Which is funny, because the Pioneer Valley is probably one of the least rube-y parts of the country I've ever visited.

I think that's basically every large metro area's view of those that live in a less dense environment. I get the same feeling if talking to someone who lives in San Francisco, as I live and was raised an hour north. Some of that could just be my own perception though.

Anecdotally, I've lived in San Francisco for a long time (over a decade) and I've never met anyone who has a negative, "redneck" impression of Marin/North Bay. The reaction I'd expect is "oh it must be beautiful up there".

I have noticed a little bit of disdain towards the more suburban parts of the Bay, like the Peninsula, but IME that has more to do with the way they interact politically with the rest of the Bay.

Well, less of a "redneck" vibe, and more of a subtle "I can't imagine living in some place so much less dense, and I can't see why you would live there other than it being cheaper." I think sometimes this is misinterpreted to be harsher than intended.

Sort of a "it's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there" vibe. Which, to be fair, is exactly how I feel about SF and the metro area around it.

Ah sure. IME, that's a pretty neutral & symmetric observation: I can't imagine living in Marin (at this pt in my life) instead of DT SF because it doesn't suit me in the same way. This is compatible with your observation that you feel the same way about SF.

What's the opinion of Oakland? Or, say, Modesto?

I think Oakland is seen as pretty cool and edgy. Modesto...oh well... I'm pretty sure it's very much looked down on.

I live in the South Shore and they do that to me too.

They do that to the Central and Mountain timezones. Why would you be any different?

I should say, I treasure the time I've spent in the Boston area.

Because I live like fifteen minutes away? I literally take the train from the South Shore to Boston every morning and yet people act like I told them I just flew in from Idaho.

Exactly. It's like if I took VTA Light Rail from Campbell [where I currently live] to San Jose, which is comparable to your commute in terms of time, only to have people look down their nose at me. Fortunately, instead, I often receive "Oh Campbell yeah, I like that town" or similar.

The big thing is that the South Shore is more blue-collar and suburban (and I suppose in general more politically conservative) than the North Shore or Metro West area so they think of it as full of hicks.

Suddenly that Pixies song U Mass makes more sense to me.