All in the best possible taste...

More wonderful stuff from that yardstick of all that is British and tasteful (the BBC) - an entire Radio 4 program dedicated to the historical origins of the concept of Good Taste.

It would seem it emerged in the 18th century. The British were getting very very wealthy as a nation, but suddenly had something of an anxiety attack about what the impact would be. The concern was that pleasure, in the shape of myriad forms of extravagent indulgence, might subvert virtue. Sumptuary laws had previously been used, in Britain as in other countries across the world, to curb consumption. But in the 18th century the Brits discovered Good Taste. This had the advantage that you could leave it to moralising prigs to administer, instead of having to go to the trouble of passing legislation. Good taste is thus much cheaper and quicker. It's also a fantastic way to have your cake (by enjoying an expensively luxurious lifestyle) and eat it (by occupying the moral high ground of good taste).

It's fantastic what people come up with, isn't it?