I usually don't tell people I am a modeler. I just wait until they come to my house where they can see my work. Once they see I am not just playing with toys they respect my hobby. The few I have told about this hobby have also given me the "look."
But to answer the question:
I have notice primarily two groups of modelers at the model shop. There is a very closed minded group which thinks if you don't build models their way you are doing it wrong. Luckily this group seems to be the minority. Often I hear modeler friends refer to some of these guys as "rivet counters." And it is true these guys are always "rivet counters" but "rivet counters" are not always these guys. These guys are only interested in the finised product; "how accurate is it" "are the colors right" etc....
The second group, which seems to be the growing majority is a "build what make you happy" group, like most on these forums seem to be. Don't get me wrong many of these guys are obsessed with accuracy, but they have the ability to respect the work of others even if that work doesn't meet their personal standards.