Ever feel bad for liking a popular book/movie?

[Giggle Goose]

Has anyone ever felt bad for liking something popular? It's hard to describe, but it's almost like feeling guilty for jumping on a fan-wagon. For some reason I've had this innate resistance for succumbing to what eveyone says is the best (book/movie/album, etc.) ever. I think it all started with Harry Potter when I was in eighth grade. There was no way I was reading about wizards and witches, the whole thing just sounded idiotic to me. But my grandfather got me the book one day and I was hooked.

My latest dilemma is with the Hunger Games books. I have a Nook and randomly downloaded a sample from B&N.com because the title was interesting. It wasn't until I was almost finished with the first book that I realized it was meant for teens. I finished the last one last night and I can't remember the last time I cried so hard over people that aren't real

They're coming out with a movie set to be realized in 2012, and I didn't realize there was so much hype surrounding it. They're even calling it the next "Twilight," which makes me even more iffy about it. But I am SO freaking excited for the movie to come out, yes I admit it!!!!! Still haven't touched Twilight, though.

Anyone else have a begrudging affinity for something mainstream?

[blas87]

I often feel a tad embarrassed for liking Twilight. Most members on these boards don't like it and make fun of people who do.

I also feel a tad embarrassed sometimes for liking certain TV shows that are considered "sheep" shows. But then I have to remind myself that I like them for a reason, and people can believe whatever they want. Sometimes I think people just hate things because they are popular, and only like certain things because they know most people don't.

[Andara Bledin]

I sometimes feel a bit of resistance towards the whole, "You've gotta" trend that gets going with super-popular things.

But I do my best to remember that I have nothing for or against the book/game/movie/etc itself - I just dislike the fans.

^-.-^

[HYHYBT]

Not just books and movies, though I was very resistant to multiple people whose taste I trust telling me I needed to read the Harry Potter books. (Once I did agree to read them, I went through the then-four of them in about 36 hours, and re-read them before each of the remaining books came out.) ANYTHING that I find out "everybody" is into, I'm a bit turned off by, and, if I do like it/get one (as appropriate) tend to be embarrassed about.

I was a "Mac person" before and during the mid-90's, when Windows had finally gotten useable and "everybody" thought Apple was dying. A few years later, Macs were in... and I was caught between wanting to use mine whenever and however I liked, as I'd always done, and wanting to avoid the impression that I'd gotten one as a status symbol or anything like that. Not that different with the iPod, really: I got one (around 2005) because I liked the company's other products, and it worked with the computer and software I was already using, but then didn't want other people to catch me using it; either they'd think it was great and want to try it out (things that go in my ears go in NOBODY else's, thank you) or they'd say their Whoziwatsit was sooo much better and cheaper and people only buy Apple to look cool.

Then there's fandom to consider... if somebody asks if I'm a ____ fan, and it's something I do like, I hardly know how to answer. Does the person asking consider anyone who likes _____ a fan? Or does it have to be someone who memorizes every detail, or has a house full of memorabilia, or anything along those lines? Do I qualify as a rail fan because I stop and watch the train go by if I see one in town and keep up with the goings-on at the railroad museum, or do only the sort who could, say, given only the number, tell you the model and history of every engine Union Pacific owns, or perhaps those who argue as if the world depends on which paint scheme a piece of restored equipment wears or get upset when it's fitted with modern brakes? Or, the other way around: I could, in fact, tell you all sorts of minutia about game shows off the top of my head. But the last time someone heard I liked them, they were disappointed and confused because I didn't follow Deal or No Deal. (It just doesn't appeal to me. There's no *game* there. Lots of show, though.)

Anyway, I'm wandering...

[Boozy]

I tend not to like popular movies or books, but I'm sometimes made to feel bad for really liking my iPhone. I know it's probably not the greatest phone for the price, but there's just something about the user interface that makes me happy. I think it's attractive and intuitive.

I don't see anything wrong with liking popular things. They're popular for a reason. Unlike most of the misanthropists you find on forums such as these (), I don't think most people are idiots. I like and respect most people, and I usually find that when something is very successful, there's a good reason for it.

[muses_nightmare]

I don't know if I've been embarrassed to like popular things, if I like a book series, movie, or TV show, I full admit that I like it.

Like Glee, I know there are a lot of people who think it's just another lame teenybopper show, but I really love it. I'm a fan of musicals, what can I say?

Never been a fan of things like Twilight, but I'll admit to at least trying to read the first book (got 3 chapters in and just couldn't finish it), but I have a friend who loves the series. It's easy to make fun of the crazy fans, but I have no problem with the people who don't go all psychofan on a particular series.

[Greenday]

but I have no problem with the people who don't go all psychofan on a particular series.

The few, the minority.

I don't care about major trends for the fact of them being major trends. I just don't like it when people buy into it just because it's trendy. Points already brought up:

Twilight. I don't care about it at all, though the movies contained the worst acting I've ever seen. It's just the the majority who are into it went so batshit crazy. I couldn't search for bumper stickers without almost every single one being Team Edward or Team Jacob or some shit. It was the women going crazy over the two main guys and saying how they wish men could be more like Edward. Sorry I'm not a fairy.

Macs. Honestly, other than less viruses, I'm not entirely sure what's so great about them. The vast majority of people who use them do everything I do on my windows-run laptop: surf the internet, play video games, and watch porn. And Macs don't even do that stuff better. It's just Windows is "The Man" right now so the trendy thing to do is pay shitloads more money to pick something that isn't The Man.

[boringscreenname]

I like some stuff that is popular, but there are plenty of things I like that aren't popular so I think it all balances out.

For instance I am a fan of the Harry Potter series, and The Hunger Games series. But I don't like Twilight or Lord of the Rings.

Different people like different things, and have different tastes and there's nothing wrong with liking something that's mainstream or popular.

[Giggle Goose]

I tend not to like popular movies or books, but I'm sometimes made to feel bad for really liking my iPhone. I know it's probably not the greatest phone for the price, but there's just something about the user interface that makes me happy. I think it's attractive and intuitive.

I'm with you...my iPhone is a huge source of entertainment and utility for me. I couldn't imagine my life without it. I could adjust, of course, it just makes things so much easier. I used to think iPhones were elitist because I agree with Greenday on his opinion of Apple products....

It's just Windows is "The Man" right now so the trendy thing to do is pay shitloads more money to pick something that isn't The Man.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I feel the same way about buying organic and buying from farmer's markets. I shop at Whole Foods and farmer's markets every once in a while, but dang, have you seen food prices lately? Who can afford it in this economy?

. It's easy to make fun of the crazy fans, but I have no problem with the people who don't go all psychofan on a particular series.

The other side of this is when you say you are a fan of something because you like it, but if you're not one of those batshit crazy people who eats, sleeps, lives and breathes the stuff, then that doesn't make you a "real fan" or something. I have a good friend who is obsessed with Harry Potter. Before the sixth movie came out, she invited me to this party her other friend was having before we all went to go see the midnight release of the movie. (I have seen the first showing of every HP movie since the first one with the exception of the Deathly Hallows Pt 1. I just like the thrill of it, ok? ) They had Harry Potter themed games, food, and drinks, and some were dressed in costumes. No problem with that, but everyone on my "Harry Potter trivia" team was so angry with me because I sucked at it. After a while the storyline just got too complicated and busy for me. Guess that doesn't make me a real fan after all?

[Ladeeda]

If I like something I like it, and I won't apologize for it. If something is SUPER popular, I'll usually put off reading/watching/experiencing it until the hype dies down. If I haven't forgotten about it, or the thing is still relevant/popular, yeah, I'll give it a shot. If I like it, well, there's a reason it's popular. If not, ALL ARE SHEEP!

I like my double-standards. ^^

Meanwhile, some twit once asked me what my favorite Queen song is, and when I told him (Somebody to Love), he gets all bitchy that it's a "popular" song and that somehow lacked merit.

I removed myself from that idiotic conversation before someone got hurt.

[HYHYBT]

Macs. Honestly, other than less viruses, I'm not entirely sure what's so great about them. The vast majority of people who use them do everything I do on my windows-run laptop: surf the internet, play video games, and watch porn. And Macs don't even do that stuff better. It's just Windows is "The Man" right now so the trendy thing to do is pay shitloads more money to pick something that isn't The Man.

...illustrating my point nicely. People assume too much. I couldn't care less about "The Man;" I just like Macs better. Personal preference. Strong personal preference; enough to overcome (when I have money again) the higher price, and strong enough even to overcome baseless assumptions about my supposed motives.

[Greenday]

...illustrating my point nicely. People assume too much. I couldn't care less about "The Man;" I just like Macs better. Personal preference. Strong personal preference; enough to overcome (when I have money again) the higher price, and strong enough even to overcome baseless assumptions about my supposed motives.

If Macs and Windows do everything well for what you use computers for, why are you choosing the one that's more expensive?

[linguist]

If Macs and Windows do everything well for what you use computers for, why are you choosing the one that's more expensive?

simple economics: higher initial cost for lower long-term cost.

my last windows machine cost me right at about $1000 when i bought it. over the course of the 3 years i used it, i probably put another $2000 into it in repairs and upgrades.

my mac, on the other hand i bought 5 years ago for $2000. in those five years, know how much i've spent on repairs and upgrades? $30. and that was just to upgrade the os from leopard to snow leopard. i've not needed a single repair, i've had no software or hardware issues, never once has it frozen or crashed on me, never have i lost data, and never had i had a single piece of malware infect my machine. which is a hell of lot more than i can say for any windows machine i've ever used.

[Greenday]

Interesting. The Dell I bought before starting college lasted me throughout all of college. The only problem I had was the light in the screen died and Dell fixed it for free. Cost me less than $1,000 lifetime. I must just be lucky that these crazy hardware problems everyone seems to have never happens to me.

[Racket_Man]

***** RM Raises his hand and admits he is a 50+ year old Harry Potter fan******* not a rabid fan but enough that there are things I loath about the movies vs. the books (mostly via the scriptwriter and some of the things done to the storyline)

when I first came into contact with the series, at 40 or, it was through my daughter (age 14 at the time). she has heard of the books and wanted to see the first movie. I on the other hand just thought of the books as "just another kiddie magic/wizard" story but had not read the books. daughter begged me to see the first movie so I paid for her and a friend to go as I had to take care of OTHER business (concerning my now defunked and dead marriage). For Christmas that year my brother got my daughter the first 3 books.

time goes on. when the movie came out on DVD I decided to watch it and was (for some strange reason) immediately hooked. I stole borrowed the books from my daughter and devoured them in one afternoon (these were the short books of the series). I was hooked. I was amazed at the way JK Rowling told the story and reveled the plot. yes there are inconsistancies and plot holes, but a good story arc nonetheless.

Do I feel bad??? not now as the series became world-wide pemon and I realized that is was NOT a kiddie series but had fans of all ages and backgrounds.

some of the fanfics out there are really high quality and well thought out plot lines and stories

another thing I got into was Science Fiction books. I literally devoured the SciFi/fantasy sections of three or four different library branches. yes I was nerdy in my younger years but I have fallen away from reading in the last 10 years or so.