An Introduction to Stuff Pretentious People Like

Welcome to the "Stuff Pretentious People Like" Blog.

Basically, this blog is dedicated to many different types of snobs (because there are indeed many, many different flavors). If the first thing that comes to mind is "hipsters," I will tell you that yes, we know that hipsters are becoming the dandelions of today's high pretention society. The hipster phenomenon spans every age group from 14-60 and afflicts those of all genders and with wide-ranging IQ levels ... and it will of course be a topic of conversation in this space.

We'll explore the delicate psyche of those that spend hours making up lists of music, movies and books no one has heard of to list on their myspace profiles in an attempt to alienate others in a way that no "RL" interaction quite can. We'll unravel the complex tapestry of fashion sense that makes people think that "ugly" means "ironic" and that "ironic" is synonymous with "cool" (and not just an annoying literary term that no one can define on the spot a la Winona Ryder in every hipster's favorite movie of the 90's, (what is now retro yesteryear) "Reality Bites").



Of course, we'll also talk about "old school"snobbery born from the greats that have practiced agism and elitism for centuries -- the concept has reversed the "don't trust anyone over 30" idea so that it is now something stated by older people -- "Don't trust anyone under 70 that doesn't own stock, didn't vote republican and doesn't have season tickets to some major cultural entity (symphony, opera, etc.)."





We'll also talk about why certain people are better than you or I, regardless of age or station.



This list includes but is not limited to the following individuals: people under 25 that get car services covered by their company when they go on vacation five times per year to tropical locations (but cannot accurately describe what they do for a living in 100 words or less); people that are 40 but remember their SAT scores and still talk about them in great detail; people that think their life of drugs, sex and irresponsibility equals the same level of accomplishment (if not a higher level of achievement) than a college degree or an advanced degree; everyone that "didn't have time" for college because they were "too busy" teaching themselves "more important and useful things" and so smart that regular education bored them; everyone that "would've done [insert name of accomplishment that requires a lot of work and dedication here] if only I had not had to [insert lame and dramatic excuse that puts all responsibility on a third party here];" everyone that thinks being self-taught at a musical instrument or anything else is more impressive and admirable than spending many years studying it (and actually chose to be self taught even though presented with many opportunities to learn from someone else); people that want to spend more than 30 minutes at an art museum (but only actually do it if someone else will go with them); people that brag about not owning a television set; those that will only watch movies if they can fall into the category of "films" (which I think is defined by anything that has Chloe Sevigny in it); everyone that thinks Chloe Sevigny is the most beautiful person in the world as well as the best actress; people that petitioned to get "Arrested Development" back on the air; anyone that claims not to like cheese for any reason other than allergies; people who prefer cats; those that still talk regularly about characters from "Sex and the City" ... the list is going to go on and on ...






But it goes so far beyond these surface observations. We all know the "stuff pretentious people like," because they can't shut up about it (thus is their nature). What we need to know is what they actually like. Because for every Ingmar Bergman or Francois Truffaut, there are a thousand Ted Kotcheffs and Barry Sonnenfelds ... and the commoners can't be the only ones that pay attention to "movies." And you better believe that you and I are not the only ones that won't change the channel the 100th time "Point Break" is on TNT in April, and that even the most pretentious cannot get enough of the kooky, over-played dead man coverup mayhem that makes "Weekend at Bernie's" a masterpiece in its own right. If they could, they'd be even deader ... but on the inside.