What is Snobism? (part one)

If there’s a trait I dislike a lot, it’s snobbery, or snobism depending on how you want to call it. It irritates me to the nth degree. For those who have been living under some rock and never had a chance to experience it, snobism is about claiming superiority based on perceived status, taste, or knowledge in a particular domain, and then using that supposed superiority to belittle or exclude others. Nice, isn’t it? 

Contrarily to what many are thinking, it's not just about liking expensive things; it's about making others feel inferior for not liking or having those things, or for not adhering to a specific (and often arbitrary) set of standards. 

If you’re a keen observer of the society around you, snobbery manifests itself as a sick craving to belong, to a perceived "elite" group and to distance oneself from those considered "inferior" or "common." 

Along the same lines, snobs are quick to judge others harshly based on their possessions, background, education, tastes, or adherence to certain social norms. You generally can tell a snob by their affected manner or exaggerated display of knowledge or sophistication to impress others or reinforce their perceived status. Snobs also display a strong belief in social hierarchies and one's place (usually at, or near the top) within them. 

As I mentioned earlier, snobbery isn't just about wealth; there are intellectual snobs that belittle others for not reading certain books or understanding complex theories. There are gourmet snobs that will make fun of those who don't appreciate haute-cuisine or specific vintages. Of course, there are also plenty of fashion snobs who judge others for not wearing designer labels or following specific trends, cultural snobs that look down on popular culture or mainstream entertainment and educational snobs that boast about their alma mater while dismissing others' education. 

Finally, there’s the “Exception that confirms the rule” and come the “Reverse snobs" that are snobs about not being a snob, looking down on those who display conventional signs of wealth or status. This would suggest that we might all be snob. Really?

Tomorrow, we’ll study the deep roots of snobbery, so please stay tuned...