There are a lot of things that bug me, but only two which are automatic instantaneous writeoffs:
- smokers
- cat people
I’m curious if you feel that one implies the others. I’ve met people that are both hunters and animal lovers.
I can’t think of any likes that would make me not want to befriend someone. It’s possible to like both cheesy pop music and Sartre, y’know?
Dislikes
Dogs
Children
In my experience, people who like dogs and kids tend to be a lot more laidback, fun, and easy-going than people who can’t stnad them.
In the book High Fidelity, the great thing that the main character says goes something like " I truly believe that it’s what you like that matters, not what you ARE like". Near the end of the book, his girlfriend introduces him to this lovely couple who he is forced to admit are nice people, even though he’s seen their record collection and it’s a diaster area in his eyes.
So, being sensible and adult about it, the only things that would definately make me walk away- pejudice. Against women, men, different racial groups, homosexuals, people froma certain country, whatever- claiming a dislike of such big groups just screams “ignorant pig” to me.
On this note, what’s up with all you smoker haters?. O.K, you may not like that person’s habits, but there’s no need to write off that person off completely. Yeah, there may be some jerks out there who are totally unreppentant, and blow smoke into the face of asmatic babies and such, but they’re in the minority I assure you
Many smokers will be prepared to not smoke around you if it upsets you- indeed, I think that in many parts of America now they have no choice but to be considerate of your needs as a non-smoker. Many of us don’t actually like the fact we smoke ourselves, and are trying our best to remedy the situation (3 weeks now without so much as a puff for me!) So please, don’t hate on us, for a stupid addiction we aquired in our foolish, carefree youth.
I’ve got a weird, love/hate relationship with religion. People who use their spirituality to help them make decisions = good; people who let heir clergymen make hard decisions for them = bad.
People who think their religion gives them license to stick it to non-believers, real bad.
Christian Rock? I kinda like some of the bands and songs. The audiences scare the shit out of me. Stryper was a joke, and I can take or leave Amy Grant, but this same movement also gave us U2 and Sixpence None the Richer, so maybe there’s something to it.
Automatic write-offs:
-
People who believe in astrology
-
People who like tormenting or killing animals for fun and call it a “sport” (eg fox-hunters)
Even those bastards on the Pitcairn Islands? Don’t worry, you can tell us, they don’t have internet access 
Poor hygiene
Criminal behavior
Constantly talking about themselves
Bigots
Manipulators
Negativity or generally lacking the ability to have fun
People who don’t like pets. I don’t mean people that can’t have one for some reason or another, people that actively DO. NOT. LIKE. PETS. And not only that, they think people who do are sick. Those people are too weird.
People who don’t like music, of ANY kind. I once knew a person who wouldn’t play the radio in her car because she thought it made the car use more gas (???).
People who are rabidly into anything. Even if it’s something I like, if that’s ALL you are about, and ALL you can eat, breathe, sleep, talk. Get a life.
I can’t stand Seinfeld, but people that I know who do like it seem to be relatively normal and fun people. Same with most people’s entertainment choices. I think that’s a pretty silly reason to choose who you will or won’t like. Same with any other entertainment “tastes”. In my experience, what people like to watch and listen to doesn’t seem to have any bearing on how intelligent they are, or if they have value as a friend. IMHO, It’s pretty closeminded and rude to say something you like means you have “taste” and if someone likes something you thought was bad then they don’t have “taste”.
Merely different opinions of what is entertaining. Though I suppose I’ll have to accept the fact that because I can’t STAND caviar means I’ll never have good enough “taste” to be accepted into rich people circles. 
(I don’t care HOW much the damn stuff cost you, it’s NASTY!!!).
The movie “Vacant Lot”??? Gosh, I loved it, but I’ve only seen it once, ages ago, and don’t remember any good “lines” from it.
Looks like I’m going to have to hunt down the DVD (is it out on DVD?).
LOL, well! I’m glad I’m not the only one who has several books going at the same time. (thought there was something wrong with me).
I don’t really “get” people who are so in love with sports that they get emotional talking about it, and know all the basketball/baseball/football players names.
Nor do I appreciate people who look down on me for enjoying Survivor and have never watched it before.
People who like to emphasize their non-television-watching, no-meat-eating, no-religion-havin’ selves also get on my nerves. Yes, I get that you don’t do these things. No need to constantly talk about it, as if you’ve found a superior plane of existence.
Finally, even though this isn’t a like/dislike kinda thing, it REALLY bugs me when people who can’t write well bitch about bad writing. Just a newsflash for these folks: perfect spelling and grammar does not make for GOOD WRITING!
I don’t think I would write someone off for having these traits, but they would rob them of cool points.
Psssssssssst, what’s “glurge”??
See here, but beware of music and lots of glurge. 
See here, but beware of music and lots of glurge.
OOOooooh, Okay, now I know. thanks!!
On the pop culture tip:
Some people have a certain kind of refined taste when it comes to film and television. They may not be able to analyze every single little detail, reference and metaphor in the movie, but they are able to tell a good movie (or show) from a bad one. These are the people who can appreciate films like “Seven Samurai,” “Being John Malkovich,” and “A Simple Plan,” as opposed to spending their time watching romantic comedies and dreck like “Tomcats” or “S.W.A.T.” They can detect and appreciate nuances of character, subtle ironies and clever references.
Every time I meet a new person and they appear to be one of these people, there is one test that, for me, determines whether they’re living up to their potential in this department. At some point in the conversation, I just have to sneak in the question:
“So, what do you think of that show, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer?’”
The answer will pretty much determine whether the person keeps my respect as a serious appreciator of film and television works, or whether they’ll fall down into the ranks of all the other people who don’t get Buffy.
Now, bear in mind that people don’t necessarily have to like the show, just be able to appreciate the kind of brilliance that lies behind the silly veneer. But the people who go off on knee-jerk diatribes about how stupid and juvenile the show is (often comparing it to Bewitched for chrissakes. Bewitched!!) just dig themselves into this pathetic little misinformed hole, and the value I place in their opinion flies out the window, particularly because there’s absolutely no swaying them. They’ve seen two whole episodes, they’ll have you know, and they thought it was a stupid show for little girls, and so there.
So… people who don’t like Buffy: fine, as long as they can appreciate the show for what it is.
People who actively hate Buffy without having given it a chance: people whose opinions I cannot value, no matter how hard I try.
PS, I’d like to know what the OP meant when he said “write someone off”. I think another poster asked this, but I didn’t see if the OP came back in and answered it or not.
Do you mean “write them off” as a potential date/love interest?? Do you mean best friends? Or just casual acquaintances, as far being civil and conversing with them?
If it’s the former, add smoking in as an instant 'Written off". If it’s friends, all but a few things (like excessive snobbiness etc) will get them “written off”.
Casual acquaintances? Not much could get them “written off” it’s not as if you’d have to live with something they do that would annoy you beyond the ability to handle for a few moments at a time at least.
I hate people who talk about cars because, frankly, they’re shit. And, without being unnecessarily antagonistic, I hate Buffy, and people who pretend it’s some sort of postmodern masterpiece. It really is mindless bollocks with the odd “clever” reference thrown in. Oh, and people who value “reading” when what they actually are reading is dross. And snobs. I really hate snobs.
Case in point. You haven’t got a clue.