I'm pretty sure it's an apt use of the 'p' word, there. It gets thrown around a bit too much as far as Portland goes, but I don't think it's inaccurate.
Well, that's not the entirety of the definition. In general, "pretension" refers to a person or group or entity or whatever who/which is pretending toward something it is not or can't be. While it's stupid to claim that an entire city is pretentious, it can safely be said about a great many of its inhabitants.
I believe my brief definition was accurate and is not very different from what you're saying. I also find that the word one of the most overused and misused words one is likely to hear people using on a regular basis. It's a lazy insult that doesn't really say much except perhaps about the person using it. And for generalizing about "a great many of its inhabitants," then it's just as true that a given country is pretentious or that the world is pretentious (and annoying, for that matter). Not a very interesting thing to say, but then nor is this conversation, probably, including my own part in it.
But I do like that two separate comment threads on I,A this week have ignored their boring or stupid topics in lieu of discussions of language. A+, us.
@ Sad_Mao ~ i am a lover of you. Your DamosA anagram is brilliant & i smile with glee at your awesome machismo assaults. WamosA rocks, as well, but he has been far too silent. Thank you, Sad_Mao, for all that you do. <3
And Leaky ~ i bet you are the best to get stoned with. i would never have to worry about non-sensical talk that made perfect sense to me, & noone else. Who are you? What do you do? You are are rare species all your own. Bravo!
But, you do realize how pretentious you sound, right?
heh heh.