Overrated/Underrated Geek Media

[TiQuinn]

There are some anime shows that I'm not convinced people actually like, but I don't feel that applies to all of them.

However, generally speaking, my own subjective tastes have rarely found anime enjoyable. There have been a rare few that I've enjoyed. Overall, I just don't get it. Mostly, that's due to some of the common anime tropes overlapping with things that tend to be storytelling pet peeves of mine.

I’m sure that makes logical sense in your head but when people say they like something, it’s quite a take to say “Nah, you don’t actually like that because I don’t like it so how could you possibly like it?”

 

[Argyle King]

I’m sure that makes logical sense in your head but when people say they like something, it’s quite a take to say “Nah, you don’t actually like that because I don’t like it so how could you possibly like it?”

It's not solely based on me liking it.

It's also based upon having watched people be browbeaten with endless questions about a series until their answer gets morphed into saying they like it.

It's like some sort of geeked-out gaslighting. Though, it's not necessarily unique to anime. I've seen the same thing happen in regards to some other nerd-culture opinions.

 

[TiQuinn]

It's not solely based on me liking it.

It's also based upon having watched people be browbeaten with endless questions about a series until their answer gets morphed into saying they like it.

It's like some sort of geeked-out gaslighting. Though, it's not necessarily unique to anime. I've seen the same thing happen in regards to some other nerd-culture opinions.

Whaaaaa? Can you elaborate on this phenomenon?

 

[Argyle King]

Whaaaaa? Can you elaborate on this phenomenon?

This is a quick and dirty overview:

It will start with something like, "well, you watch [insert series] right?"

"No."

"Dude, really? Not at all. Everybody watches that!"

*after going back and forth a few times..."

"Maybe I've seen a few episodes."

"Yeah, I knew you did. Everyone who games loves that show. If you haven't gotten caught up on the new season yet, you're missing out. Can't wait to hear what you think of [plot point]."
........


For what it's worth, I think a similar thing happens with the Grateful Dead's music. A certain subsection (and subcultures) of the population are automatically expected to like it.

However, I assume that mind-altering substances are (or were) used in conjuction with that, so that makes a little more sense to me.

(Though, I do like some of the stuff they did as part of their bluegrass side project.)

 

[TiQuinn]

This is a quick and dirty overview:

It will start with something like, "well, you watch [insert series] right?"

"No."

"Dude, really? Not at all. Everybody watches that!"

*after going back and forth a few times..."

"Maybe I've seen a few episodes."

"Yeah, I knew you did. Everyone who games loves that show. If you haven't gotten caught up on the new season yet, you're missing out. Can't wait to hear what you think of [plot point]."
........


For what it's worth, I think a similar thing happens with the Grateful Dead's music. A certain subsection (and subcultures) of the population are automatically expected to like it.

However, I assume that mind-altering substances are (or were) used in conjuction with that, so that makes a little more sense to me.

(Though, I do like some of the stuff they did as part of their bluegrass side project.)

Okay, I really can’t say I’ve ever had that kind of conversation with anyone before. I’ve had people try to convince me to try something, and I’ve given things second chances on the prospects that “things get better after the first episode” but I’ve never been swayed from something that I actually liked or disliked quite as intensely as you describe.

I should also say I believe in the power of Meh. Meaning, I neither like or dislike something strong enough to have an opinion either way.

Having been to a Dead concert, it was definitely a more for the vibe than it was the music for me, but I knew that going in.

 

[Ryujin]

This is a quick and dirty overview:

It will start with something like, "well, you watch [insert series] right?"

"No."

"Dude, really? Not at all. Everybody watches that!"

*after going back and forth a few times..."

"Maybe I've seen a few episodes."

"Yeah, I knew you did. Everyone who games loves that show. If you haven't gotten caught up on the new season yet, you're missing out. Can't wait to hear what you think of [plot point]."
........


For what it's worth, I think a similar thing happens with the Grateful Dead's music. A certain subsection (and subcultures) of the population are automatically expected to like it.

However, I assume that mind-altering substances are (or were) used in conjuction with that, so that makes a little more sense to me.

(Though, I do like some of the stuff they did as part of their bluegrass side project.)

If I've ever had a conversation like that then my acquiescence would have been to get the other person to shut up.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I have a good The Revenant story. I went to see it with my ex-wife and we chose a weeknight screening. It was winter in MInnesota so pretty cold like the movie. The theater dialed down the thermostat and it was freaking freezing in there. People started putting on coats inside!

As a building automation guy if I had to hazard a guess the auto schedule system was set to go cold at night but too dumb to account for daylight savings so the heat set point was dropping too early. Staff likely had no way to adjust it.

Anyways it ended up being a rather interactive experience feeling the cold while watching the film.

I have a similar story, although with a less apropos film. Around 25 years ago I took my mother to see Elizabeth, and the cinema was freezing cold and we had to bundle up. The air conditioning was broken in the “max” position. In the end we were given our money back. So my mother was happy, since she came from Yorkshire.

 

[Mournblade94]

I did enjoy reading the Hobbit it’s an excellent adventure story they turned into a totally expected trilogy which was too bad.

I get LotR is a huge cultural phenomenon, but it just wasn’t all that great a read for me. At this point I’d rather read a book or watch a documentary on Tolkien writing it then ever have to try and read it again.

Wait I thought you meant the actual Bored of the Rings book. One of the few parodies I could finish!

 

[Ryujin]

Wait I thought you meant the actual Bored of the Rings book. One of the few parodies I could finish!

Ah, yes. The one with the cover snippet that appears nowhere in the book

 

[Clint_L]

Okay, I really can’t say I’ve ever had that kind of conversation with anyone before. I’ve had people try to convince me to try something, and I’ve given things second chances on the prospects that “things get better after the first episode” but I’ve never been swayed from something that I actually liked or disliked quite as intensely as you describe.

I should also say I believe in the power of Meh. Meaning, I neither like or dislike something strong enough to have an opinion either way.

Having been to a Dead concert, it was definitely a more for the vibe than it was the music for me, but I knew that going in.

There is definitely art that I was originally dismissive of but have grown to love, and often because enough people wax poetic about it that I decided to give it another chance. In fact, I hated the first episode of Severance so much that I haven't watched another, but so many people on this very forum have raved about it that I plan to give it another go.

I think there's a big difference between pretending to like something in order to be cool, and changing your mind about something because you've given it more time, or you've changed, or whatever.

Another example: growing up, I hated country music, because it was my dad's music, and he made a point about how my musical taste (mostly metal and punk, back then) was crap. As an adult, I have made a pointed effort to listen to and appreciate country music, because it is important to someone I love and...mixed results! It's still not my first choice of genre, but now there are some country songs and artists that I think are just fantastic!

Apropos of this topic, my thoughts about overrated/underrated geek media have really shifted as I've aged. Partially, I think this is an inevitable result of having more points of comparison.