Agree that the fear of being seen as "elitist" is real and maybe all the more so in the age of social media than in the past.

It may be especially true in the Deep South, where I live, and the "good ol' boy" ethic is strong. You could be seen as elitist if you don't drop your g's in a line like: "I'm fixin' to go to the Piggly Wiggly and buy me some grits."