Category: Let's talk
I'm only asking this because I tend to be one who marches to his own drummer. This mainly concerns tastes in books or other entertainment stuff. So, do most people completely drop interest in a particular series of books or whatever if it's understood it is not in style anymore or has otherwise been replaced by something newer or better? For example, if you were once a Harry Potter fan, and it is determined that being into Harry Potter is out of date, do you just completely lose interest and move onto whatever the next big thing is? I've seen people openly mocked because of showing interest in things the mocker considered uncool, and I'm wondering if most people just let public opinion decide how much they like this or that. You'd think if people are really passionate about something, this series of books or that, that stays with you for your lifetime or at least a very long time and goes beyond fashion. What do ya think?
I agree. If I'm into something, I'm into it. If it's supposedly out of date, oh well. I like some modern trends, but when I do, I like them because I like them, not because they're a trend.
I like what I like. I don't care if its popular, cool or not, and if people think I'm weird.
Agreed with the other two posters. If I like certain books, movies, etc, then I continue to like them, whatever other people may think. Why should I tchange my taste, or pretend not to like something, just cuz someone else does not?
I like what I like; it doesn't matter to me what others think of said thing.
I get bored with a series after a while, not because they're any less popular, but because I've just had enough, and am ready for something else. Few authors have been able to hold my interest for that long. Anne rice and George R R Martin did manage to do it though. I really didn't think I'd like A Song of Ice and Fire, but once I started the series, I couldn't put it down, and am anxiously awaiting...
True, Anthony. If it's a short series, I have no problem getting through it. If it's a long series, say something like the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson, I can only read a few books, then get bored, and want new characters, new events, etc.
I don't change my mind about what I like based on popular opinion, but I do sometimes read and/or watch things for the first time based on it. I probably would not have read any of the Harry potter books, except that when they became so wildly popular, I got curious what all the fuss was about, and wanted to see for myself. Highly over rated, by the way, but that's off topic. Grin.
I have lost count of how many series I'm somewhere in the middle of. I like both long and short series. I've started a few series because of things other people have said, but if I didn't like the first book, I didn't read any more. I wouldn't read a series or even a single book just because other people raved about it. Likewise, I wouldn't stop reading a series I'm enjoying just because other people have said they are tired of it. I'm the same way with movies and TV shows. If I like something or I think something sounds interesting, I'll watch it. But if it doesn't sound like my cup of tea, I won't watch no matter how many people insist that I just have to see it.
If someone recommended that I see something, I *might* read/watch it, but if I liked it or didn't like it, like all the other posters, it would be based on my personal opinion, not its popularity...
Lol, when I saw this topic I was half expecting something special. agreed Jessica, I'm more or less and oppinionated individual who just has thoughts a certain way. Therefor conformity isn't allways the solution.
Agree with pretty much everyone out here. I like what I like for as long as I like it. If for some reason it no longer holds my interest, I move on, not because someone else says it's no longer in or popular but because I've lost the thrill for it. True with books, tv shows, etc.
Some people give in to peer pressure. They want to be seen as cool. So, yes, they will give up (at least publicly) a style of music, dress, movies, and even books.
You also have the people who read something because it's on a "best seller" list.
I'm not in either category. If I like it, I read it until I don't like it, but I'm not going to drop it just because it isn't "cool" in someone else's opinion.
This goes along with the whole "in crowd" mentality and I just don't go for that. I'll do what I do and if it is old hat or not hyp...oh well.
I agree. When people say that I just have to watch something, like my siblings with the "cool" movie dispicable me, I will watch it. However, as with this movie, when I realize that the movie is no good if you have an IQ above twelve, I say that I don't like this and I don't watch it anymore.
this really goes for other trends as well. Phones, clothes, cars, and even careers and colleges have their trends. What works for one person won't work for another.
Hmm, then if liking what you do despite fashion and trend is standard behavior, why would somebody heap scorn upon you for being that way, suggesting normal people change their tastes according to fashion?
I think everyone has their own opinion of what normal is. Your group of friends may agree with you about good books, TV shows, movies, fashion, etc. But a different group of people will totally disagree with you and your friends and say you're not normal. You just have to learn to accept that not everyone is going to like the same things and stop worrying about it.
I had a similar conversation a long time ago with a co-worker. We were talking about what is good or bad taste. You could walk into a new home and think how tasteful the decorations are. Another person could walk in and say, "Oh my God! This person has horrible taste in furniture and decorations.! So does that mean one of you has good taste and the other has bad taste? No. It just means you have different tastes. Same goes for fashion. I've heard people disagree on someone's taste in fashion. It just means people have different tastes, not that one has good taste and the other has bad. Of course there are some obvious demonstrations of bad taste in probably every aspect of life, i.e. art, fashion, decorating, etc. But for the most part, I believe taste is subjective and that we should refrain from saying people have bad taste just because we aren't attracted to the same things.
As you said, it's all about one's opinion.
I am not a follower.
Naturally what I'm into isn't determined by what others are into. This means I don't support a team because of how well it's doing. It doesn't matter to me that nobody I know has ever heard of Music go Music. I like them. They're on my Spotify, as are the White Lies and Westlife.
One consequence of not being a follower is that I can't belong to subcultures or political parties, and no organisation that is supposed to serve blind people represents me.
Very well said. I completely agree. Although I may lead toward a particular group, I don't agree enough to join/follow them.
I think people do it to one degree or another on anything, not just books and entertainment. I'm a nonconformist too, and I admit to liking things that most people find odd. I may be a Christian, but I refuse to conform to every whim that a lot of my Christian counterparts conform to. I do some things, like right now I'm working on changing my attitude and cleaning up my language, but generally I try to be open and honest without being condescending and bitter. I used to not be that way, and I feel like I've grown, especially in the last year or two. End of rant.
no absolutely not! I won't drop it, if I like it it's my business, not yours. I'll like it no matter what, so if it goes out of fashion so be it, I'll still like it. I don't conform.
Good for you!
It angers me to no end when people stop liking something because it's "cool" to hate it. Case in point: Twilight. Sure it has its issues, but considering the audience it was written for, it's not nearly as terrible as people make it out to be. But now it's "cool" to hate it. OOOOOOH, sparkly vampiiiires ahukahukahuka. That's so stuuuupid! Well perhaps, but many of these comments come from people who had a lot of praise for the series before it wasn't in style. SO, if you like something, like it! Same goes for people who completely fawn over something because it's "in", or who hate something just because the world seems to love it. Religion's always the scapegoat for taking away our own personal thoughts....but public opppinion is even worse in some cases.
Part of what I'm getting at is where people act like this. What? You're into Twilight? Nobody's into that anymore. You're obsessed, I tell you, obsessed! Why can't you like such-and-such a thing like normal people, you're a freak! You see how silly that attitude is? It's like people are saying you should only enjoy something while it's in fashion and never for your own reason. It's like looking down on people for liking older styles of music. What? You like that hippy-dippy self-indulgent prog rock shit? Why can't you just like dubstep like everyone else! Again, silliness.
I understand what you are saying. If I don't like something it is simply because...well...I don't like it.
i'm sure you have heard that normal is a setting on your washer or drier. it shouldn't be the way we live our life.
when i was younger i wanted to be someone different. there were friends that i thought were the perfect parent, housewife, whateaver. i tried to be like them. then one day someone said to me "you know life is like a big puzzle. my slot is already filled by me and i'm the only person who can fit in to it. go back and fit in to yours." I'm 54 years old, and it took until my mid 40s to be confident enough to finally realize the things most of you have said. guess i'm a slow learner.
when my kids were in middle school they'd say "mo-o-o-o-o-m, everybody is doing whatever." I'd say "what's their first name?" they'd say whose and i'd say everybody. i don't know a person with the first name that goes with everybody therefore they don't exist.
it also helps that i have friends who aren't in to stuff that the average bear likes. for example one of my best gal pals is in a dark shadows fan club. for you young pups out there it was a horror soap opera which was popular among teeny boppers in the late '60s. Myy friends would race home from school to watch it. I have no idea why she like it. I thought it was stupid then and my opinion hasn't changed over time. however, i'm glad she likes it and goes all over the country to fan conventions or whatever.
I love the show deadliest catch. my friends say "that's weird. girls shouldn't like that." I'm like oh well get a grip. i will watch it.