Southern CA "snob" v. Dallas/Texas "snob" (Houston: home, private schools)

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by SS 376

The snobbery here is more centered around whether you live above or below 635. There are quite a few people who assume anyone living north of 635 might as well be in Kansas. There are people here who think anyone buying in McKinney or Frisco is just plain dumb. But all that is nothing compared to snobs from the Westside of LA....

Works both way, unfortunately. I've had people from my friends' neighborhood in Frisco ask me if I'm always terrified of crime, living south of 635. Most are not from Texas originally and truly think everything south of 635 is ghetto. Saw the same thing growing up from people in my own area (North Dallas, PH area) when meeting people from North Oak Cliff, Kessler Park. They had never ventured there and had no idea how nice that area is.

[TX75007]

There is nothing worse than a San Fran snob. And nothing better than putting him in his place.

Years and years ago I showed up at a wedding and then reception in Marin with my Army roommate, R. We both had our Army Dress Blues on and looked really good. Both of us were Sergeants on the list for promotion and full of **** and vinegar.

One of the guests assumed we neither had degrees and because we were in the Army, were somehow illiterate. My roommate had an English Lit degree (magna) from Harvard and I had mine in Math (magna) from UT. Both of us had taken Greek and Latin in HS. He had grown up in Japan. We were both nearing the end of taking advanced classes at DLI and were at the top of our respective classes. I was also taking grad classes at night while he was moonlighting, keeping his 18D skills fresh, in the ER in local San Fran hospitals.

Keep in mind that San Fran 20+ years ago was a much more diverse city than it is now with many, many people from all over the world living and working together. You literally could walk down the street and hear ten different languages in one mile. That wedding reception was no different.

Of course, in our dress blues in Marin, we stood out like Martians at a Baptist Convention. But with all the diversity, it was just one thing among many. And that was our plan. We just walked around the reception chatting people up when one of the guests fixated on both of us. He made some off comment about Rednecks and Army drooling idiots. He was a bit drunk and we tried to deflect him and politely move on.

R and I chatted back and forth in Latin about him and had a laugh. By then he had the attention of a number of guests and asked what we were speaking and we told him it was Latin.

He said that there was no way we knew Latin. R agreed with him and repeated it in Greek. That got a laugh.
And the guest said no way it was Greek. I agreed with him and repeated in it Russian. That got some laughs.
And the guest said it was not Russian, so Robert agreed and said it in Mandarin. That got some more laughs.
And the guest said it was not Mandarin. So I agreed and said it in Spanish. Which got some more laughs.
And then R told the guy that he would tell him in Japanese. More laughs.
And then I said it in in English. Everyone laughed.

Except for the guest. Because I had said his fly was open.

Of course, he said it wasn't.

It was.

And after everyone laughed, he looked.

It was.

The icing on the cake was sitting with the bride's grandmother and chatting with her in Spanish next to the table with the guest. OMG. She wanted to stab a knife in the man's back for making a scene at her grandbaby's wedding and would not stop talking about it. And of course she wanted me to dance with her gorgeous nieces...which I did..right in front of the guest..

And another was the bride's dad who introduced both of us to the reception, saying R was the most talented ER doc he had ever worked with and how he hoped R would get a real MD as he already had a Harvard one. R was already a legend for his charm and made everyone laugh for a few minutes..

While the guest fumed..

Gotta love it.

[SS 376]

Originally Posted by TXNGL

Works both way, unfortunately. I've had people from my friends' neighborhood in Frisco ask me if I'm always terrified of crime, living south of 635. Most are not from Texas originally and truly think everything south of 635 is ghetto. Saw the same thing growing up from people in my own area (North Dallas, PH area) when meeting people from North Oak Cliff, Kessler Park. They had never ventured there and had no idea how nice that area is.

I could see someone saying that about people living south of 30, but not 635, which would include Preston Hollow and the Park Cities... I still don't think a lot of people know anything of Kessler Park--I think it's probably the most scenic part of Dallas...

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by TX75007

There is nothing worse than a San Fran snob. And nothing better than putting him in his place.

By outsnobbing him.

[RonnieinDallas]

Originally Posted by SS 376

I could see someone saying that about people living south of 30, but not 635, which would include Preston Hollow and the Park Cities... I still don't think a lot of people know anything of Kessler Park--I think it's probably the most scenic part of Dallas...

I agree with TXNGL, when I worked in Plano I was asked about gun shot noise a few different times. It always made me laugh. I think one co-worker literally had a vision of a prostitute on every corner with pimps ridding around, and gangs hanging out everywhere. I've lived here in Oak Lawn since 2009, and have been a regular in this neighborhood years before that. I have never been a victim of crime, never been robbed, never been jumped, never been followed, and never felt unsafe. Yes there are panhandlers, crack heads, and mentally ill homeless, but they are mostly harmless. I see panhandlers all over DFW, so I don't know why people get so fearful when they encounter them in Dallas proper.

[TXNGL]

Originally Posted by SS 376

I could see someone saying that about people living south of 30, but not 635, which would include Preston Hollow and the Park Cities... I still don't think a lot of people know anything of Kessler Park--I think it's probably the most scenic part of Dallas...

Exactly, but they did. It hurt my feelings, actually, but they really didn't know better.

Agree about Kessler and that area. Just beautiful and gorgeous homes.

[droco84]

Let's just face it. As our world become more modernized, we are likely to think more is good and success is key to earning more. I think societies these days are becoming like that and less humble or modest. Where can we find these humble people? Typically, I see them going to Walmart or some far away place away from any main city. Another thing I have noticed is from the oldest generations to the upcoming generations there is a mixture of class, status, beliefs, and ideas. But really there are all not blended well enough. I see each generation battling or competing each other. It is a phase where we go through pride and hope for success for our generation to which we represent. As a result, we tend to focus on ourselves and not our love ones like our beloved baby boomer parents. We must seek to care and also spend as much time as we can to make some wonderful memories.

[droco84]

I wish Dallas is closer to Houston so if I feel laid-back and culturally hyped to go to China Town, I would be in Houston, or if I feel career driven and want to look my best everywhere I go.. I would be in Dallas.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Originally Posted by droco84

I wish Dallas is closer to Houston so if I feel laid-back and culturally hyped to go to China Town, I would be in Houston, or if I feel career driven and want to look my best everywhere I go.. I would be in Dallas.

Have you ever been to Koreatown in Dallas?

[thenewtexan]

With all the Californians moving to DFW, I really didn't realize there was a difference between the two.