Cy,
I think what you speak of happens everywhere and is more a sign of the times. Where I grew up (a very nice place back East) people are far more into image and pretentiousness than here. I left over a decade ago because of the attitudes you mention as being here. Back East it seems like everyone has an angle, everyone thinks they are somebody important and everyone thinks the world ends beyond the Northeast corridor. I find people much more worldly and well traveled here. Back East, traveling is heading to Florida for some sun or a Carnival Cruise.
Growing up back East you had decades to filter out the nitiwts and to find your place there. What you are looking for is here, I just suspect that you havent looked for it in the right places.
