Snobs

snob A snob, in the sense so brilliantly analysed by Marcel Proust, is member of a social elite, or a would-be member of the social elite, who is also motivated by a desire to be thought highly of by a social elite, in many cases out of insecurity for his standing in the elite. The snob therefore will ingratiate himself or herself with that elite, avoid being seen with persons outside it, affect a liking for things liked by members of the elite, and similarly for dislikes. In its purest form, it is entirely to do with social pretension and cultivating an image; it has nothing to do with actual tastes, actual likes and dislikes. Or that is what the word used to mean. Nowadays, a person who likes Beethoven but not Rihanna is in danger of being called a snob, purely on the basis of the preference, irrespective of social motivation or moral character. The opprobrious colouring of the original word is invoked, but without the sense that justified it. It is as if there is a moral duty to like Rihanna, mediocre Australian wine or Hollywood blockbuster films. Perhaps the word has become a weapon employed by insecure philistines to disparage those who would dare to remind them that, as J.S. Mill rather uncompromisingly put it, the pig might prefer piggish pleasures, but that is because he is a pig, incapable of higher pleasures; no one who has experienced higher human pleasures as well as low piggish pleasures, and remains capable of both, prefers the latter (of course, that is not quite true; it is in practice much more difficult to justify or explain the idea that some pleasures are more valuable than others, that they are higher, in the sense intended).

But the truth is that the matter is yet more delicate. Sometimes, say, one would really like a given movie, but one doesn't give it chance; one just  can't get down from one's high horse--out of habit, or out of fear of, or respect for, the opinions of the elite. I think most people have caught themselves in this position, and sometimes we see it in others.  Yet it isn't always a mistake; one recognises that certain people's likes and dislikes are enviable, and perhaps worth following, worth aping, so as to learn to make your own.  There is no easy answer to the question of what to like.  It doesn't clear anything up to say, 'Just like what you like'.