Comments on: Snobbery

Snobbery

growabrain — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 22:34:42 -0800

Snobs & the uber-snobs who snub them by William F. Buckley, Jr. "...Snobs should read this book. Also, anti-snobs. Also those who wonder... deep down whether they are more like... Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Dante, and Christ"

By: Wolof

Wolof — Tue, 01 Feb 2005 23:22:46 -0800

We are informed that there are no snobs in Shakespeare, Dante, Aristophanes, or the Bible. And there are certainly none in Le bourgeois gentilhomme.

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 04:01:32 -0800

Whatever its actual origin, by the late 18th century, "snob" had been picked up by university students in England, who used it to mean "townsman," as opposed to a "gownsman," or student. By the 1830s, "snob" was slang for an ostentatiously vulgar commoner, and in 1848 the novelist William Thackeray expanded the term yet further in his "Book of Snobs," where he used the term to denote a kind of grasping, pretentious social climber. And by the early 20th century, "snob" was being used in its modern sense to describe a person who derives satisfaction from disdaining those of lower social rank. But remember - not all snobs are what they seem.

By: lenny70

lenny70 — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 04:51:51 -0800

MetaFilter: snobs & the uber-snobs who snub them

By: lobstah

lobstah — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 05:07:39 -0800

When I think of snobs, William F. Buckley Jr. comes to mind.

By: contessa

contessa — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 05:22:39 -0800

When I think of good front page posts, I don't think of book reviews from September 2002.

By: Dr_Johnson

Dr_Johnson — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 05:34:12 -0800

Aristophanes and the Bible I accept. Dante, perhaps, although the role of the Courtier was emerging at this point- certainly displaying aspects of snobbery, though ideally with much more decorum than current manifestations of the social type. Shakespeare? Maybe, though if we fast-foreward even 50 years we get snobs (at least in London). Buckley is a snob, though he pales before Herr Professor Epstein.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 05:46:49 -0800

lobstah: On the other hand, he did write an Elvis book. But, y'know, half of everyone gives in to the King eventually.

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 06:09:37 -0800

We are informed that there are no snobs in Shakespeare, Dante, Aristophanes, or the Bible. 'Look, all these years I have worked for you like a slave, and I have never disobeyed your orders. What have you given me? Not even a goat for me to have a feast with my friends! but this son of yours wasted all your property on prostitutes, and when he comes back home, you kill the prize calf for him!'

By: lobstah

lobstah — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 06:11:01 -0800

raysmj: Yes he did, but isn't it telling that he felt that the Elvis story needed to be improved, and turned into fiction. BTW, I enjoyed your images of Augusta...especially " The Other Side".

By: lobstah

lobstah — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 06:13:53 -0800

oops..my bad, Savannah !

By: rxrfrx

rxrfrx — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 06:57:09 -0800

MetaFilter: snobs & the uber-snobs who snub them winner

By: Dr_Johnson

Dr_Johnson — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 07:20:44 -0800

Smart Dalek, I assume the question is whether or not something like the category of snob was available, not whether or not people act like snobs. In this respect, it requires the emergence of a subtlely gradated class structure. Nothing like this really existed in the Roman period, even in the cities.

By: raysmj

raysmj — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 07:27:40 -0800

Oh, it's both Augusta and Savannah - and thanks!

By: nofundy

nofundy — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 09:03:28 -0800

When I think of snobs, William F. Buckley Jr. comes to mind. posted by lobstah at 5:07 AM PST on February 2 Seconded. What with the fake accent and the stupid bowtie, pretending he's some sort of academic Hugh Hefner.

By: bardic

bardic — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 09:33:23 -0800

I've never met Buckley, and he is a true asshole. I have had to deal with Epstein professionally, when I was a small banana at a prominent literary journal, and me and the editor spent a good few hours discussing what a major asshole he is as well.

By: C.Batt

C.Batt — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 11:21:21 -0800

*sob* I'm a snob. I drive a SAAB. I detest corn-on-the-cob, people named Bob, and poetry that rhymes. :-)

By: jonmc

jonmc — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 12:39:59 -0800

What with the fake accent and the stupid bowtie, pretending he's some sort of academic Hugh Hefner. George Will is the one with the bowtie.

By: Dr_Johnson

Dr_Johnson — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 07:17:12 -0800

And George Will is no academic hugh hefner.