In Reply to: podsnapperish?? posted by ray on January 18, 2003 at 21:16:53:
The term, 'podsnapperish' refers to a state of mind based on a characteristic of a man called, Mr. Podsnap from a Charles Dickens classic.
In the story a young man brought up the subject at a Victorian dinner party that there were poor people starving in London. Not exactly the most appropriate subject for an after dinner discussion amoung rich middle class Londoners. So, Mr Podsnap set out to shut the young man up. The particular section of his book is quoted below.
'I must decline to pursue this painful discussion. It is not pleasant to my feelings; it is repugnant to my feelings. I have said that I do not admit these things. I have also said that if they do occur (not that I admit it), the fault lies with the sufferers themselves. It is not for ME'--Mr Podsnap pointed 'me' forcibly, as adding by implication though it may be all very well for YOU--'it is not for me to impugn the workings of Providence. I know better than that, I trust, and I have mentioned what the intentions of Providence are. Besides,' said Mr Podsnap, flushing high up among his hair- brushes, with a strong consciousness of personal affront, 'the subject is a very disagreeable one. I will go so far as to say it is an odious one. It is not one to be introduced among our wives and young persons, and I--' He finished with that flourish of his arm which added more expressively than any words, And I remove it from the face of the earth.
The common meaning attached to the term, 'podsnappery' is an attitude of mind that abruptly dismisses a subject because it causes discomfort and/or does not fit in with the person's current interests, the importance of the subject notwithstanding. The word has entered the English vocabulary, but is not found in some dictionaries.