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This isn't directed at you Snarf as I know you are not a snob,
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I was going to get around to this sooner or later .... and I guess now it is later?

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure that this is true. It depends, really, on how you define it, I guess? Look, I think one of the major motifs of my various essays is that people like what they like. And that's okay!

If a person self-identifies as a fan of something, then why not? I mean, who am I to judge? I thought this was the whole "high culture, low culture" thing we try to avoid. If you prefer Cheetos to Caviar, more power to you.

I remember someone who told me that they loved comedy, and they loved Dane Cook (this was, oh, 16 years ago maybe?). Now, I have my own ... reservations ... and I can be judgey judgey about that kind of statement, but hey- why not?

Hidden behind the verbiage I often see people employ when they are "looking down on others" is the implicit assertion- once you know better, your taste will improve, and you will like the things that I do.* I just don't agree with that. We've seen this time and again- "genre" films were disreputable, until Cahiers du Cinema. Pop culture wasn't high art- but what about Warhol or Lichtenstein? You have to understand art in order to make art. Unless it's outsider art. Or primitive art. Or ... whatever.

You get the idea. I live by a few, simple ideas-

1. People like what they like.
2. Elves are dead-eyed, soulless abominations.
3. It is better and easier to convince someone to try something by telling them that this is new thing is good and fun, than by trying to convince them that they are bad or ignorant for liking what they like.
4. There are only two things in the world that I cannot abide; people who are intolerant of the roleplaying choices of others, and bards.
5. It's better to try and understand why people like what they like than to assume people don't know better.
6. I don't know about you, but I take comfort knowing that he's out there. The Dude. Takin' er easy for all us sinners arguing on enworld.

See? Simple ideas, happy life.

When I was in Vietnam a while back, I had a lot of amazing food. But one of the best times I had was at some ramshackle place, eating chả rươi and drinking fresh beer (daily brewed) in Hanoi. It was an experience. But I am 100% sure that it is not for everyone. If you look up the word, you'll see why.


*I will leave it as an open exercise as to how this applies to TTRPGs.
 




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