Comments by "Regis" (@Timbo5000) on "" video.

  1. It's interesting how opulence in most of Europe is viewed almost as the exact opposite of how you describe the US approach to it. Particularly here in the Netherlands the rich are downright hated and the cultural norm is to hide your riches to prevent looking snobby. Any flaunting of wealth is seen as inherently tacky, as unnecessary and condescending self-aggrandising. Taste is seen as subtle and refined markers of cultural knowledge, not too lavish, not too ordinary, something that shows you know the conventions of style (as you stated, preconceived notions of style/beauty within your culture). There is nothing comparable to the "American dream" here. Instead of idolising the flaunting rich, we seem to idolise and emulate the upper class itself as "the epitome of class", if you will. But instead of emulating their wealth, we emulate their style and behaviourisms. Style is a lot more important across Europe than actual wealth, though naturally you need a certain degree of wealth to fund proper style (and a lot of wealth to attain the height of style) but in that sense wealth is viewed as more functional than a goal as such.
    30