This thread reminded me of a similar session problem; likewise interpersonal, but with a different twist. I think Rick's comments are right on; human nature will always provide us, it seems with a given percentage of rude bastards,among any group of people. And the fiery pickers from Hell described by CarlZen are ceratinly examples.

But I have seen the snobbery types who appear at various sessions from time-to-time, bring my blood to the boiling point as well. This week, at a Celtic Club, where I frequently attend a Wed night open jam ... all types of music accepted in session ... a group of tragically hip Celtic diehards attended, remained aloof for a bit, and actually snickered at two or three non-Celtic choices being played within the session's circle (one Woody Guthrie and one Beatles song drew a snicker). I must say I was as close as I remember being, to physical violence. I imagined picking up the pencil necked geek (who thought Paul McCartney's tune beneath) and hurling him through the plate glass front door. I could easily have done it ... but I refrained ... purposely chose "Here Comes the Sun" as my next tune (instead of The Battle of Culloden, as planned) ... and drew his grilfriend into conversation and got her singing some of her favorites ... the tragically hip young man came around eventually and eventually joined the song circle. He sat through a few more Woody tunes, and a folk blues or two ... and contributed a few modern Pagan style, Celtic (I guess) tunes. The snobbery that so irritaed me early on in the evening, apparently gone by the session's end.