Highland Park snobbery? (Wilmette, Lake Forest, Winnetka: low income, rent, homes)

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Sunsmile

I haven't even tried to socialize with my neighbours (other then say "hello"). People that seem snobby to me don't know that we are renters (they are not my neighboors). Also, it's not the older people.

We are "new money" and come from very poor background. So I think that's probably it.

The group of people that I have trouble connecting with is the local moms of young kids. I just don't seem to "click" with any of the Highland Park moms. The ones I've encountered that have lived here all their life just seem to have that snobby attitude...

Strangely enough, when I take my kids to the playgrounds in Northbrook and Deerfield (neighboring suburbs), I don't get that bad feeling - people there seem much more down to earth.

How in the world would other mothers know this? Are you bringing it up in conversations?

If somone I just met made a point of talking about their very poor background I would probably avoid them. Not so much because of their background as much as my dislike of strangers giving me TMI.

HP is a pretty cool intellectual artsy place, very much like Evanston. Why don't you join some groups and get to know people without judging them on their backgrounds and without discussing yours in great detail.

[Sunsmile]

Originally Posted by Anthera

How in the world would other mothers know this? Are you bringing it up in conversations?
If somone I just met made a point of talking about their very poor background I would probably avoid them. Not so much because of their background as much as my dislike of strangers giving me TMI.

I don't mention my background to people that I meet in HP.

I mentioned it here, on this forum, because one of the posters said something about "new money vs old money, and places like Barrington being much more accepting". So I thought it was relevant to specify that I'm the "new money".

[reppin_the_847]

Funny how the contrasts can be seen even in neighboring close-by towns. I'd imagine you wouldn't have these problems in Highwood (just to the north), since it seems to have a large Latino population (used to have a lot of Italians back in the old days). And kids from Highwood still get to attend Highland Park High School. I'm not sure, but my guess is that their elementary schools don't perform quite up to par with their true Highland Park counterparts. Again, this may be due to the Latino population, and the greater challenge that immigrants' kids may have with learning & grasping English as a second language rather than as their first language.

Originally Posted by Sunsmile

I haven't even tried to socialize with my neighbours (other then say "hello"). People that seem snobby to me don't know that we are renters (they are not my neighboors). Also, it's not the older people.

We are "new money" and come from very poor background. So I think that's probably it.

The group of people that I have trouble connecting with is the local moms of young kids. I just don't seem to "click" with any of the Highland Park moms. The ones I've encountered that have lived here all their life just seem to have that snobby attitude...

Strangely enough, when I take my kids to the playgrounds in Northbrook and Deerfield (neighboring suburbs), I don't get that bad feeling - people there seem much more down to earth.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Sunsmile

I don't mention my background to people that I meet in HP.

I mentioned it here, on this forum, because one of the posters said something about "new money vs old money, and places like Barrington being much more accepting". So I thought it was relevant to specify that I'm the "new money".

I'm confused. In your post you said:

" We are "new money" and come from very poor background. So I think that's probably it."


How can that be the cause if they don't know about your background?

[TennisDD]

I agree, how does someone know if you are from old money or new money. I know I(and I think the vast majority) of people have a heck of a lot more respect for those who came from poor backgrounds than those who inherited wealth.
Unless someone is a mind reader, how in the world would they know or how would you know if someone is from old or new money?

Could of just had some bad experiences with snobs. There are snobs everywhere, usually it increases with wealth, thus living in a wealthy area, probably going to find more snaubs.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by TennisDD

I agree, how does someone know if you are from old money or new money. I know I(and I think the vast majority) of people have a heck of a lot more respect for those who came from poor backgrounds than those who inherited wealth.
Unless someone is a mind reader, how in the world would they know or how would you know if someone is from old or new money?

Could of just had some bad experiences with snobs. There are snobs everywhere, usually it increases with wealth, thus living in a wealthy area, probably going to find more snaubs.

I find it hard to believe that everone she meets is a snob.

[lincolnparker]

Actually Highland Park has the largest concentration of snobs in the chicagoland area. Many elitist organizations such as Harvard Club is based in Highland Park

Originally Posted by Anthera

I find it hard to believe that everone she meets is a snob.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by lincolnparker

Actually Highland Park has the largest concentration of snobs in the chicagoland area. Many elitist organizations such as Harvard Club is based in Highland Park

Okay, I'm going to have to ask where you get your evidence that HP has the highest concentration of snobs. Was there some survey taken?


To my knowledge the Harvard Club is no more elitist than the DePaul Alumni Organization. All graduates of the university are welcome to join.

And the Harvard Club is now located in Kenilworth:

Harvard Club of Chicago - Home

The "Harvard Club" as well as my college alumni club don't actually have a physical address. The current president or secretary will open a PO box or accept mail at their home address.

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by lincolnparker

Actually Highland Park has the largest concentration of snobs in the chicagoland area.

Does one have to register to be part of that "concentration of snobs" ? How is this information determined. ?

[nanannie]

Originally Posted by Anthera

I find it hard to believe that everone she meets is a snob.

We reap what we sow.
I would do a little soul serching to figure out why I am getting such a continuous reaction from people.