199 replies to this topic

[old soldier]

I went over to Costco to do sort of a snob survey and started to talk to people. Some did but others kind of shyed away but I thought maybe they were not doing it to be snobby but because they thought I might be sort of crazy.

I then went over to walmart and stood where I could see how folks reacted to the old guy who was the greeter and it seemed like everybody was real happy to say helo I was telling a guy at the hotel about this research and he pointed out to me that snobs probably didn't shop at walmart.

I could handle a conservative snob a lot better than I could a liberal one.

got a tip for anybody who gets real down about being ignored by snobs. what you do is just go on a pretend car buying trip. go from dealer to dealer and you get greeted like a long lost friend and it can last for a half hour or until the salesman figures out you are not going to buy a car.

its best to do this at an auto mall cause you can hop right over to the next dealership.

the other thing you can do is run down one of those missionary folks and pretend to be real interested and you can while away a few friendly hours

finally you can go to the hotel, have a few and talk to another drunk cause even a snob is more friendly after a beer or so

hope this helps anyone who is down in the dumps about snobs

[Steve Heard]

I don't think you should lump all conservatives in the same group just like you shouldn't lump all liberals together. Stevethedad I know of liberals that are unfriendly and feel they are superior to others too.

See, I didn't say that conservatives are unfriendly or feel they are superior, I
said, "...conservatives tend to be much more guarded and reserved."

No one, no group, no politicaly party has cornered the market on snobbery or unfriendliness.

Having lived in both liberal and conservative areas, however, I can tell you that the people who have been warmer, friendlier and more open to me as a stranger have been people in the liberal communities. It's a fact.

[D's TK]

I went over to Costco to do sort of a snob survey and started to talk to people. Some did but others kind of shyed away but I thought maybe they were not doing it to be snobby but because they thought I might be sort of crazy.

I then went over to walmart and stood where I could see how folks reacted to the old guy who was the greeter and it seemed like everybody was real happy to say helo I was telling a guy at the hotel about this research and he pointed out to me that snobs probably didn't shop at walmart.

I could handle a conservative snob a lot better than I could a liberal one.

got a tip for anybody who gets real down about being ignored by snobs. what you do is just go on a pretend car buying trip. go from dealer to dealer and you get greeted like a long lost friend and it can last for a half hour or until the salesman figures out you are not going to buy a car.

its best to do this at an auto mall cause you can hop right over to the next dealership.

the other thing you can do is run down one of those missionary folks and pretend to be real interested and you can while away a few friendly hours

finally you can go to the hotel, have a few and talk to another drunk cause even a snob is more friendly after a beer or so

hope this helps anyone who is down in the dumps about snobs

o.s., I probably shouldn't encourage you, but you are funny as heck!

[Duke]

I have seemed to run into just the opposite.

Ditto.

[realtor]

I've read the posts and it seems to me that no one has mentioned shy people. A lot of times shy people are labeled as snobbish when in fact that are simply afraid of reaching out. Is that being a snob? Another interesting thing I found out recently is about a close relative. I didn't live in the same area for a long time so didn't have much contact other than a phone call every couple of months but went back for their funeral. I found out that the reason they didn't have a lot of close friends was due to their shyness. They never seemed shy to me because I was family but to the outside world they were reclusive...we all have such myopic perceptions of each other...makes me wonder.

[Steve Heard]

I have seemed to run into just the opposite.

If we're both being honest, what do you think might be the reason we've had such different experiences?

Afterall, conservatives often criticize liberals for having 'bleeding hearts', and for being too tolerant and inclusive. Some have blasted liberals for suggesting we welcome the new mosque.

[mylo]

Afterall, conservatives often criticize liberals for having 'bleeding hearts', and for being too tolerant and inclusive. Some have blasted liberals for suggesting we welcome the new mosque.

But they also say that Muslims are generally exclusive. Maybe conservatives are the tolerent ones trying to keep our fair city friendly

[October15]

If we're both being honest, what do you think might be the reason we've had such different experiences?

Afterall, conservatives often criticize liberals for having 'bleeding hearts', and for being too tolerant and inclusive. Some have blasted liberals for suggesting we welcome the new mosque.

Wouldn't it be possible that both of you are experiencing acceptance from the group that considers you "in"? C with Cs, and L with Ls? When I was in a jazz choir at Cabrillo college it took me a very long time to break in and one guy told me that it was because he sized me up right away as someone that probably voted for Ronald Reagan. I had to work very hard to not look too conservative to relate to people in that choir. I don't think it was a problem with liberals as a group but just a situation where I was perceived of as an outsider.

[Redone]

See, I didn't say that conservatives are unfriendly or feel they are superior, I
said, "...conservatives tend to be much more guarded and reserved."

No one, no group, no politicaly party has cornered the market on snobbery or unfriendliness.

Having lived in both liberal and conservative areas, however, I can tell you that the people who have been warmer, friendlier and more open to me as a stranger have been people in the liberal communities. It's a fact.

Just maybe it was the "Obama 08" shirt, ya think ?

[ngilbert]

Another great place is is the garden section cashiers at walmart. The lines are always long and it seems I always start a conversation with someone there.

Agreed - I've spent the best years of my life in that line. May as well get comfortable with the other people stuck there with me, I figure.

It's the same with the Home Despot garden line - or really any nursery. Gardening is like fishing (I do both) - you already have something in common with the other people there, so you have something to talk about to start the conversation, like "Oh, I see you are purchasing an Amazonian Man-eating Gardenia Vine! I bought one of those last year, and I over-watered it" That kind of thing.

Of course, then you become a "garden snob" or a "fishing snob", but hey. At least you're friendly

[gorilla]

But they also say that Muslims are generally exclusive. Maybe conservatives are the tolerent ones trying to keep our fair city friendly

[Steve Heard]

Wouldn't it be possible that both of you are experiencing acceptance from the group that considers you "in"? C with Cs, and L with Ls?

I think you might be getting close. I think those who are unfriendly toward a stranger might be doing so because he's not 'in'.

[realtor]

I think you might be getting close. I think those who are unfriendly toward a stranger might be doing so because he's not 'in'.

Sometimes I feel that way about this forum...seems that some of the folks know each other fairly well and respond to their posts while others who post seem as though they are ignored...could it be the difference between being in the "in" crowd vs. not?

[tgianco]

See, I didn't say that conservatives are unfriendly or feel they are superior, I
said, "...conservatives tend to be much more guarded and reserved."

No one, no group, no politicaly party has cornered the market on snobbery or unfriendliness.

Having lived in both liberal and conservative areas, however, I can tell you that the people who have been warmer, friendlier and more open to me as a stranger have been people in the liberal communities. It's a fact.

I would have to disagree with you there. The Bay Area is about as unfriendly a place as you'll find nowadays, and it's very liberal. If you're conservative in the Bay Area, you might be physically at risk (see Critical Mass bike rides for examples). I don't consider myself in either boat, but liberals from the Bay, for the most part, tend to be totally rude if you are not liberal and not inclusive at all.

I would agree, though, that the extremes at either end (right or left) are not inclusive. Those in the middle that can acknowledge or see both sides tend to much friendlier, not as confrontational and open to meeting others from all groups.