Snob dilemmas

[emdasher]

I'm curious to see if any of the fellow music geeks on these boards ever find themselves in this dilemma:

You're at your favorite record store with a friend who likes music enough, but isn't up to your level of fanaticism. Also, your friend isn't quite aware of the intensity with which you seek out music. You pick out a bunch of records. Your friend sees that you're carrying a bunch of records and naturally asks, "What did you get?"

Knowing full well that your friend hasn't heard of any of the bands whose records you've just picked up, do you:

A. Show them the handful of embarrassingly obscure records, and grin and bear the look of sheer disgust on their face (read: blank stare) as they realize that your friendship is a sham (read: that they didn't know you were into music so much).

B. Say, "You haven't heard of any of these bands," and completely alienate them from your dark obsession (for their own good, of course).

C. Explain the dilemma that their inquisitiveness has put you in as you quickly rush out of the store to go do something else.

I always find myself at risk of coming off as a total snob when I go to record shops with friends. I suppose it's possible that this dilemma arises at least partly from a subconscious desire to be thought of as a snob.

[AllisonLeGnome]

I sometimes find myself in a similar situation when someone asks what I'm listening to- my music taste is by no means particularly snobby, but it's not usually things the average teenager would know. I just reply honestly- I don't really see any problem with that.

[emdasher]

I sometimes find myself in a similar situation when someone asks what I'm listening to- my music taste is by no means particularly snobby, but it's not usually things the average teenager would know. I just reply honestly- I don't really see any problem with that.

I think the problem is that I'm too sensitive.

[Beth]

I've never had anyone look at me in disgust because they didn't know about a band I liked. Nor have I ever considered a friendship a sham because of it. Your friends sound kind of harsh.

[yesno]

The easy solution is to give up going to record stores and just steal all of your music from the internet.

[emdasher]

I've never had anyone look at me in disgust because they didn't know about a band I liked. Nor have I ever considered a friendship a sham because of it.

I just mean that they've never realized how interested I was in music before. I guess for some reason I feel as though I have to keep it a secret among my friends, since we all have wildly varying interests that sometimes are not shared. I suppose that's the real problem here (my unwarranted secrecy, that is).

[todd]

I know what you mean. Sometimes, when I paint or sculpt a masterpiece, people say "What does this work of art mean?" And I'm too busy pitying their ignorance to say anything.

They would never understand it anyway. Fuckin' plebes.

[Beth]

I've never had anyone look at me in disgust because they didn't know about a band I liked. Nor have I ever considered a friendship a sham because of it.

I just mean that they've never realized how interested I was in music before. I guess for some reason I feel as though I have to keep it a secret among my friends, since we all have wildly varying interests that sometimes are not shared. I suppose that's the real problem here (my unwarranted secrecy, that is).

Also, using phrases like "embarrassingly obscure" probably isn't helping.

[yesno]

Some of my best friends are absolutely uninterested in music, and I like it that way.  Musical taste isn't really a good indicator of other personality traits.  Unless you are a Randy Newman fan, in which case I condemn you.

[emdasher]

Some of my best friends are absolutely uninterested in music, and I like it that way.  Musical taste isn't really a good indicator of other personality traits.  

I have friends who are waaaay into politics, and I always feel a bit like I missed the party when hardcore politics chat starts. I feel like music could be a similar thing.

[iAmBaronVonTito]

i have the same problem.  every time i open my mouth about music i get blank stares, so i gave up on trying to explain anything.

however, in this instance i always say, "just a bunch of stuff," and let them look through my stack; i dont say a word and i let them figure it out on their own.

[Raad_Man]

why would you hang out with dumbasses with shitty taste in music?  they sound like a bunch of losers.

[mokin]

Time for another snob dilemma:

Someone has said something quite shocking, and your monocle has fallen out and shattered against the floor. Do you:

A) Say, "MY WORD!" and look disgusted at the person.
B) Quickly kick away the remains of your monocle and leave the room.
C) Try to joke away your embarrassment by remarking that you "simply must try those 'spectacles' that Frederick was raving about at last week's salon."

[emdasher]

Time for another snob dilemma:

Someone has said something quite shocking, and your monocle has fallen out and shattered against the floor. Do you:

A) Say, "MY WORD!" and look disgusted at the person.
B) Quickly kick away the remains of your monocle and leave the room.
C) Try to joke away your embarrassment by remarking that you "simply must try those 'spectacles' that Frederick was raving about at last week's salon."

Finally, someone who gets me.

[cutout]

D) Remove one of your long white perfume-dipped silk gloves and slap the person twice across the face