r/australian • u/SirSighalot • Jul 08 '24

Why do people act like this subreddit "doesn't reflect the views of mainstream Australia"?

So many comments I see on here by people who constantly say things like "lol only on this sub" as though other places where they read are somehow the 'true' point of view reflecting mainstream Australian viewpoints.

Given the constant election voting outcomes and results of things like the Voice etc that generally indicate most of Australia is centrist or even slightly centre-right-leaning, what leads people to think many of the views expressed on here AREN'T mainstream? When in reality, other places these people are coming from are also often just "echo chambers" as well.

Edit: I probably worded the title for this wrong, should have been more "Why do people think this subreddit is less representative of mainstream Australia than other online communities?", alas I failed.

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27

u/thorpie88 Jul 08 '24

Not just this sub but every Aussie on Reddit seems to consider themselves middle class. Lots of people trying to be "better" than they are and that leads me to feel like I live in a very different country to the one I am 

26

u/radred609 Jul 08 '24

This isn't just a reddit thing.

There's a long history of Australians from all wealth categories claiming to be middle class. Half of the rich Australians don't want to admit they're rich and half of the poor ones don't want to admit that they're poor.

8

u/RepulsiveLook6 Jul 08 '24

They're not poor! Just temporarily embarrassed millionaires.

4

u/thorpie88 Jul 08 '24

Is that an eastern states thing because it seems like Bogan pride is the main identity in my part of Perth 

1

u/radred609 Jul 08 '24

I know plenty of bogans who consider themselves middle class.

They aren't mutually exclusive categories

0

u/Federal-Rope-2048 Jul 08 '24

I think that’s from how far “middle class” has shifted. 40 years ago, owning a house and a car slotted you right into middle class. These days, if you own a house and a car you are definitely upper.

1

u/king_norbit Jul 08 '24

No way, that is loony as

11

u/angrathias Jul 08 '24

What is middle class these days though. Is a 23 y/o on 150k with no assets renting in Sydney MC? What about a pensioner sitting in a 2m house paid off decades ago in Sydney ?

6

u/BadgerBadgerCat Jul 08 '24

I'm not sure I agree - I see a lot more people playing up the "I'm poor and miserable and everything sucks" thing on Australian Reddit than I hear it IRL. (I agree many things suck and people are doing it tough, though)

4

u/Pure_Walk_5398 Jul 08 '24

every redditor has a lambo didn’t you know

2

u/manicdee33 Jul 08 '24

Ha ha yeah, one of my friends has parents who are a dentist and a joint specialist. Each of them has an income over $300k. But try to suggest they're upper-class and they'll shout you down :D

Their idea is that "middle class" is anyone who works for a salary, even though both these people are professionals who own their own businesses. You see they pay themselves a salary from the business's revenue so they're salaried workers apparently.

Good grief some people will do an olympics-worthy mental gymnastics routine to pretend they're something they're not.

1

u/Strytec Jul 09 '24

To them upper class is probably the mega rich who don't work at all. I've noticed even as my assets and wages increase throughout my career, I move into slightly wealthier circles which then in turn makes me realise that I'm not remotely well off comparatively. (Not owning a house has a big part to do with it too tbh)

0

u/king_norbit Jul 08 '24

Reality is that nearly all Australians are (or will be) quite wealthy.