Snob dilemmas

[Pete Velcro]

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.

I feel the same way. Different strokes etc.

But what you do when asked what records you're buying is generalize to a degree with  which you feel comfortable: "I bought some Italian Speed Metal. Now leave me alone."

[dave from knoxville]

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.

Suggested solution: Go to record stores by yourself. It's the only way you can spend any reasonable amount of time there anyway (say 4-5 hours.)

I'm going right now! Nobody's invited to join me!

A bigger problem for ME is the snobs who work in the record store. I can't tell you how many times I have started to head towards the check-out, seen which hipster was working the cash register that day, and returned my Anne Murray disc to the bin without purchasing it, out of fear of disapprobation.

[dave from knoxville]

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.

Or else you're getting     sawwwwwwwwwwwwwwft

[dave from knoxville]

Go to the 3:16 mark if you don't get that crack; it really wasn't a slam.

[youtube]beaAKKYb-1A[/youtube]

[dave from knoxville]

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

The problem with this is you don't get to spend 4-5 hours in the record store.

In Knoxville, the groovy place is here,

http://www.buymusichere.net/stores/discexchange/

Yes, they do stock Miles Davis, Velvet Underground, AND Big Dipper, if that's any indication. You'll have to special order Anne Murray though.

[dave from knoxville]

Nashville also has a terrific store.

http://www.grimeys.com/

[buffcoat]

Why would anyone get upset that you were buying:

Boston, Boston
Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin
The Best of the Eagles, The Eagles
Skynrd
Mariah Carey



I mean, those are all avant garde, but not THAT avant garde.

[masterofsparks]

Skynrd

It's spelled "Skynyrd," you VanZantdummy.

[buffcoat]

Skynrd

It's spelled "Skynyrd," you VanZantdummy.

Ahh... please don't tell me how to spell it.
It sickens me.

*You* spell it "Skynyrd."  *I* don't spell it "Skynyrd," *I* spell it "Skynrd."

[Wes]

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."

May I ask why, in this scenario, you had no cup of tea on a saucer into which your monocle could have gently plopped after you were taken aback, like any decent gentleman?

You, sir, are a charlatan.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

I usually just bore my friends into submission with stories about the musicians.  This also applies to the "monocle" scenario.

[Beth]

Skynrd

It's spelled "Skynyrd," you VanZantdummy.

Ahh... please don't tell me how to spell it.
It sickens me.

*You* spell it "Skynyrd."  *I* don't spell it "Skynyrd," *I* spell it "Skynrd."

You're both wrong. It's Skinnard. That's obviously the most obscure spelling.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

For years, I've been thinking it was "Skin Nerd."

[iAmBaronVonTito]

For years, I've been thinking it was "Skin Nerd."

Leonard, Skin Nerd

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

For years, I've been thinking it was "Skin Nerd."

Leonard, Skin Nerd

I'm afraid to know what kind of nerd that is.