Snobbiness?? (Boston, Framingham, Lexington: home, live in, shop)

[LovelyBoston]

I've read several posts over the last few months about snobbishness in Mass -- either people who've experienced it, or people who want to avoid it. I'm curious what people mean when they talk about it.

I've lived here most of my life, in many different towns, and have never felt snobbiness from my neighbors and community -- this, even though some of the towns have been quite wealthy, and I never have been (and that is an understatement). Although in some of my former towns people clearly had extra money to spend, I never was bothered by it and never felt anything was directed at me because I did not have extra.

Please, for those who feel this is a problem, can you enlighten me and tell me what you mean? I am curious: have I been very lucky, or is it just that we have a difference in attitude or opinion?

[bgrasser]

Maybe some people misinterpret snobbishness, with people
just keeping to themselves; kind of like being in your own
little world. I know first hand, that is the general attitude
in an urban setting.

[ontheroad]

Urban settings, perhaps, but I've lived as rural as can be in MA, and worked in Boston.

I'm not among those who feel MA is snobish!

Originally Posted by bgrasser

Maybe some people misinterpret snobbishness, with people
just keeping to themselves; kind of like being in your own
little world. I know first hand, that is the general attitude
in an urban setting.

[puffle]

Originally Posted by ontheroad

Urban settings, perhaps, but I've lived as rural as can be in MA, and worked in Boston.

I'm not among those who feel MA is snobish!

I agree. I never experienced snobbishness and I lived in Lexington where supposedly snobbyiness is big. You want snobby, come to the town I live in now in California. I wouldn't be happy to come back to Ma. if this was the case.

[LovelyBoston]

Originally Posted by blueskylover

It sounds like you have your mind made up and you think you are superior to those who have felt the coldness of the east. Like likes like.

Rather than reject others' points of view simply because I hadn't experienced it, I sought to find out what other people experienced, and why they felt as they did.

So your response is enlightening, I suppose, but probably not in the way you intended.

Can anyone who is not so angry and who does not project their own hostility onto others help me understand? I'm honestly curious about this and wonder at the difference in perspectives.

[LovelyBoston]

Originally Posted by blueskylover

but if you ever dare to venture outside of your mom's home and move to a different state, i think it might be enlightening for you.

I'm from the Midwest.

[puffle]

Originally Posted by LovelyBoston

I'm from the Midwest.

Like I said Lovely, lots of head scratching!

[EDBMom]

Maybe the people who say people from Massachusetts are snobby are misusing the word. In my opinion, people from here can be stand-offish. They keep to themselves more and are not outwardly friendly. I was raised in the midwest and moved here 14 years ago. When I first came here, I was shocked at how nonchalant the cashiers at the supermarket were. Having said all of this, though, I don't think that people here are nasty or uncaring. Once you get to know them, they are just as nice as anyone, anywhere. It just takes a little longer to get to know them....

[puffle]

Originally Posted by EDBMom

Maybe the people who say people from Massachusetts are snobby are misusing the word. In my opinion, people from here can be stand-offish. They keep to themselves more and are not outwardly friendly. I was raised in the midwest and moved here 14 years ago. When I first came here, I was shocked at how nonchalant the cashiers at the supermarket were. Having said all of this, though, I don't think that people here are nasty or uncaring. Once you get to know them, they are just as nice as anyone, anywhere. It just takes a little longer to get to know them....

Funny you should mention cashiers...that was my only negative experience in Ma. was the supermarker checkers that were so rude. They wouldn't say hello, thank you or ask if they could help. So different in California. Very helpful that way.

[scarletfire]

At Wild Oats/Wild Harvest in Framingham and the little downtown markets like Superette in Holliston or Colellas in Hopkinton they're usually so nice. I can't bear to go to Stop & Shop at all, mostly because the cashiers are so rude.

I remember when we first moved to California I was amazed how outgoing people were. Our first day in Santa Cruz we walked by a couple who said hello to us on the street and I recall wondering why--we don't know them! Now I realize having lived elsewhere how New Englanders can come across as standoffish. Fortunately, I think many people are just as warm underneath as anywhere else. Well, maybe not the cashiers! :->