Conoisseur vs snob

General
1

I think being a connoisseur is more of a trade-off, rather than outright being a losing move. Yes, if you develop a taste in fine wines you might enjoy a simple wine at the company happy hour less. But then, why don’t you just have a beer?

If you pretend to have refined tastes in all kind of drinks, and if you lose the ability to enjoy simple things (or things just because they are affordable), then well, you’re a snob. But a charcoal BBQ enthusiast can still enjoy a burger, a french red wine enthusiast can still enjoy a simple rose on a hot summer day.

What Joan doesn’t explore is joy of the process of becoming an enthusiast. For example, the wine lover might read a magazine or travel to France to visit smaller producers. Could they spend all that time and money on cheaper wine? Yes, but that wouldn’t be healthy. Should they instead become a connoisseur in a more productive hobby? No, that turns into hussle culture. Hobbies can and should be just hobbies.

Does my love for dark chocolate mean that I no longer enjoy the milk chocolate handed out at the end of a flight? So what, I just skip it. Having refined taste in unhealthy foods and beverages is a good thing, because it make it easier to resist the temptation and just skip when these things are offered. Last but not least, quality doesn’t always equal price. The wine enthusiast might use their knowledge to find the best-valued bottles, and not just chase the expensive big-name brands.

3 Likes
2

Perceiving a distinction is not the same as judging the distinction.
Judging a distinction (good or bad) is not the same as being satisfied with your experience or not. Being satisfied “depends more on your disposition than your circumstances”.

I think this video places a lot of weight on the cultural meaning we apply to the word “connoisseur”. In that it’s a little unsubtle.

Deeper questions:

  • What do we mean by “connoisseur” ?
  • What do we mean by “snob”?
  • What do we mean by “enthusiast” ?
  • What do we mean when we same someone is “in” to something?

This is my friend Fred, he’s in to coffee. He seems to know a lot about it.
He doesn’t talk to me about coffee that much because he knows I drink it, but don’t know
much about it. Sometimes Fred mentions something about his coffee in an appreciative tone, but I never hear him complain about the “normal” offee we drink together.

Perhaps only another connoiseur can validate whether you yourself are a connoisseur?
Which make it entirely about identity and not so much about enjoyment.

Is Fred in to coffee? Sure.
Is Fred an enthusiast? Certainly.
Is Fred a real connoisseur? Only another connoisseur can know.
is Fred a snob? Maybe in his head? But he acts like he’s well adjusted about coffee.

1 Like