intellectual snobbery?

Does anyone find they are accused of this/worry they are guilty of this/find this widespread in the 'oxbridge' culture?

I notice with a lot of my friends that even though we share a genuine interest in reading books & literature, when I talk about what I would call 'academic' like using words like intertextuality or narrative structure to talk about a book I like they zone out. and people think im a geek for liking reading books about critical theory.

butterfly girl, absolutely absurd question with no relevance but what newspaper do you read?

Personally, I think you do sound a bit self-congratulatory. Yes, you're probably very intelligent and whatnot, but you seem a bit keen to rub it in people's faces. The more you learn, the more you ought to realise you DON'T know.

This.

Personally, I think you do sound a bit self-congratulatory. Yes, you're probably very intelligent and whatnot, but you seem a bit keen to rub it in people's faces. The more you learn, the more you ought to realise you DON'T know.

Sorry Aconite, how was that self-congratulatory? The point I was making was merely that a good education should teach you realise the extent of your self-ignorance.

I know I cant and shouldnt do anything- but I am interested and concerned with this- partly because if my friends dismiss me as clever theres a problem in our friendship and its possible I am being arrogant without realising it- or as you say- it could be them- but they might equally be insecure for good reason (like me friend who's dislexic)

Not you, silly! I meant the OP.

I picked out your post as an example of good sense.

Find like-minded people. Case closed.

Us normal mortal folks will just be mean to you, sorry.

ok- well thankyou- this response is really helpful
could you maybe tell me what gave you this impression?
im prepared to believe youre absolutely right

Sorry Aconite, how was that self-congratulatory? The point I was making was merely that a good education should teach you realise the extent of your self-ignorance.

hmm, that is tough, but decent friends should see who you are, and focus on the meaning of what you say over how its phrased. generally, most people tend to speak like their friends anyway though - i certainly do, and will only roll out the more articulate words when appropriate (generally (relatively) intellectual arguments/discussions when they arise).

but is this issue about how you/one speaks, or perceived arrogance based on academics?

if you were truly clever you'd be able to get your points across without using long words and complex syntax.

Does anyone find they are accused of this/worry they are guilty of this/find this widespread in the 'oxbridge' culture?

I notice with a lot of my friends that even though we share a genuine interest in reading books & literature, when I talk about what I would call 'academic' like using words like intertextuality or narrative structure to talk about a book I like they zone out. and people think im a geek for liking reading books about critical theory

thats fine with me, but what I find difficult is how its a no-go area to say 'youre not interested in academic thinking or looking at or reading literature in an academic way.' even though a lot of people I talk to are dismissive of books or poetry all together because they assume theyre not clever enough or they accuse it of not having an exciting plot/not being written in a way they can understand. my experience of a lot of people my age (18) and young people is they dont try to understand this phenomenon called 'academia' but then form a rather hostile attitude to 'academics' and talk about 'clever' and 'not clever' people in terms of 'us' and 'them'

I have to say, having grown up in oxford I do find something rather self satisfied in academics and self-congratulatoriness (if thats a word) w regards to peoples own intelligence or academic achievement. I worry that I am becoming prone to this sort of snobbery as Ive developped my intellectual abilities- I want to be interested in academia and using critical awareness when reading for its own sake, not to feel selg-important

what do people think?

God that was boring.

The fact that you've created this thread at all, really. It's a bit of an indication that you're hung up about the issue, and by proxy, a bit obsessed with your own intellect.

I don't mind saying now that I've been offered a place at Oxford for English and I've always been seen as "academic", but I don't really give it that much thought, and I've never had anybody react badly to me or call me "snobbish".

I don't necessarily think you need to play things down, but people on the whole are not needlessly unkind, and if it's got to the point where you're getting derision about academia, chances are you're being pretentious or shoving your knowledge in others' faces.

lol
guardian/ le monde/ die zeit (bc im learning french & german and if I had to pick a side id call myself left-wing)