Open Thread: What Are You a Snob About?
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If you read our post earlier this week about brain candy books and other fun summer reads, you probably had one of three responses: (1) “Hmm, I should check out some of these,” or (2) “Eh, not my type of book,” … OR (3) “Ugh, why does anyone read those kinds of books, anyway?” Some of us are just book snobs — and all of us are snobs about something or other, right? We thought general snobbery would be a fun topic for a open thread on the day after a disorienting middle-of-the-week holiday, so here's the question:
What ARE you a snob about — and what are you decidedly NOT snobby about? Did you used to have things in the first category that, over time, moved into the second category? How about vice versa — have you gotten more snobby about anything as you've gotten older and wiser?
Earlier this year, we got almost 100 comments on our “What are you drinking in 2018?” open thread, so clearly many readers are very discerning about wine, cocktails, and so on — and Kat readily admits that she's a gin snob. (She wrote that book post, so she's obviously an equal-opportunity reader; she also notes that she generally prefers simple Folgers coffee rather than fancy stuff.)
So let's hear it, ladies: What are YOU a snob about? Clothes, bags, jewelry, or shoes? Makeup and skincare? Food, restaurants, cookware? Wine, tea, coffee? Music, books, TV, movies? Home decor? (Just in case it needs to be said, there are no right answers here! We just thought it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on what purchases are worth the splurge and what aren't…)
To me, the most interesting aspect of this is what you once were snobby about but eventually became more open-minded about. I used to be a book snob (hey, I was an English major, so it came easily), but not anymore — today I read everything from literary nonfiction about little-known historical events to “contemporary romance.” I also used to be a music snob — and the same thing happened for me with movies. I used to see most of my movies at an independent theater, and those films were definitely not going to become blockbusters. In 2015, in a “regular” theater, I saw the trailer for Captain America: Civil War, and my reaction was, “Another superhero movie?! There are SO many superhero movies!” Well, since then, I have become something of a Marvel geek and so far have 13 movies and 6 TV series under my belt (ha, not a superhero belt, just a regular one). I have to say, I kinda get chills when I'm sitting in the movie theater and hear the Avengers theme. (Grammar, though? I think I'll always be a grammar snob.)
What about you? What have you always been a snob about, either outwardly or secretly? What did you USED to be a snob about but no longer are — and what made you change your thinking? What are your guilty pleasures regarding food, Netflix binges, and so on?
Picture via Stencil.
I’m a reverse snob about bridal teas, destination bach parties, and engagement parties. You aren’t a princess being coronated; you don’t need months of parties. Get over yourself, sweetheart.
(This does not apply to nice brides who have a tea or luncheon so their elderly lady relatives can celebrate their upcoming nuptials without travelling to the event itself. That’s a kind and thoughtful thing to do.)
+ a million
This one is related to sweaters made of natural fibers – YARN. I can’t knit with polyester or acrylic. The yarn feels scratchy and cheap between my fingers. Currently, I’m knitting up a sweater in a silk/merino/cashmere blend. I have two balls of qiviut stashed away for the perfect pattern (that I’ve yet to come across). I dream of vicuna. This makes hand-knitted garments really expensive to make, but worth it in my books.
I used to be on the knitlist way back when and sometimes someone would be tongue in cheek about ack-rylic, and then get a tongue lashing from the Hobby Lobby crowd.
I’m all about the natural fibers (that was me above) mainly due to my history of knitting and sewing. I personally don’t even like to knit with cotton or linen because I find it hard on the fingers. Give me a lovely, smoothly-woven merino wool any day.
I still have a stash of some baby alpaca that is so silky it would make you cry.
Yes! I found baby alpaca at a discount store as a lucky fluke and still visit that chain sometimes hoping lightning will strike twice.
Fake label goods. I’d rather carry my basic leather madewell tote than a fake LV neverfull.
1. Folding the cuff of a blazer, particularly a really dressy blazer. It drives me crazy.
2. Poor manners. I grew up in poor circumstances, but my mom had grown up well-off and kept impeccable manners. While her approach to many things was not so good, she imparted some fantastic manners that really helped me do well with the “politics” and expectations of working at a fancy firm post-grad.
Entertainment. I’ve referred to my preferred entertainment as “competence pr0n” before. I don’t like watching/reading about people who aren’t good at what they do. Give me Bobby Flay on FoodTV, not the kiddie cooking competitions, unless it is Master Chef Junior. I read the In Death books because Eve Dallas kicks a$$ as a murder cop, even as she’s learned how to be a functioning human being. I didn’t read the Twilight series or the 50 Shades stuff because they were all about seriously flawed people who can’t function in healthy relationships, and they gave teenagers some pretty effed-up views on what healthy relationships actually look like.
My partner and I caught some old Star Trek episodes from the 90s and early 2000s, and I realized that this was a lot of the appeal of this often corny show: it’s about smart, decent people who are really, really good at their jobs. Now I’m trying to find other shows with this premise.
Book lists. I will definitely give you a side eye if you tell me you read everything on the New York Times Bestsellers list or Oprah’s list. The rule in our house is read anything that interests you, not because it’s popular. There are great books on those lists, and great books that aren’t listed too!
Snob – Hair. Because I have it cut short, I tend to book my appointments about 4-6 weeks apart. It seems like I’m always coordinating work appointments around one or two. It is also much harder to hide a mistake made by a stylist that you tried to save a few bucks on. Usually I don’t trust anyone who hasn’t been in the industry for at least 10+ years.
Skimp – Watches. Fitbit is about as fancy as I’ll get.
Monograms. Don’t like ‘em, don’t understand them, especially in your own house.
I feel like they only work on bath towels for college kids living in large dorm with a communal bathroom…..where you actually might forget which one is yours. Otherwise your monogrammed [insert item here] just say to me “if you steal [ insert item] from me, I’ll know”
– anyone with a fancy look at me LV purse
– ppl who have tons of packaged foods in their shopping cart
– men in cargo shorts
– women in maxi dresses, denim jacket, statement necklaces that are just loud
– ppl who take too many selfies / use those weird instagram filters making themselves look too airbrushed/ or like a cute dog
– ppl who try and sell their donation pile junk for $200!
i could go on but i must sleep
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Registries. I don’t judge people who have them, but I hard core judge what is on them. The best ones are thoughtful and carefully selected. The worst have a mishmash of things that you’ll probably never use and is just a wishlist of everything you’d get at a store if you won a shopping spree there.
Otherwise I’m pretty much live and let live. I love high brow and low brow things so I reserve my snobbery for registries.
OMG. Snob about most things mentioned. What a tight a I am!
Did I miss something here? Is no one a snob about what their kids get?
I pretty much stick with the basics when it comes to myself, and my husband sticks to the ultra-basics. But when it comes to our kid, she generally gets the best we can afford. Food, clothing, education, toys, everything.
I fully expect her to have impeccable manners (with respect to that I mean she must be kind to everyone) and work very hard. For better or for worse, I’m middle class and so are my values.
I know wealthy people who don’t like to spend money when it comes to their kids and I find this puzzling.
With many kids, it is easy to spoil them and for them to grow up feeling entitled. You can often not see it, when they are you own kids. If you combine your approach with educating your children about saving, working to buy what you want (i.e. chores at home for allowance and/or getting summer/part-time jobs when they are older) etc… then they can come out ok. Because you are teaching them your values (invest in your kids), but also the value of a dollar and how important it is to be self sufficient.
Fit and fabric on clothes. I will not buy things that pull or gape or have pockets that lie funny, or where the fabric is cheap or scratchy or see through or wrinkle prone.
It means I don’t buy very many clothes. I know a good tailor who can tell me if something can be made to fit or not. And I am learning to sew garments that fit well.
Being a lighthearted “snob” about things that are a matter of taste (e.g. movies, music, In-N-Out) can be quirky or cute. Being a “snob” and judging people about things that are a matter of privilege/access/race (e.g. Ivy schools, place of birth, parents’ professions) is not. And I think the point of this thread was the former.
1. I’m a snob about gender reveal parties. Seriously, who does this? And why spend money on a party to celebrate what chromosomes your unborn baby has? Google “gender reveal gone wrong” and you’ll see some of the idiotic ways people have chosen to celebrate this loathsome tradition.
2. I used to be a snob about cruises. Before kids, I loved traveling independently and visited lots of different countries, Lonely Planet guide in hand. Now I’ve got two small kids and traveling with them is absolutely exhausting. We are taking them on a Disney cruise to Alaska this summer and I. Am. So. Excited. I don’t have to pack and unpack all of their crap a million times. I don’t have to figure out what the hell I’m going to feed them for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks and then clean up their messes. Heck, I don’t even have to entertain them–there’s a youth club and Mickey and Minnie for that. I absolutely cannot wait!