What is 'cultured'

[clarasara]

What is cultured? Me and my friend disagree. A joint friend of ours is 40 this year and never been out of the Uk although she goes back up to Scotland to visit family and possibly been to Wales. She has zero interest in foreign travel.
She is fun, reads widely and extremely knowledgable , knows every flower and plant, sporty, can hold a conversation about anything, loves theatre/museums etc
My other friend thinks she is not very cultured as she has not been abroad??

She can have a conversation about anything and is one of the happiest people I know. I don't see not travelling as lack of culture!

Like you, I'd say it is related to 'educated', but in the widest sense, not the number of degrees or other qualifications you have.
More to do with being interested in a range of things. Also I think there is something there about being able to mix with different people.
It's quite difficult to put your finger on, but wouldn't exclude a person because they haven't travelled abroad per se.

I agree you don't need to travel abroad to be cultured

Though I guess if she doesn't travel for sort of xenophobic reasons, like she thinks nothing outside the UK is interesting or worthwhile, that's not very cultured

I'd be thinking more along the well read, interest in the "Arts" rather than travel.

Lots of people go abroad, speak English, East recognisable food, barely leave the hotel / beach. That doesn't make them cultured

Why are you talking about a friend in this way? It doesn’t sound like something a friend would do.

This.

I don’t have much time for people who think the ability to pay for lots of holidays makes them cultured.

Cultured is being able to have a decent conversation about different types of art, music, good political awareness and knowledge of most major literary fiction etc.

I don’t think it’s necessary to have travelled overseas to become “cultured” - and certainly travel abroad doesn’t necessarily make you cultured.

Some travel abroad could well make someone become more “cultured”, depending on the travel. It helps to experience some things directly. It kind of depends why, I think. If she thinks there’s nothing to be gained by travel, then I would think she’s missing a trick. But I get the sense that you’re suggesting she’s so full and content where she is that she hasn’t got room for more? I guess I don’t know anyone who is able to afford travel, and who is physically capable of it, that doesn’t want to see what it’s like in another country. I’d be wondering why, if I’m honest. But I definitely disagree with your mutual friend - I’d think you can be cultured without it.

cultured
[ˈkʌltʃəd]
ADJECTIVE
characterized by refined taste and manners and good education

Based on that definition, the other friend is wrong.

Does your uncultured friend live in Cheapside? 🙃

Really? It wasn't a slagging off kind of way. I emphasised she is a lovely person! Stop been awkward!

Oversea's travel is overrated, it's mass tourism mostly. I've travelled extensively.

My other friend thinks she is not very cultured as she has not been abroad??
Is your other friend jealous or something? being snobbish is rather uncluttered I say.

Being snobbish is rather uncultured

I guess I am snobbish then. I can't afford to go abroad so see no point in having an interest in doing so.

My other friend thinks she is not very cultured as she has not been abroad??

By making that remark, your other friend has admirably demonstrated that they are not exactly 'cultured' either.

It's the friend commenting on OP's 'uncultured' friend who is snobbish @XenoBitch Not being well travelled is not connected to being cultured or uncultured.

I don’t see it anything to do with travel although most cultured people I know do actually love to travel. It’s being able to hold an intelligent conversation, being aware of current affairs and normally being quite arty (well read, like theatre, galleries etc)

Knowledge beyond immediate necessities of life to put it very broadly.
Knowledge that enriches understanding of life e.g. lots of classical references reccur through contemporary life.
Learning for the pleasure of learning.

International travel is good, but not essential. Some people can be "well-travelled" but not really experience anything more diverse than homogenous or highly commercialised resorts that could be anywhere in the world. Also the UK is culturally rich and diverse and you can have so many experiences just within the UK.

There's so many levels to culture.
My weak spot is professional sport and contemporary popular culture.