Describe stuck-up, materialistic and snobbish... (Houston, Dallas: movers, contractors, living)

[aceplace]

Iy may be truly said that people in DFW have a low regard for poverty and squalor.

When did economic penury become a moral badge of honor?

[FarNorthDallas]

I think it depends on the person not so much their income level. A former co-worker of mine was a total snob. Said things like, "I would never step foot in a Target store." She was into exclusive brands, had her hair done professionally twice a week, very vain, total snob, said mean things to other people. Yet, her income wasn't that high.

Then there are the very wealthy people we know. They don't brag, don't [brand] name drop, don't compare, don't look down their noses. Ya know, it just depends.

It does seem Dallas has more than their fair share of stuck up folks though. In other places people brag about getting a bargain, finding a deal or making a product last as long as possible even if it isn't pretty. But a lot of people I know in Dallas want new everything, brag about how much money they spent on something because it was a fortune, would never utter the words, "I can't afford that" and never would they tell their friends they are trying not to spend so much. It's like they are trying to *outspend* each other.

But, it's all relative. When my son was in public school he was considered spoiled by the other parents because he had several gaming systems and now that he is in a pricey private school he is considered to be deprived because he doesn't have *every* gaming system.

[dgz]

One of my former contractors moved here from Chicago and he said that whenever he went out to a club or someplace and a woman would approach him, he would be asked: What do you do for a living? What kind of car do you drive? ...and a few other questions that were pointing toward 'How much money do you make? He said this little 'interview' would occur often within just the first 5 minutes of meeting someone.

I would categorize this more as 'materialistic' (or perhaps 'desperate') rather than stuck-up.

I think materialistic is when you value materials over relationships and meaningful experiences. And stuck-up is when you create an artificial standard that you can apply yourself to, then judge others against, and use as a measuring stick to make yourself feel better--even if that standard is lame. The women at these clubs were probably being materialistic and not stuck up.

Originally Posted by Panks

I've read a few posts, and that describe Dallas as stuck-up,materialistic etc... Since one persons "stuck-up" is another persons "classy", please explain if that means..don't get the paper in your bathrobe or don't go to the store without make-up or trade your car in for a new one every year...?

I know not everyone in Dallas would be the same, but I'm just curious if my idea of stuck-up is like anyone elses?

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by dgz

One of my former contractors moved here from Chicago and he said that whenever he went out to a club or someplace and a woman would approach him, he would be asked: What do you do for a living? What kind of car do you drive? ...and a few other questions that were pointing toward 'How much money do you make? He said this little 'interview' would occur often within just the first 5 minutes of meeting someone.

I would categorize this more as 'materialistic' (or perhaps 'desperate') rather than stuck-up.

I think materialistic is when you value materials over relationships and meaningful experiences. And stuck-up is when you create an artificial standard that you can apply yourself to, then judge others against, and use as a measuring stick to make yourself feel better--even if that standard is lame. The women at these clubs were probably being materialistic and not stuck up.

Yes, the materialistic gold digger won't be stuck-up until she catches the rich guy and then she can be a snob due to his money and her fancy materialistic things. HA!! He'll just be a poor, unsuspecting fool.

[kt2le]

IMO, it's crass to talk about money. Usually people that are most concerned with it have the least - and feel like they have something to prove by showing off in some fashion, either with material possessions they want to make sure you see or by putting others down for not having something. Usually those who don't flaunt material possessions or have affected attitudes regarding "things" are many times more likely to be able to afford the very things "show-offs" are bragging about.

A good book is The Millionaire Next Door, which talks about this very thing. Odds are, the nondescript man down the street driving the 5 year old Chevy is wealthier than the showboat whizzing around in a BMW. Don't let appearances fool you. You see a lot of this around Dallas, though - and other cities, too, I'm sure.

We've had discussions similar to this with our teenagers. They think that a person driving an expensive car must be rich. We tell them that that's not necessarily true for it may just be a person who could get a car loan.

[Guingirl]

Everyone has different personal experiences in life and that defines their definitions that the OP posted about.

To me - Snobbish and Materialistic and what I have seen in my life (and No...not all Californians are alike...or they wouldn't be moving here trying to escape the California that it has become - and its not just high real estate prices..but that is another post all together ) anyway...to me it is doing things to really impress other people.

Generally people that I have met that have had money all their life (short of some idiots you see in the media) have been very nice and don't feel like they have to show you how much money they have.

[KewGee]

Originally Posted by kt2le

IMO, it's crass to talk about money. Usually people that are most concerned with it have the least - and feel like they have something to prove by showing off in some fashion, either with material possessions they want to make sure you see or by putting others down for not having something. Usually those who don't flaunt material possessions or have affected attitudes regarding "things" are many times more likely to be able to afford the very things "show-offs" are bragging about.

A good book is The Millionaire Next Door, which talks about this very thing. Odds are, the nondescript man down the street driving the 5 year old Chevy is wealthier than the showboat whizzing around in a BMW. Don't let appearances fool you. You see a lot of this around Dallas, though - and other cities, too, I'm sure.

We've had discussions similar to this with our teenagers. They think that a person driving an expensive car must be rich. We tell them that that's not necessarily true for it may just be a person who could get a car loan.

That is so true. I have that book and really enjoyed it. We have one of those that I know of in my little podunk town. If I didn't know for sure, I would have never guessed it. His car is more like 20 years old.

Many people feel the need to "make statements", if you will, about themselves; hence, the fancy cars, plastic faces and ?, big homes, clothes, big gifts at Christmas time, and the like. Some of it is just plain being insecure. None of that impresses me and if I were rich, I know I'd be the "didn't look like" millionaire next door.

[turnbun]

I have lived in Dallas, Houston, Lubbock, and Austin in my adult life. As far as materialism goes, I would say Dallas wins hands down as being the most materialistic place I have lived. Appearances seem to matter a lot here -- Nice cars, designer label clothes, NEW houses, and the like seem to be much more important (to some people) here than they are in other cities I've lived. For some reason in Dallas moreso than other places I have lived, newer equals better.
I had an acquaintance who, when we were about 24 years old (which was more than 10 years ago), made a decision to not date any man who made less than $100k/year. She had a little group of friends who all had the same ideals (ha!). She didn't make a ton of money herself, but drove a mercedes and lived in a posh apartment just to try to attract said $100k man. She dated a friend of mine and told him how lucky he was that she was dating him b/c he didn't quite fit her financial requirements. Needless to say, he dumped her. Last I heard she was still single in that posh apartment (probably driving a new leased Mercedes) waiting for her sugar daddy as are most of the girls in her posse. There are a lot of materialistic women in Dallas like this. Materialism exists everywhere, but I notice it much more in Dallas than I have in other cities.

HOWEVER, you find what you seek, so if you stay away from people with that attitude and seek out people who are more down to earth, you will find them.

[kt2le]

Originally Posted by turnbun

HOWEVER, you find what you seek, so if you stay away from people with that attitude and seek out people who are more down to earth, you will find them.

You are exactly right.

[socketz]

Originally Posted by galore

Oh please. With this attitutde you are not much different than people who do notice that there are stuck-up materialistic and snobbish people.

You are denying reality, if you pretend that those attributes don't exist in some people. Nobody says that all of Collin county is like that.

IMO, it is perfectly legitimate to discuss, if a certain area has that materialistic feel, especially if you have children. I mean, if I had children, I probably also wouldn't want to live in an area where it is normal for a student to get an X5 SUV for graduation.

No denial on this side...I've lived alot of places and people just think about this type of thing more here. I guess if you have teens, it may be something to consider.