Len Fehskens makes the questionable assertion:

>Part of the reason classical music is so unpopular is that its fans are so
>often so gratuitously dismissive of popular music.  (Can you say "snob",
>or "elitist" which seems to be the current synonym?)

I rather doubt this.  I think most people who do not listen to classical
music do not think much about it one way or another and certainly have
little concern about what classical music lovers think of popular music.
It has been my experience that the derision goes mostly the other way.
Those who do not listen to classical music are far more apt to dismiss
even the possibility of enjoying the music simply because of what it is.
Classical music lovers are more likely to have at least heard popular
music and decided that they like it or not simply because the music is
so pervasive, being pumped into restaurants and bars and city streets
and shopping malls and coming out of nearly every radio station on the
airwaves.  OTOH, one can avoid hearing a note of classical music for
months on end unless you get stuck on hold while trying to make an
flight reservation.

Regards,

John Parker