somewhat OT - what are you a snob about?

[Paul Carmody]

I was listening to the radio the other day and they were interviewing a sommelier. For those who may not be in the know--myself included--a "sommelier" is a wine expert. And to get to the highest level of certification they have to be able to correctly identify wines with 70% accuracy. (I think the audiophile community needs this kind of certification)

So it got me thinking about how I'm a complete rube when it comes to wine (mostly because I don't care for the stuff), yet some people--this sommelier included--probably have no patience for a dunce like me. Then I was thinking to myself, "Well what AM I a snob about?"

Am I a snob about audio equipment? Actually, no. I listen to the song first. I've been tremendously moved by great songs through absolute s--t equipment. I love what a great speaker can do to a song, but I'm much more concerned about the song itself.

So I had to dig a bit deeper. And when I really started thinking about what kind of crap I don't have patience for, I was surprised. The first two that popped into my mind:

-cliche music (specifically, stuff that sounds like stuff someone else has already done)
-"sitcom" jokes (not to be confused with The Simpsons, which is one of the highest forms of comedy writing in the last 100 years)

So please, share the things you're snobbish about; the things that you like so much that if someone does it poorly, it makes you cringe and see red. I'm very curious what sort of things we'll see...

[DanP]

Heh heh. This will be interesting if folks pipe up. I'm definitely a commercial snob. A bad commercial really gets under my skin and I really appreciate a good one. I'm a little snobbish about product packaging as well.

Dan

[johnnyrichards]

Karate, sadly. I watch most movies and TV shows and it looks like "Dancing With The Stars".

[billfitzmaurice]

Movie/TV plots. I usually have it figured out less than 1/3 of the way through. There hasn't been a whole lot of originality since Shakespeare.

[djg]

Karate, sadly. I watch most movies and TV shows and it looks like "Dancing With The Stars".

I was watching a Michael Jai White movie a few days ago, he seemed pretty bada**. Your opinion?


I am a furniture snob. I have some really nice wooden antiques from my parents, and some kit built reproductions. I will do without before living with cheap furniture.

[williamrschneider]

I'm a snob about the quality of photographic prints, b/w in particular.

[biff]

I'm a snob about the quality of photographic prints, b/w in particular.

That's not snobbery, that's vision.

[arlis_1957@yahoo.com]

Driving.

[timk]

Fly rods for me. I'd rather fish with a broom handle than some of the cheap crap I get handed from time to time.

[bungelow_ed]

It took awhile...but I am a snob about people who own dogs as a status symbol. Nothing get under my skin like seeing someone with a poorly cared for or untrained dog.

[marscoast]

It took awhile...but I am a snob about people who own dogs as a status symbol. Nothing get under my skin like seeing someone with a poorly cared for or untrained dog.

Nice one Ed - drives me nuts when I see some (typically young) fool with a young pit bull. I feel bad for both of them - the owner because he's a dumb arse who's not at all prepared to deal with that kind of responsibility, and the poor dog who always pays the price in the end.

[kmibb]

Jeans. I only buy boutique, selvage, made in America jeans. There's a big Japanese selvage scene too, but if you're over 6' tall they don't fit well.

Also getting snobby with wine.

[bungelow_ed]

Nice one Ed - drives me nuts when I see some (typically young) fool with a young pit bull. I feel bad for both of them - the owner because he's a dumb arse who's not at all prepared to deal with that kind of responsibility, and the poor dog who always pays the price in the end.

You are absolutely right, it's always the dog that suffers and usually through no fault of it's own.

[marscoast]

I decided to call in an expert of my own on this one... I emailed Paul's OP to my wife and asked, "So what am I a snob about?"

Her response:
"food and music and bedroom banter"
Love that woman's wit.

[Sketchin]

Beer, furniture, food (to a certain degree), Rum.

[LoveDoctor]

BEER. I hesitate to make direct comparisons to wine, but the yeasty arts of barley and hops provide greater pleasure to me than wine. When people say they despise a good craft beer in favor of a Coors Light, I always suspect they did not drink the good stuff the "right" way. The right glass and serving conditions, and especially the proper food pairing, can make the most bitter of IPAs sing on the palate. I'm quite sure I've been accused of being a beer snob after scolding table-mates for drinking their beverage improperly. But I try to restrain myself these days.

[jclin4]

BEER. I hesitate to make direct comparisons to wine, but the yeasty arts of barley and hops provide greater pleasure to me than wine. When people say they despise a good craft beer in favor of a Coors Light, I always suspect they did not drink the good stuff the "right" way. The right glass and serving conditions, and especially the proper food pairing, can make the most bitter of IPAs sing on the palate. I'm quite sure I've been accused of being a beer snob after scolding table-mates for drinking their beverage improperly. But I try to restrain myself these days.

Here's the paradox: Being a snob connotes being more discriminating. But it can also mean you have a more open mind. The Coors/Miller/Bud crowd stick to what they know: the regular and normal stuff. They are less open to something with a strange and new twist, or made in a dfferent way.

The connoisseur, be it for beer, music, food or whatever, often is more of an adventurous type.

[generic]

Here's the paradox: Being a snob connotes being more discriminating. But it can also mean you have a more open mind. The Coors/Miller/Bud crowd stick to what they know: the regular and normal stuff. They are less open to something with a strange and new twist, or made in a dfferent way.

The connoisseur, be it for beer, music, food or whatever, often is more of an adventurous type.

The Coors/Miller/Bud crowd are simple brainwashed by advertizing. Nothing more. They are good at creating beer in bulk that always taste the same, and that is actually a huge massive logistical accomplishment. My main complaint is they use rice to give the yeast energy instead of barley and it shows up in the flavor. My favorite beers are IPA's, but the hotter it gets, the lighter I can go, and if I'm stuck outside in the heat, I can even do a mass produced light beer.

[mattsk8]

Not sure if I'd say I'm a snob or just really set in my ways, but I'd say for me it's power and hand tools. I hate junk that doesn't work well. I also don't like using other people's tools.

As far as being anti-snob, I love good beer but can't stand the kind of dorks that think they know everything or say something to me because I'll enjoy a good ole Labatt or PBR every now and again as well. Used to like stouts till I had a couple too many Founder's Royal Stouts at a buddy's going away party; now I can't hardly smell it w/out getting an upset stomach. Love a good wheat beer though.

I also can't stand to be around people who think their crap doesn't stink. If that's the way you are either change your ways or except the fact that no one around you can stand you

Guess I went from snob to pet-peeves.

[jinjuku]

Beer: I brew

I actually have a gag reflex to Budweiser. Seriously you want to see me gag at the next GTG hand me a bud and watch me try to drink it. I can't.

BBQ/Smoking: I do my own