no one should willingly associate themselves with Reading.
I like it when people pronounce it 'Reeding', as I then claim it signifies how we're all literate here!!
I take it Reading is not regarded a good place, I do have some relatives there...but they are rather spiffingly nice.
Depends where.
Parts of Caversham are kinda posh, mainly those that back onto the river. Pangbourne and similar outlying villagey places can be similar. Henley (in all it's Regatty goodness) is just up the road and some swanky high-end companies have a headquarters* here.
Overall, Reading (in various forms) covers most of "the Royal County of" Berkshire, which is what probably makes people think it's all posh and spiffing... but just count the hoodrats and you'll see it's as much a dive as anywhere else.
People within the Not-A-City of Reading like to think they're almost London.
They drive 'London Style' - like a complete ***** and without regard for anyone, ie the imagined stereotype and nothing like how Londoners actually drive, for the most part.
There is an 'alternative' scene, but if you've ever been up the Dev, down Gossips, to the Camden Turtle or (if you're a tourist) The Ballroom, The Fox and Slimelight, it's kinda pathetic. There is one Goth, one Metaller, one Emo and the rest are pale imitations... an I'd say the same thing for just about every other aspect of Reading culture.
Friday and Saturday night fights in the High Street are *nothing*, compared to the likes of Tottenham, East Ham, Camden, Watford and even Aylesbury.
It does get crowded and people try to be 'nasty' but, aside from a few murders here and there, they have nothing on proper city folk. It's more like a herd of cattle with iPhones and high street designer clothing than anything else.
*Weird how you can apparently have more than one headquarters, now...
