Bertie Wooster was portrayed as a banjolele enthusiast, and he wasn’t an inbred hick, he was an English Gentleman. Err… never mind.
Because people tend to be insensitive and fall back on stereotypes without thinking them through?
Best thing you can do is smile and play - show them how to form their own, better thoughts about the banjo.
As a fellow musician, I realized some time ago that all I can do is enjoy what I play and try to share that joy with others…
Ask the asswipe if he’s heard Bela. Once he says “no” tell him he’s a fool to make such remarks. Then cut him.
People who say such insults are showing their own ignorance and can be safely ignored. Further, most artists have to develop a thick skin about comments on their work. Sad to say, but true. One’s art is so personal lots of what others say must hurt, but you really really need to learn to let it go.
It must be hurtful when so many people say such stupid things. But folks are stupid. I grew up in the country, and when I went to college, the kids from the big cities could be hateful and rude. I knew someone who grew up in Kentucky, father a university professor, who, when she want to a big name Massachusetts university, had to put up with classmates saying “You’re from Kentucky and you wear shoes?”
There are enough idiots in the world that if you let them get you upset, you’ll be upset all the time. You know that you are good musician and that you play a worthy instrument. You know there are many people who appreciate your playing. Take that in, and let the rest slide off your back. Not worth it to raise your blood pressure over the likes of them.
I’d yell, “Maw! Got another feller over here what thinks we’s inbred! Fetch Walter and Billy Bob Joe Bob and let’s kick 'is ass!” in the best country bumpkin accent you can muster. Then stare at him like he’s an idiot.
The people who tell you that are obviously ignorant about American Roots Music–among other subjects. Here’s a good source to educate them. It’s especially good at pointing out how African influences helped shape Country music, as well as the more obvious jazz, blues & rock. The banjo, of course, is an African instrument.
That article refers to a mural–see it here.
Tell 'em to take it up with John Lennon.
The other two percent is due to Bonnie & Clyde.
Well damn. My dad plays both banjo and accordian.
Before you ask, he’s *only *my dad.
Part of the problem is that banjos of the modern era have entirely been used in folk and country settings, two genres with a reputation of being backward (usually unfairly). If jazz had stuck with the banjo post-Dixieland rather than switching to the guitar, or some rock band used a virtuoso banjo player, we would have a much different attitude about the banjo.
More often, however, Bertie plays the piano.
Personally, I object just as much to the fact that folk is considered backward.
Imagine a person who is married to their cousin, didn’t finish the fourth grade, wears overalls with no shirt, a straw hat, and chews monstrous wads of tobacco. You are surprised to learn that this person plays a musical instrument!
What instrument do you suppose he plays?
And I thought my zither ensemble didn’t get any respect…
The lederhosen doesn’t help.
Seriously, my mad ukelele/harmonica/accordian/banjo/mandolin/kazoo skills don’t get a lot of respect either.
I’d guess harmonica, mostly because harmonicas are relatively cheap, and this fella clearly isn’t on the top of the socioeconomic heap.
Spoons? Jug? Washboard?
Particularly in the television series, which inexplicably replaced his banjo with a trombone. 
Respond with a few bars of Classical music. Then challenge them to do the same.
Yes?
