Watch Out for the Aura

I suppose I'm quoting this guy too much but I thought this funny:

It had become known that he was a neo-Platonist--the term obviously drew a blank with most people, but nevertheless prevented one from raising one's voice, slamming a door or, unimaginably worse, engaging in guttersnipe whistling.

--Gregor von Rezzori, The Snows of Yesteryear 108 (1989)

Guttersnipe whistling: is there any other kind?

Afterthought: A pretty dumb title for such an arresting book. I see the original German was Blumen in Schnee--"Flowers in Snow," which strikes me as an improvement.