

      “so ill pull the late shift”

      You might be able to spell but the above examples point away from that, and are evidence of poor grammar.

      Reply

    • Jason Todd says:

      07:35am | 20/06/11

      Where possible, make a U-turn. The point. You missed it.

    • Carz says:

      07:51am | 20/06/11

      Actually I didn’t find anything else in the article worth commenting on.

    • Joan says:

      08:14am | 20/06/11

      Carz .... this is just a sick piece by a self-confessed tosser, and displays the traits of an ignoramus (watch him reach for his picture book of dinosaurs to figure that one), obviously written after a night on a binge of Freddo Frogs.

    • Anne says:

      11:04am | 20/06/11

      It was deliberate Carz. Once he became a factory worker, he lost the ability to spell. The whole paragraph is riddled with typos. Have a read of “Flowers for Algernon” to get the full effect of this technique. Damn. I think I just revealed myself as an “Elite”. I’d better get the lazy $100 out of the coin jar for the power bill excess that I can now easily afford.

    • Brett says:

      02:57pm | 20/06/11

      Flowers for Algernon was the best short story I have ever read. I will admit I cried, it was so sad and better than that SO well written.

      Carz, if you didn’t pick up on the deliberate mistakes then I’m surprised you picked up on any at all.

    • Erin says:

      02:58pm | 20/06/11

      Haha, I agree. I also noticed with,

      “no worries at all, except the bills, but thats what bein an aussie battlers all about.”

      “aussie” and “no” should have a capital, “battlers” should have an apostophe as should “bein.”

    • James1 says:

      04:39pm | 20/06/11

      Wow - other people also noticed the deliberately obvious spelling and grammatical errors?

      Must be elitists…

    • Thomas Anderson says:

      04:48pm | 20/06/11

      No Erin, “bein” should not have an apostrophe (written like it’s said, innit), it should have a “g”.

      And yes, Mr Godwin, I am a spelling nazi.

    • Its all Abboutt you says:

      07:20am | 20/06/11

      That’s fine.Narcissism is what makes Get up what it is,stupid spoilt nothings who do not know the meaning if objectivity,vain and pointless drones who lack the intellect to debate without masturbating, The comparison with the Hitler Youth is a fair one with the same epitaph

      Reply

    • fml says:

      09:48am | 20/06/11

      Says he who invokes Godwins law.

    • FreeTheBSD says:

      06:00pm | 20/06/11

      Imagine lacking the intellect to debate!

      You might even have to resort to ad-hominem instead of actually debating.

      Then again, ad-hom always seems pretty tough ...

    • iansand says:

      07:24am | 20/06/11

      Silly.  If you are an Elite it is not your problem.  It is a deep seated inferiority complex held by people who use the term.  If they can’t match your ideas by rational argument they attack you for having ideas.

      You know it makes sense.

      Reply

    • fml says:

      09:47am | 20/06/11

      Exactly.

      Since when has rational response in a debate considered out of fashion?

    • bored says:

      10:25am | 20/06/11

      Because progressives and elites are so rational all of the time right?

    • iansand says:

      11:43am | 20/06/11

      It is clear that bored is not an elite.

    • Muttley says:

      01:05pm | 20/06/11

      you’re right iansand. Bored sounds too sensible to be an elitist

    • scubasteve says:

      07:34am | 20/06/11

      stop sipping lattes you idiot. chew some ethical organic coffee beans and harden up.

      Reply

    • Brett says:

      03:05pm | 20/06/11

      Yeah! Any true elite knows Lattes are for children, pansies and the French. True Elites drink stiff short blacks and complain about the crema on the top. NO SUGAR you bogan wanker!

    • Perusal says:

      10:37pm | 20/06/11

      Lattes are for Italians.  The French have espresso.

    • Roddy Sexton says:

      07:39am | 20/06/11

      Wanker numero uno.

      Reply

    • Robinoz says:

      07:46am | 20/06/11

      Overuse of the word elite is similar to the hackneyed words premiere in the movies or “The new (substitute name of show)” in television. They are simply fillers that take up space and make something look different or more important that it really is.

      As some wise person said, “Bullshit baffles brains and defies science.”

      Reply

    • Blind Freddy says:

      09:11am | 20/06/11

      A children’s program, cancelled during the Channel 10 golf coverage recently, was adverstised as being moved to the “special” time of 7:30 next Wednesday. The term “enchore” is also used now instead of “repeat”.

    • cc says:

      12:08pm | 20/06/11

      “Enchore” - is that when you do the cleaning again?

    • Bilby says:

      01:04pm | 20/06/11

      I believe that “Enchore” is the present continuous form of the verb “chorer” (to clean).

    • Kath Grant says:

      07:56am | 20/06/11

      I totally agree with the point that you’re making Simon.  Elite is a word that should be used to describe an athelete not a person’s point of view.

      Reply

    • Reggie says:

      08:48am | 20/06/11

      I must object to your athletic obsession Kath. Sorry, I do see your point but the intellectual and artistically elite get my admiration for their long term application to pursuits that benefit man and woman kind.

      My main objection, and I hope that of the writer, is the diversion of the word to mean those who unjustifiably regard themselves as superior. I am certainly NOT suggesting that Erick is one of those but as a sensitive person I am sure you have noticed that his statements have a more God-like intransigence since his elevation.  I’m sure it would not have been so damaging, had he not already regarded himself as one of that shovel-hatted college. Cardinal Erick!

      Mind you, sporting commentators are a dreadful influence on such distortion given their never-ending pursuit of superlatives to apply to the latest sporting wonder.

    • philip says:

      09:36am | 20/06/11

      there is no such thing as an elite athlete the modern olympics were for amatuers originally now we have so called “elite” “heroic”  “professional” athletes who cannot get a real job or have ever held a real nine to five job.

    • Bilby says:

      10:59am | 20/06/11

      philip - Very OT, but totally wrong. People get “real, nine to five” jobs because haven’t got what it takes to be an elite athlete. Some people would like to be an elite pianist, or maybe an elite dolphin trainer like myself, but if everyone could do it, then “elite” wouldn’t have a meaning would it?

    • Reggie says:

      04:29pm | 20/06/11

      Far too slick Bilby. Some get 9 to 5 jobs so they can support their efforts to join the elite in a field that may otherwise be beyond their reach.

      Never turn your back on a Dolphin bt the way.

      Actually you have generated an opportunity to mention a peculiarity of the NSW education system that worries me.

      Why should there be Selective high schools that pander to the high achievers when it is the low achievers who need the attention? I guess the thinking is that having extracted the elite from the general school system, by default the remainder must get more attention.

      How about that for branding kids as NOT of the elite!

    • bush goddess says:

      07:59am | 20/06/11

      Viva la difference….....oh no!!!
      If I offer a comment in another language does that make me elite?
      Does elite equal being able to read, and take an interest in activities other than rugby league and reality TV shows?
      Is being curious a symptom of being elite….?  If so, well, dang…...I’m in there, Baxter boots and all.
      Seems as though we don’t live in quite as an egalitarian society as we think we do…..
      seems many want to ensure mediocrity reigns [oops, rains] so biologically grown tall poppies can’t reach the sunshine.
      LIFE?  We live in an amazing country where most of us have hot running water and a roof over our head.  Appreciate everything we have, including those who create mirth by not having a sense of humour!!  Vive la difference…....

      Reply

    • watty says:

      08:02am | 20/06/11

      You give the elites a bad name. A poser…yes An elite….no way.

      Reply

    • JSM says:

      12:10pm | 20/06/11

      Being elite or non elite should not have implications of one being better than the other. It’s not about latte vs beer, it’s about being comfortable of who and what we are.

      Articles like this just further substantiates the false perception of superiority for only those sitting high on the social/income ladder.

    • JSM says:

      12:20pm | 20/06/11

      What I meant was perpetuate instead of substantiate

    • John C says:

      08:06am | 20/06/11

      The standard of articles on this site is slipping badly. This one was leaden, not even approaching funny or witty, and self-indulgent. Editors, is this the best you can do?

      Reply

    • TTFN says:

      11:31am | 20/06/11

      What do you expect from a supposedly “professional” writer with 20 years experience who has nothing worthy of credit in his bio…?

      I struggle to see how Simon Green would consider himself elite… he’s definitely not amongst the elite writers in this town/state/country/world….

      How about we start getting back to using the term elite to describe those truly at the top of their field… not those who just think they are.

    • bec says:

      08:11am | 20/06/11

      I think it’s satire?

      Reply

    • bored says:

      10:21am | 20/06/11

      Satire suggests it should be slightly humorous.

    • bec says:

      10:45am | 20/06/11

      Would that make The Room satire? Because it’s pretty funny…

    • LeonT says:

      11:40am | 20/06/11

      The Room is in a special class, it does a few laps of “so bad it’s good” before settling in a place no one thought existed.

    • Lucinda says:

      08:16am | 20/06/11

      Crikey, maybe it’s too early for some to appreciate the sarcasm and irony in this piece?

      Inn a preevyus lyfe wee yoosd too hav bogan nyts wear evry werd hadd to be spelled incurecktly an ower purseowners hadd byoot nams lyke Shazza an Sharleen an smokd Winnie Blues (tukd intoo ower sleevs) and dranked VB. It were a Frieday nyte instityooshun. 

      It was jolly hard work but a good laugh to finish the week off with. God forbid Aussies ever lose their innate ability to take the piss out of themselves.

      Reply

    • Fiona says:

      09:06am | 20/06/11

      Well sed

    • Jarred says:

      08:24am | 20/06/11

      I hate the term elite, I think it is a lazy term used by smart right wing commentators to create an us vs them mentality that just dose not in reality exist. But this unfunny piece of satire ( i guess that is what it is meant to be )  seems to be reinforcing the notion of an elite. It’s smarmy self assued pretentious tone made me think this guy is possibly the biggest wanker I have read on this site. And I am one of the latte sipping theater going inner city Chardonnay socialists that I think the article was meant to appeal to

      Reply

    • hot tub political machine says:

      10:04am | 20/06/11

      You’re starting to get it Jarred! Look at some of the other media hotwords such as “battler” (doing it tough in a McMansion) or Gen-Y (always pick on someone you know isn’t reading/listening and unlikely to stick up for themselves - rule no.1 for all bullies).It is all about creating an Us and Them. And its utter, utter, *utter* b.s.

      P.S. ditch the chardonay its bloody awful stuff smile

    • James1 says:

      12:44pm | 20/06/11

      This is true, especially when people like Alan Jones and Andrew Bolt use the word.  To my mind, Bolt and to a lesser extent, Jones, are both elites in the proper sense of the word, in that they have influence and money, and are both very intelligent.

    • L. Mountbatten says:

      02:25pm | 20/06/11

      “Battler”, is so old school, so Howard. Come on people keep up with the times, it’s “working families”......

    • Erick says:

      02:37pm | 20/06/11

      Kind of like the way the “elite” use the words “bogan” and “redneck” to create an us vs them mentality?

    • hot tub political machine says:

      02:39pm | 20/06/11

      Yep I’m a bit retro there aren’t I? Its working families, and for some weird reason - it’s coffee instead of wine now

    • hot tub poltical machine says:

      03:13pm | 20/06/11

      Redneck you can add. Bogan I’m not sure, bogan is about more than left or right - to my mind it means ignorant and selfish - which is hardly negative characteristics you can ascribe to any one group.

    • Dave says:

      01:33am | 21/06/11

      Uh, James1, neither Alan Jones or Andrew Bolt is particularly intelligent. Both of them espouse positions that can be knocked over with a feather. Cunning as shit-house rats, yes; intelligent, no.

    • Simmo says:

      08:24am | 20/06/11

      Don’t know about anyone else but I’m not ashamed to admit I’m l33t.

      Reply

    • progressivesunite says:

      08:25am | 20/06/11

      Not the best way to get the point across, but the point you were trying to make was a good one. I think it’s time to reclaim the word “elite” (maybe we need an “elite walk”??) - there’s nothing to be ashamed of in being well educated, having a discerning palate and not being a racist homophobe etc etc ...Besides the anti-elite outer suburbs are kind of nasty architecture-wise….just depressing really (no wonder they’re bitter).

      Reply

    • Conservatives Unite! says:

      09:27am | 20/06/11

      I agree, progressivesunite, an EliteWalk is a great idea. It sounds like almost as confusing a message as the actual SlutWalk was. Though I must say I like the whole po-mo idea that suddenly the worst thing that could possibly happen is to be included among the elite. I could think of much worse things!

      Incidentally, I like to think I am fairly well-educated, I give people restaurant recommendations - I could be accused of being a ‘foodie’ - am interested in ideas and, while I don’t go out of my way to tow a PC line, am not racist or homophobic either. Yet I wouldn’t regard myself as being in an ‘elite’. In reality, the term ‘elite’ seems to be a polite euplemism for ‘out-of-touch leftie snob’. (I may be at risk of meeting two of those triggers, but certainly not the third.)

    • John says:

      10:19am | 20/06/11

      I don’t know why people state,“I’m not a homophobic, I’m not racist.” Why even give legitimacy to these terms. Just uttering these term’s creates chains and shackles on your self the society you live in. Race’s and Sexuality’s are not immune of criticism. Nothing is immune of criticism.

    • LeonT says:

      11:47am | 20/06/11

      @John race and sexuality, in and of themselves, should be immune from criticism. However that may force some people to make legitimate arguments rather than the tripe they spout. This may not go down well.

    • fml says:

      02:52pm | 20/06/11

      John,

      “Why even give legitimacy to these terms.”. because they exist?

      “Race’s and Sexuality’s are not immune of criticism. Nothing is immune of criticism.” There is a thin line between criticism and abuse. People are too lazy to tell the difference between the two so they say what they want, then argue freedom of speech/ these words don’t exist or say that they are out of date and cannot be legitimately used as an excuse to spout what they want.

    • AAAdam says:

      04:12pm | 20/06/11

      An EliteWalk sounds great. Now, just to work out a vetting process that will reject 99% of people that want to attend. After all, not everyone is good enough to walk in the EliteWalk.

    • Michael says:

      08:34am | 20/06/11

      More elitist than elite, from where i’m sitting.

      Reply

    • jf says:

      08:42am | 20/06/11

      Apart from superior, condescending tone of this article proving the very point it is endeavouring to disparage, the author has completely missed the point.

      The term elite is a pejorative term for those on the left that simply assume that if anyone disagrees with them that they must be stupid: because after all, they are the one with the degree. No worries that those lesser beings have built businesses, taken risks, employed people, created prosperity and contributed whilst the elites have sat back sucking on the public tit coming up with “ideas”.

      It refers to the hypocrites that are all for a carbon tax because that is what a caring, thoughtful, educated person would want, casually disregarding the impact that it will have on the lives of millions of lesser beings: after all, an extra $100 (and if you think that is all it is then you really are an idiot) won’t make much of a difference when you have the pay cheque coming in with monotonous regularity.

      It refers to those people who sneer at others because they still buy Mocona or prefer a beer on a hot day. Or love to go to a game of footy, or like sport at all. Those that sneer at someone because they prefer John Grisham to early 20th century Russian literature or watch Masterchef.

      It refers to people who dismiss someone else’s opinion because their grammar is poor or their spelling incorrect, careless of the fact that those people have much greater breadth of experience than the elite whose experience extends only from the Arts Faculty to the nearest safe job paid for by someone else.

      If this is you Simon then you are elite not because you have more sophisticated tastes or a better education but because you think that this makes you better then everyone else.

      It is because you believe that you are superior to those people that have actually worked for al living because they have had to work. It is because you think that you are superior to them because you have a degree whilst they have a mere trade. It is because you think that you should be able to tell those lesser beings what to do and that they should do it because you are their intellectual superior. It is because you support policy that will make their lives more difficult whilst either enhancing or having little impact on your own.

      Elite has become a pejorative term because people like this have made it one.

      Reply

    • bec says:

      09:09am | 20/06/11

      Oh, fuck that shit. Breadth of experience my arse. I am yet to meet a person who has pulled out that “go live in the ROOL world” pablum who has any form of meaningful life experience, adversity, or exposure to anything that exists beyond the scope of their poxy outer-suburbs GreenMeadowFairySprings mcmansion cesspool. People who think that academics or professionals don’t live in the real world are myopic, inexperienced turds. (And seriously, the majority of people in Australia have a job paid for by someone else. Jesus Christ, it’s like you’ve never actually participated in a capitalist democracy.)

      I have two university degrees and I’m in the middle of postgraduate study. I am certainly not superior to anybody else. This morning on my day off, I watched Predator 2* while eating cold leftover chicken schnitzel in a house that is in a genuine blue-collar suburb - no gentrification here, just lots of refugees, pregnant teenagers and old-school tradies. I am no better than any of them (and given that I reversed into my neighbour’s car yesterday, arguably worse than most). Yet I resent the implication that university education - and lots of it - somehow disqualifies you from participating in, or appreciating, the real world.

      *which rules, btw.

    • Blind Freddy says:

      09:44am | 20/06/11

      @jf and @bec

      I think you’re both right.

      However, i believe that the conservative side of politics has cultivated the stereo-type expressed by jf as a political wedge (see ACC and the lack of respect for scientists involved in that debate- if they support ACC).

      I think the challenge for people (of all inclinations) is to hear what people actually say and not filter it with their preconceived prejudices concerning the messenger’s lifestyle (hypocrisy excluded).

      Given that this article is only about the authors lifestyle, and his condescending and sneering view of ‘others’, I feel entitled to call - “wanker”.

    • jf says:

      09:47am | 20/06/11

      Bec, I’ve lived in the inner city in three major capitals since completing my post-graduate studies at the top university in my state. I have at least two well-made coffees each morning, don’t mind a bit of high-brow culture, read voraciously (although find modern literature a bit difficult) and only discovered the delites of “Seinfeld” and “Friends” recently when introduced by my wife. I really enjoy eating out, love wine (without really knowing what I’m drinking). And that is kind of my point. There is room for both. It is important that we have the Arts graduates, a healthy arts culture, an academia and so on. However, in Australia, by and large, these people consider themselves the elites. This article seeking to defend that point of view only reinforces it. As to “real world” having been in academia (as a student and as a lecturer), been an employee and en employer, I don’t believe that theory can possibly prepare anyone for the practical. 

      As they love to say in the universities and parliaments, “sure that might work in practice, but does in work in theory”? Well, the more self-aware academics do anyway.

    • fml says:

      09:53am | 20/06/11

      JF.

      “The term elite is a pejorative term for those on the left that simply assume that if anyone disagrees with them that they must be stupid:”

      Exactly, and anybody that disagrees with the right, is an elitist.

    • hot tub poltical machine says:

      10:14am | 20/06/11

      @JF

      I’ll join the current post grad love in here. I assure you my car is craptastic compared to most so I don’t think I get to appear high an mighty compared to most.

      By I would say bullshit to you’re line “these people consider themselves elite”. In my entire life I don’t think I’ve once heard an educated person refer to themselves as being elite (outside of satire). I have however heard it come from the lips of many many people with a level of rage and hate on their face that is franky disturbing.

      I can only assume it is the hate of someone who feels the world has done them wrong, the wrong parents, a bad business lone, a woman who took half the cash…..

      The people who use the term elite are *always* describing someone they hate rather than themselves.

      It makes me think of the Johhny Cash cover “I am Sam Hall, I am Sam Hall and I hate you all, I hate you all….damm you’re eyes”


      But

    • AdamC says:

      10:25am | 20/06/11

      This is a fantastic comment, JF.

      Bec, are you sure you don’t mean Predators, the recent sequel/reboot with Adrien Brody? That was good, the actual Predators 2 (made ages ago) was pretty lacklustre, I recall.

      And, as Blind Freddy argues, I think you can split the differnce on your and JF’s comments.

    • Chewy says:

      10:37am | 20/06/11

      I hereby nominate JFs post for the nosebleed section..
      Well said. A six pack of VB and jar of Macona for you my friend.

    • RyaN says:

      10:38am | 20/06/11

      @jf: that is why the A stream students teach the B stream students to work for the C stream students.

    • bec says:

      10:42am | 20/06/11

      Not true, Adam. Did the Adrien Brody remake have Bill Paxton in it? I think not. Bill Paxton makes *everything* better.

    • andy says:

      11:19am | 20/06/11

      @jf - Oh dear. generalise much? So many terrible terrible people who all fit neatly into this particular stereotype so you can more easily despise them! The saddest part of this post is that you do actually appear to be a pretty smart guy. So its a real shame you cant see the very simple and very human failings you are displaying by attacking some vague and nebulous group, all of whom don’t deserve opinions because of some shared failing.

    • Tim says:

      11:51am | 20/06/11

      Bec,
      Predator 2 was an abomination.
      Nothing and I mean nothing could have followed the awesomeness that was Arnie in Predator.
      “Get to the Chooppppeeeeerrrrr”

    • hot tub political machine says:

      12:04pm | 20/06/11

      “What’s the matter - C.I.A. got you pushing too many pencils?”

      Check out Joe Hildebrands review of Predator on this site, made me laugh nearly as hard as the review of Commando, I think I laughed so hard I took a few months off my life.

    • jf says:

      12:32pm | 20/06/11

      andy says:11:19am | 20/06/11

      @jf - Oh dear. generalise much?

      Not at all. Just about those high income, tertiary educated, inner-city hypocrites that live one lifestyle whilst expecting their lessers to live a more modest lifestyle and who believe that their intellectual superiority is such that their lessers should do as they say without questioning.

      Nowhere did I say that this was all tertiary educated people, all inner-city people or all wealthy people.

      I don’t even despise them. In fact, dare I say it, I am friends with many of them. We try and avoid talking politics.

    • VVS says:

      01:01pm | 20/06/11

      Let me just add my 2c….

      Predator 2 - unappreciated. Danny Glover, Bill Paxton, Maria Conchita Alonso (the original ass kicking Mexican chick) and one Gary f’n Busey!!

      Predators - underwhelming. Laurence Fishburne hamming it up. Danny Trejo killed too early.

      Point of interest - Bill Paxton has the honour of being the only actor to have been killed by a Predator, an Alien and a Terminator. That, my friends, is why Bec is correct… he makes everything better.

      Game over man, game over.

    • Kathy says:

      01:04pm | 20/06/11

      Love your comment jf & agree with all of it…do I have permission to use your final quote on my husband?  I am the totally impractical one with a degree, he is an electrician who actually knows how to do stuff!!  jf, keep practising on that wine appreciation, I am still working on this myself.

    • James1 says:

      01:15pm | 20/06/11

      jf, that is exactly why educated conservatives need to take back the word elite, or at least establish our right to also use it.  If only we could get people like Alan Jones and Andrew Bolt on our side, and get them to admit they are part of the elite, we would be well on our way.

    • bec says:

      04:06pm | 20/06/11

      Tim, while the original has many merits that cannot be challenged (Arnie, Jesse Ventura, the guy who kept talking about his girlfriend’s ladybits), it still doesn’t change that Predator 2 was like the lovechild of Die Hard and Aliens that was starved of oxygen at birth and thus is one of the most enjoyable movies ever.

    • James1 says:

      04:37pm | 20/06/11

      I’m going to go out on a limb bec and contend that Robert Rodriguez’s Predators was the best of the franchise.

    • jf says:

      05:09pm | 20/06/11

      Kathy says:01:04pm | 20/06/11

      “do I have permission to use your final quote on my husband”

      Yes. Especially if you are Chloe Shorten.

    • AdamC says:

      05:46pm | 20/06/11

      James1, I though Predators was on par with Predator. It’s difficult to call it as superior to the original, though.

    • bec says:

      05:57pm | 20/06/11

      FINE. I’ll watch the new one. If it’s not as good as “From Dusk til Dawn” then I will be sorely disappointed.

    • Jay-ded says:

      08:48am | 20/06/11

      Simon, I would suggest a psychiatrist.  You sound like you need one.

      Reply

    • Blind Freddy says:

      08:55am | 20/06/11

      . . . or elite wanker?

      The term elite, from my recollection was used negatively by Howard’s Liberals to deride and disparage anyone, with a degree or higher, that disagreed with them.

      It is still evident today with the way that coalition supporters abuse (usually personnally) acedemics and scientists in relation to ACC.

      Reply

    • James In Footscray says:

      09:40am | 20/06/11

      @Blind Freddy - well done, you got a reference to climate change in! Excellent work.

    • Q.Pham says:

      10:19am | 20/06/11

      It is still evident today with the way that coalition supporters abuse (usually personnally) acedemics and scientists in relation to ACC.

      And of course the “elitist wankers” would never stoop so low as to call anyone who questions these government-funded scientists as ” uneducated bogans"and “deniers”, would they ? They think they are superior and everybody else is beneath them, which is why they’re complete tossers.

    • Blind Freddy says:

      10:23am | 20/06/11

      And, well done back JIF. You managed to get a reference to me in yours.

    • Blind Freddy says:

      11:41am | 20/06/11

      @Q.Pham
      I think you will find that it isn’t the scientists, on both sides of the debate, that are hurling abuse. They leave that to people like yourself. I would say that all scientists, and other experts, that I have seen involved in the debate have been very respectful of their opponents.

      The most abuse I see comes from people such as yourself- non-eperts and non-scientists.

      It is very childish to say “well they called us names first/too”. Especially when they didn’t - and it was actually some non - expert ideologue like yourself (but from the other side).

      Re-reading you post- I think that you may have an inferiority complex and you may be projecting onto the world.

      P.S. I am neither a ACC scientist or an expert so don’t blame them if you take offence to my post. It’s all my own work.

    • Q.Pham says:

      02:29pm | 20/06/11

      @Blind Freddy
      Well not only are you blind, but you’re none too bright either. Firstly, I referred to “elitist wankers”, not scientists. there are many scientists that believe AGW is a giant fraud, but just ignore them, they’re just deniers.And you may think I’m inferior (maybe it’s because I’m Vietnamese?) but I can assure you I don’t think so.. ...but keep feeling all smug and superior, if that’s what you need to feel good about yourself.
      As to the debate, what debate ? It’s either believe in AGW and ask no questions, or you’re a denier. Some debate.
      And can you please inform us all, what “abuse” have I been hurling about ?

    • Steve Thompson says:

      09:03am | 20/06/11

      Wish we could find some real journalists to write some worthwhile articles.

      Reply

    • Steve Thompson says:

      10:06am | 20/06/11

      I’ve unsubscribed from Punch. It’s become a hugh waste of time recently. Nothing worth reading.

    • fml says:

      02:56pm | 20/06/11

      Steve,

      Your post suggests otherwise.

    • Debbie says:

      09:05am | 20/06/11

      And the point of this article is???? A self indulgent piece of twaddle.

      Reply

    • James In Footscray says:

      09:11am | 20/06/11

      I was waiting for the part about ‘spelling’ but it never came.

      Reply

    • Reggie says:

      03:58pm | 20/06/11

      Steve Thompson has the answer. “It’s become a hugh waste of time recently.”

      I guess he means too much green, red or colourless.

    • Angelina says:

      10:47pm | 20/06/11

      No, Reggie, that would be hue. Good work genius, you must be one of these elite.

    • AdamC says:

      09:20am | 20/06/11

      Yikes this falls flat. Memo to Simmo - writing stolid, navel gazing, wannabe deadpan (but just dead) articles about sort of not being an elite (but, then, maybe elites are pretty good anyway) marks you as a snob, if not a member of an actual elite.

      And, just FYI, these constant references to lattes really ticks me off. As a non-elite inhabitant of an unfashionable inner-city suburb (that is, nonetheless, still being colonised by hipsters and uni students) there is nothing more hideously outer-suburban than the latte. You’re from Melbourne, Simon, you should know that the coffee snobs and left-wing poseurs (often the same people) have moved right along from milky, coffee-flavoured slurries. In fact, many have moved on from espresso entirely. You need to get acquanited with a syphon.

      Reply

    • Rover of North Cooma says:

      09:37am | 20/06/11

      Very disappointing piece. I thought it was going to be funny but sadly it wasn’t. I think the point was supposed to be “Elites are people too”, but it just came across as a bit too smug for my liking.

      Reply

    • hot tub political machine says:

      09:41am | 20/06/11

      Yes, the frequency with which anti-intellectual sentiment gets spewed forth (and spewed is definately the right word) on the Punch is a little depressing.

      Note to all writers and Punchers that have any interest in feedback….if you’re article contains the words “Gen Y” or “Elite”.....you’re doing it wrong.

      Reply

    • Jim says:

      09:43am | 20/06/11

      Elite’s not about what you drink or where you live or what you wear…it’s about the superiority complex and the smug arrogance that prevails amongst the leftoid wankers of society.

      Ask any of them - THEY are always right, and YOU are always wrong. And when they realise that you might actually know something they degenerate into name calling.

      Reply

    • Blind Freddy says:

      10:16am | 20/06/11

      The irony is spectacular. Thanks for the laughs.

    • AdamC says:

      10:41am | 20/06/11

      I think a lot of this talk about elites (and the rote response of those so accused that Australia is ‘anti-intellectual’) is due to the fact that many centres of media and academic power in Australia lack any sort of diversity. In particular, the universities and the ABC appear intellectually monocultural.

      When the conventional wisdom is challenged, the response is usually to attack, rather than debate. Dissent is crushed, rather than accepted as part of intellectual life. (See, for example, the unrelenting attacks on AGW ‘denialists’ and the hysterical response to Keith Windschuttle’s writings.) The rhetorical tools used are often offensive and personal. A Familiar one to everyone is the constant claim that those who prefer a ‘tougher’ stance on asylum-seekers are racists or lack ‘compassion’.

      When conformity is revered above all else, any claim to genuine thought leadership becomes fraudulent. Hence the sneers of the outsiders about the ‘elite’ who believe, without foundation, that they are in a better place to comment on issues than ‘ordinary’ (itself a veiled term of abuse) people. The response, to deride mainstream views as driven by ‘shock jocks’ and ‘ignorance’ simply doesn’t work, and our ersatz elite feeds its own frustrations.

    • Saddened says:

      10:48am | 20/06/11

      What is it with this country? It seems everybody wants (or needs) to hate somebody else; it looks like everybody wants to be part of a group that congratulates itself for hanging shit on others it perceives as different. Does it start with the example our leaders set? Abbott thinks Gillard is an incompetent idiot and spends his days saying everything she does is stupid. Meanwhile Abbott’s got all all the answers. The same can be said of Gillard and Labor. Honestly, what’s with all the hating in this country? Elites v battlers, latte sippers v tough-guy farmers, East v West, Lib v Labour, Holden v Ford, public v private, Qld v NSW, Ch 7 v Ch 9, Christians v Muslims, Left v Right, Skips v Lebs, News v Fairfax, profession v trade, rich v poor .... faaaaark! Stop it wil ya? It’s making me sick! And the nerr nerr nerr nyerr nerr sledging that passes for “debate” on this website has finally turned me off it for good, too. Adios haters. Enjoy your bile.

    • andy says:

      11:21am | 20/06/11

      Haha yeah JIm, right on the money. Those leftist wankers always calling people names. Sure, they might get irony but I dont need to know about irony!

    • Jim says:

      11:52am | 20/06/11

      Yes Blind Freddy - you proved my point exactly last week when you - who clearly couldn’t find your arse with both hands - chased me around The Punch because I disagreed with your drummed-in and paid-for theory of AGW.

      You assumed you were right for no valid reason other than ‘just because’. While I have looked at the science and the farcical peer review system that has a different set of rules for climate science and have made up my own mind.

    • Economist says:

      12:33pm | 20/06/11

      I’m with you @Saddened there does seem to be a lot of hate and I agree with @Bec. An elitist, in my opinion, is not someone with an opinion and the arrogance to express it with an air of superiority or from a point of view of expertise and knowledge. An elitist is someone with genuine power, money and their willingness to use it for self gain. Based on this definition I would call Gina Rinehart an elitist before some GetUp kid.

      The “new elite”, defined as those on the left, was an effective strategy employed by Thatcher. Howard simply copied it. It was used by Thatcher as a means of destroying the public service, responsible for building post war Britain and establishing universal healthcare and education. 

      The irony is, that the strategies that Adam C talks about of attack rather than debate are used by both sides.

    • Blind Freddy says:

      12:40pm | 20/06/11

      @Jim

      Delusions of grandeur? Much.

      I’ve never seen him before . . . ?

    • AdamC says:

      01:46pm | 20/06/11

      Economist, I disagree. There is no right-wing equivalent of accusing people of racism, denialism, etc. That is, unless you regard someone being (accurately) described as an elitist as equivalent to comparison with holocaust deniers. I am reasonably comfortable with the ‘pox on both their houses’ attitude when that is warranted. It isn’t in this case.

      All one has to do is read the Age letters page to see how nasty and personal the leftist attacks on Coalition figures and conservative commentators are. There is simply no equivalent to that sort of venom on the other side.

    • iansand says:

      01:54pm | 20/06/11

      In the country of the blind the one-eyed man is king.

    • Economist says:

      02:23pm | 20/06/11

      @AdamC, warmist, anti-semite, anti-American, UnAustralian, valueless. I’m sorry, but you don’t see it cause you don’t want to see it. You have the Age, the left have the Herald Sun and Telegraph.

      Alternatively the rationale can see that the Wong cat call, the Mango comment were neither sexist or racist, tactless yes. @Iansands quote nails it.

      Check this video out of a so called elitist, Jon Stewart, taking apart Fox on their own network. Never a truer word has been spoken about the meeja. http://www.crikey.com.au/2011/06/20/jon-stewart-fox-news/

    • AdamC says:

      05:43pm | 20/06/11

      Sorry, Economist, I don’t concede that point, and your list of alleged smears is pretty threadbare and questionable at that. ‘Anti-semitic’? Maybe if someone is. And I have heard people describe insititutions as lacking in values, but ‘valueless’ doesn’t have any currency as a personal attack word.

      I have often criticised conservatives on the Punch, and am more than happy to concede that, in some cases, both sides are as bad as each other. However, this simply isn’t one of those cases.

    • iansand says:

      07:03pm | 20/06/11

      Don’t be ridiculous, AdamC.  How many times have you read Juliar here?  Or Gilltard?  Or a range of other infantile insults.  I don’t give a rats about who is worse.  I do give a rats about the current pathetic level of political discourse in this country.

    • Lee says:

      12:00pm | 21/06/11

      I have found that same smug superiority in all types of people. The elites can feel superior to the “working class” due to their trappings of affluence, the “working class” can think because they get their hands dirty and struggle, they have a moral superiority. If a person needs to feel superior to another person because of race, appearance, religion, education, wealth etc I feel sorry for them. If you can only feel better about your own place in the world by belittling someone elses it’s just sad

    • Bilby says:

      09:56am | 20/06/11

      Look I’m sorry, but much as I’m sure you aspire terribly to being elite, you’re not. The elite do not live in the inner-city. The elite ponder not for a second whether they are elite, and they certainly don’t make a mockery of the concept.

      You work for the elite, you help make them rich for no particular reward yourself and if they were to bother reading such drivel, they’d be pleased that you have so been suckered into the grand plan.

      Reply

    • Brimstoe says:

      09:57am | 20/06/11

      Aussies don’t understand satire. News at 11. I don’t make much money, but I can easily afford lattes and an inner-city apartment. Anti-elitism is bullshit, but it seems to be a huge part of Australian and American culture. Thanks for the article.

      Reply

    • fml says:

      09:58am | 20/06/11

      Its like scientists are out every night drinking cognac and having champagne breakfasts before work. Its actually quite ironic that the highest paid sector is the mine industry where people are getting paid twice that of these elites.

      The mining industry is the real reason why everything costs an arm and a leg.

      Reply

    • Mahhrat says:

      10:11am | 20/06/11

      If you have to worry about whether you’re Elite or not, then you’re not Elite.

      The “Elite” can’t conceive of the fact that they might be Elite - they’re simply too busy with their heads up their arses being it.

      Elitism includes in it’s subset the dunderheaded refusal to accept you’re a condemnable fool who imbibes too much caffeine.

      No, OP, you’re just a bit of a muppet who likes warm milk.

      Reply

    • iansand says:

      10:24am | 20/06/11

      Most people who use elite as a pejorative almost certainly fall within the term.  Andrew Bolt?  Piers Akerman?  Allan Jones?  I doubt any of them are on struggle street.

      Reply

    • hot tub political machine says:

      10:56am | 20/06/11

      Best comment I’ve read in a long while. I’ve only recently begun to realise those guys probably don’t believe half what they say, and despise their audience for believing it - but realise it makes good copy.

    • bored says:

      11:36am | 20/06/11

      You two are funny. Not haha funny just funny. You deserve each other. Go and have a coffee.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      12:02pm | 20/06/11

      3rd this morning bored smile - didn’t realise t’was something to be ashamed off

    • fml says:

      03:00pm | 20/06/11

      Does this mean we have to ban the “battlers” from drinking coffee?

      Maybe the battlers want to go back to colonialism?

    • Chewy says:

      10:27am | 20/06/11

      Nah mate your not an elite. Just a wannabee, a try hard…
      Elites believe those they perceive as being beneath them have no right to an opinion, especially if it does not reconcile with their beliefs.
      Elites believe their beliefs are more important than democracy and a say for the little guy.
      Elites snicker and sneer at felow Australians who cant spell, live in in Mcmansions and drive utes.
      Elites want to impose ideas that effect elites less than the majority on the majority.
      Elites can afford to be sanctamonious, after all refugees wont be dumped in their elite suburb, carbon pricing wont effect their brisk cycle to their workplace and wont effect their non industrious careers either as elites usually never got their hands dirty or produce goods.
      BTW I have never met an employer or someone who creates jobs and produces REAL goods and REAL services who was an elite.
      In short elites are parasites whos whole existance and standard of living is usually supported by the REAL Australians they despise. Its just the elites arent smart enough to join the dots yet. Perhaps I am sounding elitist?

      Reply

    • Warren says:

      11:53am | 20/06/11

      REAL goods?
      REAL services?
      REAL Australians?

      You are as elite as they get.

    • iansand says:

      12:06pm | 20/06/11

      I have never met anyone who was an elite.  As far as I can tell they are inventions of loony bloggers and crazy shock jocks.

    • Chewy says:

      01:02pm | 20/06/11

      Yes Warren I am of the anti elitist elite tribe. I invite any elitist to see if they could take a day off from their media, jounalistic, academic, public service, BS consultancy or Tax payer funded ABC job to work a day in the real world. They wouldnt last the day and they know it.

    • Warren says:

      01:44pm | 20/06/11

      Chewy, seems to me the public servant teacher who taught you how to read and write didn’t do much a job teaching you how to think.

    • fml says:

      03:04pm | 20/06/11

      Warren,

      What constitutes a real job? yes you are elite Warren.

      You think you are better than all that work in a public sector, because you are a “REAL australian” and work a “REAL job”.

      Cheers for that.

    • Warren says:

      04:54pm | 20/06/11

      fml, you better re-read what was posted

    • fml says:

      05:15pm | 20/06/11

      Sorry Warren,

      I meant Chewy.

    • Anna C says:

      10:28am | 20/06/11

      Ha ha Simon, only wankers drink lattes. That isn’t a real coffee.  If you ordered that in Italy they would serve you hot milk. Simon, you and your so-called fellow elites should toughen up and drink some real coffee - espresso. Says it all really.

      Reply

    • Reggie says:

      04:08pm | 20/06/11

      Yeah or good old Leichhardt Chocolate Vienna with lashings of whipped cream.

    • Anna C says:

      10:28am | 20/06/11

      Ha ha Simon, only wankers drink lattes. That isn’t a real coffee.  If you ordered that in Italy they would serve you hot milk. Simon, you and your so-called fellow elites should toughen up and drink some real coffee - espresso. Says it all really.

      Reply

    • Luce says:

      11:10am | 20/06/11

      Italy has pretty shit coffee compared to Australia (I’m talking about taste, not latte v espresso)

    • A Boganna says:

      10:29am | 20/06/11

      Uneducated tradies are the most elitest people you could meet: self-satisfied and omniscient in their ignorance. How else you exist given you’ve ripped off the taxpayer for billions (BER, pink batts), don’t return calls, and don’t show up to a job on-time? There’s a reason why these people are never in charge, but apart from those clearing dunnies, I’m not so sure why so many of them exist.

      Reply

    • Angelina says:

      11:19pm | 20/06/11

      Tradies are never uneducated. They might not have an education that you respect or appreciate but they certainly have an education of some kind. At the very least they’d have some education in their field of trade or they wouldn’t be tradies now, would they? And you’d have to be pretty stupid to hire a tradie with no qualifications at all.

      I suppose your sweeping generalisation about all tradies being uneducated , ignorant and self-satisfied people who are never in charge and don’t deserve to exist is not elitist at all? In fact that’s one of the most elistist piles of crap I’ve ever read.

      You certainly sound a lot more elitist, ignorant and uneducated than my tradie husband who has built up his multi-million dollar business from the ground.  He’s in charge, and he still works his trade every day. As a result I spend a large portion of my time around tradies and find them all to be humble, intelligent and kind. They are also successful, indicating that they do in fact return calls and arrive to jobs on time.

      And so many tradies exist because pricks like you are too damn lazy to learn how to install and fix your own crap, toilets included.

    • help says:

      12:17pm | 21/06/11

      Angelina if your husbans is a concretor who can do a large driveway in the Blue Mountains can you post his business name as I have given up on trying to find one that will return my calls or if they do show up, bother to send me a quote. Same for painters I left messages for 8 painters 3 returned my call only 2 bothered to show up and only one sent me a quote

    • Kate says:

      10:30am | 20/06/11

      I agree with the sentiment of this article. Australia, as germaine greer put it, is anti intellectual. We dismiss academia and thinking, we place little value on ‘impractical’ degrees like philosophy or anthropology. Where do the ‘elite’ fit into the Australian vernacular? We are not ordinary australians or working families. The experience of having two cars and living in the burbs is perceieved as more valid than sipping lattes in the inner city while discussing gay marriage.

      Reply

    • marley says:

      12:06pm | 20/06/11

      Actually, I think this article proves the converse - that Australians are jumped up snobs who think that having two cars and living in the burbs in less valid than sipping lattes in the inner city while discussing gay marriage.

    • Matt says:

      10:35am | 20/06/11

      Probably the biggest yawn-fest I’ve ever read on The Punch.

      BTW, lattes are very 2008.

      Try again, dudeman.

      Reply

    • KF says:

      10:40am | 20/06/11

      Epic fail.

      Reply

    • Dan says:

      10:56am | 20/06/11

      It might have been satire, but lurking underneath are some real truths about the deliberately engineered divisions in our society. A majority of the comments so far prove the point.

      Reply

    • jmac says:

      10:56am | 20/06/11

      Yep you’re a wanker.

      Reply

    • graham says:

      10:59am | 20/06/11

      Aoccdrnig to rscheearch crraeid out at an Elingsh utnervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are. The olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteres are in the rghit pclae.The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitil raed it wouthit any rael porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter but the wrod as a wlohe.
                                                        Ceehiro,
                                                                    Garham
      I was once a member of the ‘elite’ as it is now called. I sipped my latte in the cafe. I left when they took away the accents. I was a cosmopolitan, I loved all of the different accents. Paris, Rome, Melbourne, all rich in the multiculturism that I fed on. Not now. All we starving, worldly folk are reduced, (should we so choose), to sitting in a caff sipping on a latt with the rest of the eleet. I’m much too precious for that.

      Reply

    • Miles says:

      11:03am | 20/06/11

      So….sipping lattes and frequenting cafes makes you ‘elite’ now does it?  How low our standards have become…

      Reply

    • Ian1 says:

      11:07am | 20/06/11

      The ‘Elite’ would be they who serve the needs of others before those of themselves.

      Reply

    • Jim says:

      11:28am | 20/06/11

      The camp caterers at a remote site I once worked on bought a coffee machine once. I think it was about 6 grand worth but gee it made great coffee. You’d stuck your cup under, press a button and away she went. I got a real taste for latte in camp.

      When I was on R&R one time, I went to a cafe that looked a bit swank and ordered a latte.

      Out came the gayest looking drink I have ever seen! It was in a glass that looked like something my ol’ Gran would put her daffodils in…it had whipped cream on top, a long spoon and chocolate powder thrown all over it. There was some caramel looking gunk squirted out in some pattern a 6 year old came up with on the plate it was carried out on.

      I looked at the fella (that was the first time I’d ever heard the exceedingly wanky term ‘barista’) and said “What the fuck’s that?”

      He looked at me like I had just crawled out from under a cardboard box and in a bitchy, lispy voice told me it was a latte.

      Never had one since…I stick to my Nespresso machine at home now.

      Reply

    • Rover of North Cooma says:

      01:16pm | 20/06/11

      A cafe latte should never have whipped cream or chocolate. That’s just wrong.
      Having said that, I was in a cafe in the Adelaide Hills yesterday (yes I know, ELITE!) and the barista presented us with “one latte, one flat white”. We said, “we ordered two flat whites” and she said, “oh well, they’re the same thing anyway”. And I couldn’t argue. Never been able to tell the difference, just feel like less of a wanker ordering a flat white.

    • Lauren says:

      02:42pm | 20/06/11

      I probably would have given you a filthy look as well if you had asked me “what the fuck is that?”
      Where are your manners? He’s just doing his job.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      02:42pm | 20/06/11

      Rover - I still find it weird that the people of Inverbrackie in the Adelaide Hills decided to go all One Nation on us, seeing as the rest of the time the Adelaide hills is trying to survive by serving pure elitist catnip (and long may that part continue)

      Didn’t they realise that people like their latte with maybe a cookie rather than a little xenophobia on the side?

    • Secondmouse says:

      05:21pm | 20/06/11

      Sounds like you got someone else’s coffee. I’ve heard of coffee with cream-on-top being called a “Vienna” with cream, instead of milk but don’t ask me about that caramel nonsense. Who could order something like that, with a straight face, let alone drink it?

    • Chris says:

      11:33am | 20/06/11

      hahaha this guy is a class A tosser. I’d like to see what he does when his pilot light goes out, something your trust-fund-silver-spoon feeding parents didn’t think you’d ever need to know eh?

      Oh, my father earns $293,000 a year. He doesn’t just frequent nice resturants, he bought one as an investment, my brother who is a chef manages it. He has no degree, works on the mines. I can assure you he’s not stupid.

      I however do have a degree, and i find it kind of insulting that you try and create some kind of class divide between people who have degrees/trades/whatever.

      I chose my field of study because I have a passion for it, and I certainly don’t feel the need to push to the world how much (apparently) better I am than anyone who is different to me. Or from what suburb they live in. Or from which alcoholic beverage they drink. The ‘lefties’ seem to love stereotyping when it suits them, but if someone stereotypes a race they are called names such as racist.

      Reply

    • LeonT says:

      11:51am | 20/06/11

      “something your trust-fund-silver-spoon feeding parents didn’t think you’d ever need to know eh?”

      Pretty funny coming from a guy whose dad bought a restaurant for his brother to manage.

    • iansand says:

      11:54am | 20/06/11

      I would have thought that the people who divide the world into “elites” and “the others” are creating the class divide.  Oh well.

    • bored says:

      01:55pm | 20/06/11

      “iansand says:

      11:54am | 20/06/11

      I would have thought that the people who divide the world into “elites” and “the others” are creating the class divide.”

      ’ iansand says:

        11:43am | 20/06/11

        It is clear that bored is not an elite.”

      Quite.

    • iansand says:

      02:20pm | 20/06/11

      MarK’s back.

    • fml says:

      03:10pm | 20/06/11

      The ‘Righties’ Always playing the “You lefties are about to call me a racist card”.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      03:41pm | 20/06/11

      fml. Its the new version of “I’m not racist but….” which seemed to have a near 100% chance of being followed by something racist.

      Now it’s “You’ll probably say this is racist but…..”

    • James1 says:

      04:31pm | 20/06/11

      Your chosen field of study was obviously not logic Chris.  Let me explain.

      When you stereotype a race, you are ascribing traits to people on the basis of a thing in which they had no choice.  People are born that way, they can not change it.  Hence stereortyping them is deeply unfair, as you are doing so perhaps despite the choices they make in their life.

      When you stereotype someone on the basis of where they live, their behaviour, or the type of alcoholic beverage they imbibe, you are doing so on the basis of a choice they have made.  As such, if they do not like the stereotypes associated with their choice, they can always choose to make a different one.

      You are comparing apples with oranges.  And before you accuse me, I am not a leftist.  I just think logic is sacred.

    • I drink Cider says:

      11:34am | 20/06/11

      Oh dear… Carlton Draft?  You really haven’t researched the “westie” “bogan” or “common” people very well, have you?

      If you had you would know that we aren’t drinking Carlton.  Though being an elitist, I should assume that you know me better than I do myself and start drinking Carlton.

      I would spend more time expressing offence to your poor attempt at satire and assumption that a trade is easy to come by or takes no skill, but then the knowledge that one day some canny plumber will charge you $90 an hour to change a washer, or an electrician will charge $150 to install downlights, reminds me that really, it all evens out in the end. 

      Enjoy laughing at the “ordinary” people and their poor spelling.  I know they enjoy laughing at (and profiting from) your inability to complete basic household repairs

      Reply

    • Luce says:

      12:21pm | 20/06/11

      For someone so disparaging of the ‘elite’, you sure have their manner of speaking down pat.

    • Replete with Elite says:

      01:00pm | 20/06/11

      Notice how these racists work race into every discussion?

    • george says:

      11:36am | 20/06/11

      But you lot aren’t really left. Case in point the getup campaign about housing affordability and negative gearing. You personally, seeing as you’re renting, might be for it but your overlords aren’t.

      So therefore you suck by association.

      Throwing in a few bike lanes here and there, taxing those “rich” people on $100k+ a bit more and having a whine about racism doesn’t make one left.

      But to be fair I think the people on the other side suck too. It’s a close race as to who wins by suckiness.

      Reply

    • C Fletcher says:

      11:43am | 20/06/11

      I’m quite the elitist and have been in contact with a man on an internet dating website who gave me the impression that he was the same way.  He suggested we meet for lunch in a certain part of town and I immediately pictured one of the excellent restaurants overlooking the Brisbane River.  I made a few suggestions only to discover that he thought that they were “fancy” restaurants, as he put it.  What this says to me is that standards have slipped and the country is transgressing more and more into a bogan nation.

      Reply

    • Adrian says:

      03:05pm | 20/06/11

      Yes, because Australia started off with a high percentage of upper and middle class people. Not convicts at all. Australia will be 100% bogan by midday on Tuesday.

    • Mathias says:

      11:46am | 20/06/11

      I might be a bogan, but at least I’m not an elite tosser.

      Could there be something wrong with me? I hang out with mates, usually at a bar, and we drink beer, sometimes scotch or whiskey. When I started out it was UDL’s or ‘Ruskies’, before I got a taste for beer. No tit’s just BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER! I don’t read many books… too busy doin’ stuff, knocking up pergolas, or a deck. I watch heaps of TV, usually channel 10, or even worse, Foxtel.

      Could it be? Am I bogan?

      How do I fix this affliction I am suffering? How do I become ‘elite’?
      I heard that I am supposed to meet with acquaintances at cafes, and sip lattes. Apparently these lattes are served in a glass you’d normally drink cordial out of, and they have a pretty little napkin tied around them, so you don’t burn your fingies on the warm glass.

      Also I will have to sell up my 3 bedroom ‘McMansion’ in the outer suburbs, that are filled with lakes and parkways and actual backyards, with enough room to park, and have mates over for a bbq. I have to give this all up, so I can pay $800 per week rent to live in a 1 bedroom shithole, just so I can tell people I live in Prahran or South Yarra or Malvern. I’ll sell my car, that I own, and get BMW on a payment plan with a 46% residual, but I’m ok with that, because the nice salesman (Oh, I’m supped to say salesperson, right?) told me BMW would pay me X amount on my car in 5 years time. I should be safe. yeah? I have to look the part!

      I guess I’ll have to give up my trade which lead me to a six figure pay check, and get a job in an office earning 50k, where I get to wear a some trendy slacks, and salmon coloured shirt, and pretend I’m something special.

      Please tell me Simon, am I heading down the correct path? Could you please give me some tips on become an elite tosser?

      Reply

    • Battered Sav says:

      12:44pm | 20/06/11

      Elitist bogan.

    • AFR says:

      04:36pm | 20/06/11

      Not a bogan, just a huge chip on your shoulder.

    • Mathias says:

      09:55am | 21/06/11

      Come on now… none of that is true. I do, however, watch channel 10 (and 11 these days).

    • Jack says:

      12:07pm | 20/06/11

      No, Green, you’re not Elite, you’re just a wanker. I go to Melbourne University, live in the city and also drink lattes. But, I also appreciate that people wish to pursue their own direction, whether it be post-school study or learning a trade. Your self-perpetuating Elitism is only going to gain you praise in your little circle of Greens-voting halfwits. Is this article aiming to seek further reassurance of this fact, or is it just because you haven’t had enough attention for the day?

      Reply

    • Perry says:

      12:19pm | 20/06/11

      Are Facebookers elitist? They seem to be, some of them.

      Reply

    • Dumbdonna says:

      12:52pm | 20/06/11

      Why of course Perry…all FB users are!!!  Here is what elite means:
      - Highly intellectual, now we know that ALL FB’ers are this, so your question my friend is now answered.

    • Eric I says:

      12:23pm | 20/06/11

      Dear Commoners,

      I don’t earn much money, and my job requires no formal education. I have been to uni though, and I’m a bit left wing, and I’d consider donating money to Getup for their propaganda if I wasn’t permanently broke.

      Am I elite?

      Yours faithfully,
      Elite of Suburbia

      Reply

    • Jack says:

      12:44pm | 20/06/11

      No, you’re just a former Arts student.

    • James In Footscray says:

      12:50pm | 20/06/11

      @Eric I - Yes, but in a good way. Unlike Simon Green, who doesn’t make any sense, and seems a bit up himself, to be honest. Thank you for the opportunity!

    • marley says:

      01:01pm | 20/06/11

      Dear Suburban Eminence:

      It is enough to believe that people who disagree with your views on politics, economics or religion must be bogans.  If you believe that, you are indeed a member of the elite.  With or without latte

      Your most humble admirer
      Non-elite of nowhere in Particular..

    • Elite says:

      12:33pm | 20/06/11

      Sorry you are not an elite, you are low class attention seeking pricks.  Here is what elite means:
      - Highly intellectual
      - Understanding science, astronomy, economy, philosophy, martial arts, eastern and western philosophy, understanding the differences between the two, intellectuals, middle class (or upper class) in term of non-material riches not only material riches etc ...

      Do you get it, another words, you must have obtained at least Bachelor degree, and reading average 1 book a weeks, also compassionate, do not believe in god, how on earth a reasonable man believe in god. Anyone with an IQ 90, there is no god or al-ah.

      To me you are loser generation Y than an elite.

      Reply

    • Luce says:

      12:55pm | 20/06/11

      I think Elite needs to get some grammar lessons.

    • Chewy says:

      01:09pm | 20/06/11

      When your reach for the old spelling and grammar chestnut you have already lost any argument.
      LAME

    • marley says:

      01:39pm | 20/06/11

      Not half so lame as posting a definition of elite which includes education and regular reading, written by someone who cannot string two sentences together correctly.

    • Luce says:

      01:42pm | 20/06/11

      Oh my bad, Chewy. I found the irony of Mr Elite’s apparent lack of grammar ability too irresistible not to comment on.

      In that case, call me LAME.

    • James In Footscray says:

      02:38pm | 20/06/11

      I don’t think there should be capital letters after the bullet points

    • Adam says:

      12:46pm | 20/06/11

      Funnier and better writing than the article

      Reply

    • Reid Wright says:

      01:08pm | 20/06/11

      I’m pretty confident the elite don’t write for the Punch. it’s sad to say, but i think you may be one of us.

      Reply

    • Chewy says:

      01:20pm | 20/06/11

      Murdoch press elite = Oxymoron

    • Bruno says:

      01:15pm | 20/06/11

      congratulations, in the guerilla war that is modern western society you have just caused the people to lose more ground. You good sir are by no means an Elitist, I know you want to be one, but you are not. At the very best you are an Elitist Arse Kisser and that is much worse. You are the Elitists’ secret weapon against the Plebians. A person of the plebs but for the elitists. If the crap ever hits the fan the elitists will gladly sacrifice you and the plebs will gladly eat you. Good Day Sir.

      Reply

    • Robert S McCormick says:

      01:27pm | 20/06/11

      Simon,
      I don’t think you can possibly class yourself as “Elite.”
      You can, at least, spell & when being educated ( Private School?) learnt the correct use of grammar!  So unlike “Elite” & others who can do neither - see some of today’s entries!
      You stated that you: Sip lattes, lattes, lattes, café lattes - a big bad mistake. Simon. why can’t you simply say you drink coffee with milk? That is what it was until pretentious, pseudo-intellectual lefties came on the scene.
      You are not, at present, a member of any “Elite”.
      You are, though, in danger of falling into the trap which so many pretentious, pseudo-intellectuals who read left-of-politics books eventually get caught in. They start to believe their own bullshit & then claim tobe members of some elite group & think they have the right to tell everyone else how we should think & act.
      Just jump off the pedestal, Simon, & be the decent down-to-earth man you are!

      Reply

    • The Shag says:

      01:29pm | 20/06/11

      I’ll agree you are a tosser, but you are not part of the Elite. You are clearly a Chardonnay Socialist but this does not make you an elite regardless of how many latte’s you drink of which inner city suburb you live in. You think you are smarter than the rest of the population because you can spell, read books and only watch the ABC or SBS. This still does not make you part of the elite, only pretentious. The good news is the whole world loves a pretentious lefty as without you we would not have anyone to tell us what the rest of us are doing wrong.

      Reply

    • James1 says:

      04:19pm | 20/06/11

      I hate to point this out, but objectively speaking people who read books and can spell correctly are smarter than people who don’t do the former or can’t do the latter.

    • The Shag says:

      05:24pm | 20/06/11

      James1, you’re correct, but just because someone reads and can spell does not make them elite does it?  That said, for many in the education system at present it probably does but that’s a whole other subject.

    • James1 says:

      09:34am | 21/06/11

      Excellent point The Shag.  In no way did I mean that smart is synonymous with the elite.  As for your second sentence, that is a point I have been trying to make for some time - we need to go back to the original definition of elite, move away from both the perjorative sense in which it is used, and also do away with people (I’m looking at you here, the left) appointing themselves as the elite.

    • Luce says:

      01:30pm | 20/06/11

      Forget money, drinking latte’s and living in the inner suburbs. I’m reclassifying ‘elitist’ to mean anyone who is going to throw condescending, snide remarks at others for the sole purpose of bringing them down a few pegs, regardless of either party’s background or culture… which, incidentally, qualifies most of the people commenting on this article (hell, I know I do it.).

      And on that note, I’m off to get a latte (because I like them, and am a little sleep deprived) and read the Australian (because few other papers these days have decent journalism).

      Reply

    • Luce says:

      02:50pm | 20/06/11

      I should add to that: bring people down a few pegs based on the assumption that they are somehow better.

      Isn’t that what elitism is all about? Thinking you’re better, whether it’s because you drink lattes and eat at nice restaurants, or because you purposefully avoid them on principle because that’s what ‘wankers’ do.

      Most people are elitists in their own way, it just comes out differently.

    • Charissa says:

      03:13pm | 20/06/11

      Exactly Luce! Whole heartedly agree!

    • James1 says:

      04:33pm | 20/06/11

      Why don’t we get back to its proper definition.  Elite means just that - the elite.  The educated, the successful, the business-people, and the self made.  The cream of society.  The turn the word has taken - into a perjorative - is a real worry.

      The idea that it is bad to be any of those things disgusts me.

    • marley says:

      06:47pm | 20/06/11

      @James1 - the problem isn’t with the real elite - the problem is, first, with those who think they’re part of the “elite” and that requires sneering at bogans (how much of that have we seen?),  and second, with those who assume that anyone who has a more affluent or urbanized lifestyle is a self-indulgent wanker.

      In other words, the problem is people slapping labels on others without actually getting to know and understand them, and where they’re coming from.  There’s a lot of that going about now.

    • Luce says:

      08:10pm | 20/06/11

      Exactly, marley… aside from hipsters.. no one likes them wink  (jokes)

    • Drew says:

      01:40pm | 20/06/11

      “I’d rather entrust the government of the United States to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone directory than to the faculty of Harvard University. “
      - William F Buckley

      I’ll take the common sense and experience of the common man over a self proclaimed “intellectual” any day.

      Reply

    • fml says:

      04:31pm | 20/06/11

      Yer those damned intellectuals what have they done for us lately!

      Lets go chase them with our pitch forks! have you got yours handy or do you need a loaner?

    • Michael says:

      01:57pm | 20/06/11

      to borrow from some of the above comments…..what self-indulgent, narcissistic, left-wing rubbish

      satire? certainly not. poor writing? most certainly.

      i would love to pick this article apart, but fear it would take me the rest of the day….and i have to prepare myself mentally for the lefty onslaught being shown on Q&A tonight…..someone has to defend my generation - gen y (gasp!) - from the idealistic, progressive nonsense that will be flowing from the mouths of the apparent rep’s of my generation - pretty boy Josh Thomas and UN Youth Rep of the week Samah Hadid…..it wouldn’t occur to you (or Tony Jones, or Labor voters) that the opinion of these two elitists (and your own) may be considered alarming by others….for it is more often accepted as fact..

      please refrain from writing similar trash in the future…..i am trying to reduce the amount of time i spend reading remarks from those who’s faeces hath no odour

      i am sure the articles author is far too busy to read this comment, between meeting all those clients he puportedly has…..i will make the assumption however, that should the author make it this far through the comments, he will no doubt be reading my addition from his apple laptop, sitting in a cafe on brunswick st, where he is having important discussions on the nuances between whichever indie bands currently reside on triple j..

      note: the author of this comment is university educated, well paid, does not drink coffee, drinks beer, used to live in inner melbourne, now lives in suburbia…make of it what you will

      Reply

    • John says:

      03:31pm | 20/06/11

      Agree.  I’m Gen Y and tonight is going to be f**king embarrassing, I can feel it.

      And I still live in the inner suburbs too!  More pubs round here.

    • John says:

      03:31pm | 20/06/11

      Agree.  I’m Gen Y and tonight is going to be f**king embarrassing, I can feel it.

      And I still live in the inner suburbs too!  More pubs round here.

    • fml says:

      04:46pm | 20/06/11

      Narcissistic?

      Coming from the ‘bloke’ who has written half a page about how easily he could have picked the article apart, yet has doesn’t have enough time to (Nor should he waste his precious time) picking it apart, Rubbishes the left for flowing progressive nonsense and bags out UN youth workers, some of the more active of their generation. Without even feeling the need to explain why or arrogantly assuming everyone should know why.

      Congratulations.

    • Reggie says:

      09:35pm | 20/06/11

      Yeah fml’ It’s people like Michael and John who accidentally cause wars by their ignorant condescension. Mind you did did not say Michael and John, only people like them. smile

    • Free Ex Pat says:

      02:02pm | 20/06/11

      Gr8 Artikl. I used to have a morgaj and lots of eqeti in my hous.

      Then I saw where all that was leading, checked out and moved overseas. I now enjoy life to the fullest and refuse to accept it’s necessary to be trapped into the “Australian Dream.”

      Reply

    • Charissa says:

      03:10pm | 20/06/11

      Hahahaha…. Ok, peoples, I believe he was having a dig at BOTH sides in the article… I don’t believe there is anything wrong with being ‘elite’ in the way described in the article nor ‘common’ but thinking one is better than another just because of an education or drink preference is plain wrong. THAT is predjudiced and low. Having a dig at both sides is just humor.

      Reply

    • Simon says:

      05:09pm | 20/06/11

      That’s a bingo.

    • Lisa says:

      05:30pm | 20/06/11

      Amen, sister!! That’s totally what I took from this article. Way too many of these commenters have focussed so hard on whether Simon Green really is an elitist wanker or not that they haven’t noticed that the article is a dig at both sides… in a character, to boot. Liking something - be it ABC24 or Carlton Draught - isn’t what divides us, it’s the arbitrary value that we assign to those tastes and lifestyles. Live on the ‘latte line’ and watch SBS? You’re an elite douche. Drink beer and work a trade? You’re a bogan dummy. It’s so stupid and reductive, and people who are just calling out the writer as a “wanker” aren’t helping. Just one lady’s opinion.

    • Yon Toad says:

      03:15pm | 20/06/11

      Depends whether you wear a silk glove while tossing…

      Reply

    • Mark says:

      03:27pm | 20/06/11

      I’m always suspicious of males who don’t drink beer.  Clearly weren’t brought up properly. 

      And “craft” beer doesn’t count, wankers.

      Everything else, meh.

      Reply

    • Luc says:

      03:49pm | 20/06/11

      Did I miss the point? Some people are saying that the writer wants to be elite - I read it more as a reaction to the Hsun readers/website commenters who seem to refer to this latte-guzzling, wealthy ‘elite’ boogeyman who’s trying to price their carbon and flood their country with boat people. Was the article a bit snarky? Yep. But a wannabe elitist? I didn’t get that…

      Reply

    • Alexander says:

      03:53pm | 20/06/11

      With the correct evaluation I would call myself elite, and I hail from a working class background, work with my hands and also go to university. I don’t drink coffee I drink tea, and I come from Newcastle so I’m not from a culture steeped in high-falutin wankerism.

      At the same time I spend much more time being critical of my own actions than of any others. I think the true elite look to themselves for leadership and don’t sit around sipping lattes judging all of the “peasants” keeping the machine that sustains them alive.

      Reply

    • Matthew says:

      04:22pm | 20/06/11

      I tu is an intellekshual.

      *sarc* in case you missed it.

      Elites = wankers. That’s right, mainly your leftwing academic professor types that look down on the rest of us peasantry and pooh pooh “we know what’s good for you, as long as you do as I say and not as I do” a la Cate Blanchett and recently Bono with his tax aversion complex.

      Reply

    • John says:

      05:15pm | 20/06/11

      Matthew,

      You may well be right, but isn’t the point here that what you’re describing does not at all correspond with the commonly accepted definition of elite (as evidenced by its dictionary)?

      It seems to me that the real problem here is one side (the ‘elites’) considers the other stupid ( the ‘bogans’) while the bogans attack the elites for their perceived lack of authenticity, i.e. for being ‘out of touch’.

      It seems to me that what is missing from both sides is an engagement with, or the putting forward of, actual arguments.  It’s a shame that neither group can do any more than play the man.  It may well be the case that the elites have a superiority complex and the bogans can’t spell, but who actually cares?

    • Robert says:

      04:38pm | 20/06/11

      When do we get to the part where I care? So does the Punch now publish random articles by random wannabe “show biz” characters? So if my dad pays a fee will you publish my CD? Thinking back to 1985 - the days of Matilda Magazine etc my heart and head are hurting ...

      Reply

    • Bec says:

      04:44pm | 20/06/11

      I am appalled and offended at this article. I am absolutely not Elite, as i am not at the top of any particular field, i am a stay at home mother, taking care of my family, while my husband does his best to support us. However i do not drink beer. I do enjoy catching up with frinds at a cafe, and i love good food, i am university educated, yet i live in the Western Suburbs. If believing yourself better than the average person makes you Elite, good for you, but i simply believe it makes you an out of touch with reality, generalising, snob!

      Reply

    • Barry Barnes says:

      08:27am | 21/06/11

      You’re either trolling or stupid, either way I hope your kids have good teachers.

    • Barry Barnes says:

      08:27am | 21/06/11

      You’re either trolling or stupid, either way I hope your kids have good teachers.

    • generation text says:

      04:46pm | 20/06/11

      its spelt l33t ya tosser.

      Reply

    • Cait says:

      04:50pm | 20/06/11

      Oh how cute. Did someone confuse the terms “elite” with “hipster”? Now now poor Simon baby, you Sir are a hipster - far from the elite. Good on Punch.com.au for letting kiddies in.

      Reply

    • jed says:

      05:00pm | 20/06/11

      keep workin’ on your trollin’, brah.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      11:04pm | 20/06/11

      It’s ‘bro’ not ‘brah’....”:Baaahhhhh”.

    • Big Vee says:

      06:09pm | 20/06/11

      More like a 2 BOB snob part of the reason we had the GFC these so called elitists on the left are just wankers.

      Reply

    • Simon Hicks says:

      06:47pm | 20/06/11

      Lol people are taking this thing way to seriously!
      It’s satire people and generalisation. You don’t have to have those identical qualities to be non-elite.
      For those of you who read to the end, congratulations you at least have half a brain.
      But clearly many of you missed the point of the entire piece.
      Every anti-tax, interest rate and cost of living cry in the media has a bunch of morons commenting that the government is useless and the “rich” people can afford more tax and everyone is just struggling.
      The point is, such negative slander just screams jealously and envy (funny that, most of the comments here do too!)
      Aren’t as successful as others? Jealous of the lifestyle they live while you are stuck in Cranbourne, in debt to high hell with your 5 children you didn’t want? Wish you could live closer than Berwick but cannot afford to? Well i guess the only option is for you to slag off those you are jealous of; the elite.
      Shame you couldn’t see the point in this.
      We “elite” are going about our day, living out lives the way we choose. It’s you who have the problem, not us. We will not apologise for enjoying what we have honestly earned.
      Deal with it

      Reply

    • Heather says:

      07:22pm | 20/06/11

      I read it to the end and still disagree with you. I don’t believe the autor would not know satire if it hit him in the face.

    • Jazza says:

      06:53pm | 20/06/11

      Is that supposed to be funny? satire?

      Big F for FAIL

      As an ex English teacher I’d say that is about as funny as the behind the hand juvenile “jokes” of the boys on the 7pm Report on Ten!

      Reply

    • Katy says:

      07:41pm | 20/06/11

      That’s just immature - if it was a bit more clever, it might be funny but it wasn’t and it isn’t

      Reply

    • Simon says:

      09:12pm | 20/06/11

      yeah it was funny…
      lighten up

    • Greg says:

      09:03pm | 20/06/11

      I think the important thing about this article is that it addresses the fact that a large segment of society is often forgotten and maligned for being ‘elite’.

      Those of us living in similar circumstances as Simon, get sick to death of hearing about ‘working families’, ‘cost of living pressures’ and all the other nonsense that gets flung around. Come back and complain once you get rid of your plasma and Foxtel subscription. Worse still is that politicians pander to this because its an easy vote-grab.

      There is also a sense that people in this demographic (singles, childless couples, much of the gay population, who are well educated and well paid) should feel some sort of guilt for having achieved something and aspiring to a better life. And it’s not like we don’t pay for it either. We pay more taxes and have to pay of a substantial amount for our education (my HECS debt is coming in at about $45,000).

      If the choices I make mean that I’m a latte-sipping, iPad using elite then so be it! Great article Simon!

      Reply

    • Elric Puffin says:

      10:01pm | 20/06/11

      You are a tard.  If you have a HECS debt you are a leach; get a real job and pay it off you scab, carry your own way through life: you are not elite and I wonder where you get the cash for a latte.  The elite pay their kids’ HECS debt…oh, you knew that and your jealous AND you’re unappreciated amongst the bogans because they earn more and have a plasma.  What a life of un-success you lead, bitter at those that play the game of life better and are rich and happy in front of Foxtel with a wife and children who loves them.  Loser.

      If i call abuse ‘satire’ is it funny?  Or does that only work if I am elite?

    • Simon says:

      11:15pm | 20/06/11

      Elric seriously?
      Only the uneducated come back to a well structured argument with slanderous nonsense.
      I am sure once Greg graduates and gets his law degree this year he will quickly pay off his government supported education loan (of which gets you more in life than centrelink unemployment benefits) with his generous salary.
      Trying not to stoop your level but one would imagine $100k per year buys a hell of a lot more plasmas than your 35k.

      Again “elite” bashing comes from envy.

      I must strongly agree with Greg.
      I am sick of hearing “cost of living pressure”, rate hike putting pressure on struggling families.

      Lets not forget theage.com.au today’s lovely hyperbolism (Elric, you can look that work up in the dictionary) - “Water torture: bills may reach $1200”
      May i remind you the difference between “essentials” and “non essentials”
      How about this. Don’t max out your credit card, yes thats right it’s credit - ie not your money, don’t borrow 95% of the property value you just bought and maybe cut your foxtel subscription and buy a cheaper TV and you may be able to afford your water and electricity bill.
      Use energy efficient appliances, recycle water and you may just find its cheaper. Either that or go to the local well and get some dirty water and sit in the dark. You may be able to live without your Foxtel and plasma, or would you rather pass on fresh food and electricity.

      Think about it

    • Elric Puffin says:

      10:09am | 21/06/11

      Simon, I am not envious at all.  I have a degree am paid incredibly well (35K? my bonus is bigger), no mortgage and a beach house for my 3 kids to play in at will.  Greg is a wanker and if I also were a pretentious wanker I’d have argued how I was more elite.  Instead I just offended someone who still has a HECS debt (and is obviously upset about it) states how he IS better and elite compared to people raising families and putting a roof over their heads.  He hasn’t even paid off his debt to the majority of tax payers he derides; how pathetic is that?  Well structured argument?  Don’t be absurd. it is elitist rubbish from some guy belittling the majority of city dwellers by stating he has achieved “something” and is more aspirational than them with his iPad using & latte sipping ways…what has he achieved?  An education (as yet unpaid for) and a sense of entitlement that is offensive: oh and he rents inner city; big fricken deal.  It was pure derision and deserved the same in return; so I gave it.  Elitist tards the both of you.

      I have a heck of lot more time for the tradesmen who come around a renovate and maintain my houses than such self important yuppie scum.

      By the way, recent analysis found the highest mortgage stress in Melbourne was East Brighton: likely wannabe wankers like you and Greg will morph into when you realise buying a house is what all your peers are doing and you simply must be next door to a ‘name’ suburb for appearance but can’t afford.  The other one is Hume.  People in Hume are genuinely the low paid and deserve some breaks; not mocking from elitist wankers who wouldn’t know what living it hard was.

      No wonder that in every instance where there is a revolution, such worthless, selfish, devisive elements of society that call themselves elites are the first against the wall.

    • Charlotte says:

      06:30pm | 21/06/11

      I love how the only way elitist tossers can justify their misguided sense of superiority is by creating a straw bogan who spends money on plasma tvs rather than paying bills. If you really think this is the reason why ‘working families’ are facing ‘cost of living pressures’ you’re an ignorant fool.

    • Lisa H. says:

      10:15pm | 20/06/11

      Patronising cwap.
      This is the sms generation, mate, nobody cares about your opinion on their spelling, certainly not in the context of daily blogs, anyway.

      Reply

    • Simon says:

      11:05pm | 20/06/11

      says the chick with the spelling mistake
      congratulations on spelling “your” and “their” correctly - you’ve just passed year 8 english

    • marley says:

      07:38am | 21/06/11

      @Simon - and you failed - it’s English, not english.

    • Peter Thornton says:

      10:47pm | 20/06/11

      Anyone who claims they’re elite isn’t. Similarly, anyone who was born outside of Sydney couldn’t be elite.

      Reply

    • Gabbi says:

      11:17pm | 20/06/11

      I found this to be a very lazy and tasteless piece.

      Reply

    • The Dude says:

      12:14am | 21/06/11

      You have unfortunately (in your ‘Elitist’ way), neglected the fundamental issue of what an Elitist really is (as per your definition); a ‘Tosser’.

      A ‘Tosser’ believes they are ‘Elitist’ because it makes it sound warm and cuddly for them. Just because you can spell (although you have certain difficulties around grammar) the hints of racism and “Elitism’ are coming through strongly.

      None of this really matters though. One day, your insignificant life is going to come towards an end, with little to show for it, as you dwindle away in your inner city apartment, still sipping your latte and still being a “Tosser”. You will reflect on a life, a life without much responsibility, with experiences of sipping lattes and you will think ‘Geez, maybe I should have opened my eyes, learned to appreciate what beer, wine, a country drive and a piece of steak is all about, understand how other people operate and what makes people who do not live in cities tick. Maybe I should have moved into a rural area of Australia, experienced what it’s like to live with people who have family commitments, why they persist and why they don’t pack up generations of responsibility and opt for the “Elitist/Tosser” lifestyle. Maybe I should have ‘put on someone else’s shoes, before commenting about lifestyles I know nothing about. Come to think of it, I didn’t have a go at nudists, or hippies, greenies, or the indigenous; I better re-write that article I wrote back in 2011.’

      Sometimes, just sometimes, maybe you need to step out of ego-centrism. Try it sometimes, you may be surprised at what you find.  smile

      Reply

    • Barney says:

      06:12am | 21/06/11

      I live in the CBD it’s great , but drink Latte never , real coffee lovers would never drink coffee flavoured milk

      Reply

    • marley says:

      07:32am | 21/06/11

      But real milk lovers would.

    • Craig says:

      08:02am | 21/06/11

      Well written, I’m still chuckling!

      Reply

    • Hamster says:

      08:22am | 21/06/11

      So, Where can I find this article? it sounds far fetched. Can anyone post a link ? could be a fabrication by an elitist wanker with a chip on his shoulder :p oh and how’s my spelling ? I wouldn’t know being from western Sydney and all.

      Reply

    • George says:

      09:10am | 21/06/11

      He looks like George off master chef

      Reply

    • nick says:

      10:01am | 21/06/11

      Except not as clean shaven. That croissant in the picture looks as if it would score quite well on masterchef also

    • Beerlover *boo* says:

      09:15am | 21/06/11

      It’s amazing how many chardonnay socialists read Marx, agree with it, and promptly turn into the Bourgeoisie that uncle Karl told them them to hate. It’s even complete with a total hatred of the working class.

      Clearly, the detection of irony is not the strong suit of the urban left.

      Reply

    • Funnier man says:

      09:19am | 21/06/11

      Very poorly written article that lacks any real humour.

      Reply

    • Matt says:

      09:41am | 21/06/11

      Replace Elite with the word Douche and your article reads a treat.
      Your article started out as a p*sstake of the word elite and ended up bashing the working class. As a university educated, latte loving, fine dining frequenter myself I am astounded that the notion of class is so prevalent even today. Many ‘tradies’ I know could buy and sell the ‘elite’ many times over. And you pay all the tax apparently? Do you employ anyone?....didn’t think so. Your confidence in your own ability to have all the answers is laughable….Douche indeed!!!

      Reply

    • Sinuhe-Perth says:

      09:54am | 21/06/11

      31337 is charging $120 to your obese latte drinking life partner to change her light bulbs, ayyy smile

      Reply

    • Leah says:

      10:05am | 21/06/11

      Despite recognising this is satire I found it kind of offensive. The suggestion that if you’re not elite you must be lower-class and uneducated and behave exactly the same way is very naive. I don’t live in the inner-city - in regional queensland we don’t have much of an “inner-city”. I hate coffee (not that coffee has anything to do with being elite, but I think it rather has more to do with how often you eat out/drink out). I’m a right-winger. I don’t work in the media (although I do have a degree in journalism. It put me off working in the field.) But I do have a degree. I can spell, I read, I love books. To be honest, the author sounds like the ignorant, uneducated one, rather than the people he is trying to satirise.

      Reply

    • Roland says:

      10:23am | 21/06/11

      He’s not elite… he’s a journalist. Lord of the plebs!

      Reply

    • Anthony says:

      10:46am | 21/06/11

      When I read this article yesterday, I didn’t take too much notice of it. It was OK for a cheap, post-lunch laugh before continuing with my work. This morning, however, I had an experience that shook me to my very core.

      I was standing at a gourmet, CBD cafe waiting for my coffee, when much to my horror I noticed a dirty, tattooed tradesman and his filthy friend waltz up to the counter and order themselves a couple of lattes.

      This is not acceptable - CBD construction sites should provide snack vans selling chocolate milk and sausage rolls for the blue collar types in order to keep them away from us elite, tertiary educated, hard-working corporate folk. Surely this is not too much to ask?

      Reply

    • Harquebus says:

      10:48am | 21/06/11

      Now all you need to do is, learn to write.

      Reply

    • Trollface says:

      12:56pm | 21/06/11

      *ba-bum-tsss*

    • ally says:

      02:07pm | 21/06/11

      The elite could still enjoy the pleasure of beer from time to time. They pubs are now renamed as boutique breweries.

      Sorry, but I didnt have time to spellcheck.

      Reply

    • Simon says:

      03:54pm | 21/06/11

      The simple fact that you need to use spellcheck tells alot about you.

    • Cate says:

      04:36pm | 21/06/11

      I don’t drink any form of coffee.  I eat prawn cocktails. I eat coloured pickled onions with cheese on sticks and drink pink sparkling wine for celebrations.  I have no idea what you are all talking about but I thought I might join in.
      Sounds like a good game, and I am bored at the moment.
      What does that make me?  I’d love the hear.

      Reply

    • Confused says:

      06:01pm | 21/06/11

      I don’t understand whether you are trying to defend the ‘elite’ or satirise them… Perhaps if you’d made it clear you would have produced something less offensive (to latte-drinkers and tradespeople, because apparently you can’t be both) and superficial. It may have even been funny. This, unfortunately, is not.

      Reply

    • Richard says:

      12:29am | 22/06/11

      I drink coffee (columbian fair trade) and read books. I have a whole library of them~ mostly history, philsophy and mysticism, but also an enormous quantity and variety of other ones on almost any topic you can think of, as well as plenty of fiction, novels and literature etc.

      So what?

      I don’t think that is the definition of elite.

      Elite is more about your agenda. Do you wish to see the breakdown of nation states and the imposition of a New World Order? Do you hope that a One World Currency can be introduced in the near future? If so, you’re probably and elitist. If not, you probably just love freedom (like me), and aren’t necessarily and bogan wanker.

      Reply

    • cold wombat says:

      05:22pm | 22/06/11

      In my experience there are two definitions for Elite.  One is derogatory.  It is used to denounce those who pontificate on what they read and chatter about but have no experience of.

      The second is bitter.  It is used to dismiss those who are better informed on a topic than you, and you can’t engage them in rational discourse, either for lack of knowledge, or lack of skill in the fine art of argument.

      All too often it is both at once.

      Reply

    • Thommo says:

      12:39pm | 26/06/11

      I hadn’t read Punch for a couple of weeks - the level had degenerated so far I thought , what was the point? i was bored this morning and had 30 minutes to spare after having read all the infinitrely better articles at cracked so decided to give The Punch anotehr chance - I chose this article becuase it had a lot of responses and my conclusion…don’t know why I bothered. Once again The Punch is just more inept naval gazing. I’d rather watch a Woody Allen film whilst having Lady gaga on the stereo with my eyes held open by tooth picks in a macabre 21st century version of a Clockwork Orange than read anymore. This is my final comment - Adios Fishbowl.

      Reply

    • vink666 says:

      06:42pm | 28/06/11

      self consumed article . could only read the first half and then decided i’d rather watch ACA .

      Reply

    • Jeremy says:

      09:30am | 07/07/11

      If their is a difference between Islamic and Islamist (the latter referring to those of an ideologically exclusive or fundamentalist bent), should we not draw the line between the elite (those like myself) and the elitist (I don’t know who they are, I wouldn’t associate with them)?

      Reply

    • Neil M says:

      02:43pm | 12/07/11

      errr,yuk,more U.S. grammar,‘I think I’ll *go buy* some beer’ . .to me,UNREADABLE . .

      Reply

    • MrEd says:

      04:59am | 13/07/11

      Whats Latte?
      Only elite snobs drink carlton products. Real aussies only drink 4X
      You also forgot to trade in your push bike and lycra for a flanny and V8 commodore.

      Reply

    • TheBrad says:

      03:06pm | 14/07/11

      This is the first Punch article I have re-read and laughed even harder this time round. Well done!

      From one elitist to another – Touché

      Reply

    • Hank says:

      01:15pm | 19/07/11

      ahaha top story mate!! yous has humour ay, me likes it.

      p.s. lattes are pretty expensive ay, and beer is waaay to expensive, damn tax, heaps cheaper overseas.

      Reply

    • Keith says:

      12:50pm | 18/08/11

      Yeah, um, I know you’re trying to be funny. But the whole tone of this article read less like “Calling someone elite is unfair and silly”, and instead read like “I’m going to stereotype the non-elite and see how they like it - aren’t I clever?”.

      Conclusion: you’re not elite, just a class snob.

      Reply

    • Jennifer says:

      04:43pm | 21/09/11

      Hahaha! I love this article, it’s so funny. X)

      Reply
 
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