How okay is it not to like something because it's popular?
Probably not okay at all if we get down to it. That's gonna be the real message here. But my 13-year-old "I will not be identified with the masses" asshole self starts champing at the bit when some new literary craze happens. "WELL. That's obviously dumb if soccer moms can get something out of it." You know what? Let's lay off soccer moms. Think of the book Main Street and then think of their lives. Let them have their moments of bookish inspiration. They don't have time to read all of Flaubert, but maybe they DO have time to get drunk with their book group and discuss the latest Rebecca Wells novel (who I am NOT making fun of; I love the shit out of those Ya-Ya books).
But there's definitely a natural instinct, for SOME reason, to not want to just be lumped in with a bunch of other people who like something. In this case, a book. I'm not gonna say that's what happened for me with Twilight, because Twilight is genuinely horrible and gives less intelligent teenage girls awful romantic expectations, but it's definitely made me look twice at a number of books. "Oh...Pedestrian Person I Know really liked it? Oh..."
Which, first of all, what an asshole move calling someone 'pedestrian' in the first place. Good job, brain. Next, you don't know what they like about it. Just because someone else was able to enjoy a thing that your Ever So Advanced brain also enjoyed, it 1) doesn't mean you liked the same things about it, and 2) who gives a shit if you did? Good. GOOD if that happened. You can relate more to your fellow man. Stop being a dick.
People aren't going to judge you for liking something like Tuesdays with Morrie, and if they do, fuck 'em. You don't need that shit. Hang out with more supportive people.
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| I might have some experience with this |
Probably not okay at all if we get down to it. That's gonna be the real message here. But my 13-year-old "I will not be identified with the masses" asshole self starts champing at the bit when some new literary craze happens. "WELL. That's obviously dumb if soccer moms can get something out of it." You know what? Let's lay off soccer moms. Think of the book Main Street and then think of their lives. Let them have their moments of bookish inspiration. They don't have time to read all of Flaubert, but maybe they DO have time to get drunk with their book group and discuss the latest Rebecca Wells novel (who I am NOT making fun of; I love the shit out of those Ya-Ya books).
But there's definitely a natural instinct, for SOME reason, to not want to just be lumped in with a bunch of other people who like something. In this case, a book. I'm not gonna say that's what happened for me with Twilight, because Twilight is genuinely horrible and gives less intelligent teenage girls awful romantic expectations, but it's definitely made me look twice at a number of books. "Oh...Pedestrian Person I Know really liked it? Oh..."
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| I accept this award because I want it. |
Which, first of all, what an asshole move calling someone 'pedestrian' in the first place. Good job, brain. Next, you don't know what they like about it. Just because someone else was able to enjoy a thing that your Ever So Advanced brain also enjoyed, it 1) doesn't mean you liked the same things about it, and 2) who gives a shit if you did? Good. GOOD if that happened. You can relate more to your fellow man. Stop being a dick.
People aren't going to judge you for liking something like Tuesdays with Morrie, and if they do, fuck 'em. You don't need that shit. Hang out with more supportive people.
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