# Stop feeling superior for being ignorant **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 31, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732 "2010-07-31T22:07:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/81 "2010-08-02T16:53:38Z")
Damn. It’s getting to where you can’t even hate shit that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/82 "2010-08-02T17:16:08Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > This particularly burns me because I don’t actually watch TV ( **I’m too cheap to buy cable** ), but it’s impossible to say “I don’t have cable” as a conversational response without coming off as elitist. I just use the phrase I bolded and that seems to come off as relatively non-elitist 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/83 "2010-08-02T17:18:27Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Who said anything about sheeple? Like it or not, most popular music is written, performed and produced to appeal to the lowest common denominator. > > I don’t like Top 40 radio or MTV because I don’t like synth-pop or Nickelback. The same stuff that makes those things popular is the same stuff that makes it suck. If you _genuinely_ don’t like it, that’s one thing. But if you soully don’t like it, only because it’s popular, not because you don’t like the song, or that type of music, then THAT is being an elitist. Or, you stop liking one of your favorite bands because they become popular, and refer to them as “sell-outs.” Forget pop culture for a moment – I don’t like what’s in style, as far as fashion goes right now, because I happen to think most of it is ugly and unflattering. That has nothing to do with it being popular. It’s simply ugly. THAT isn’t being a snob. However, if I simply refused to wear something simply _because_ it was in style, THAT would make me a snob. Do you get it? [Here’s an old thread about it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=362230) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/84 "2010-08-02T17:20:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Who said anything about sheeple? Like it or not, most popular music is written, performed and produced to appeal to the lowest common denominator. > > I don’t like Top 40 radio or MTV because I don’t like synth-pop or Nickelback. The same stuff that makes those things popular is the same stuff that makes it suck. But I believe the original complaint was about people who originally did like a band and then changed their mind when it became popular. That would indicate sheepleness. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/85 "2010-08-02T17:23:07Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > If you _genuinely_ don’t like it, that’s one thing. But if you soully don’t like it, only because it’s popular, not because you don’t like the song, or that type of music, then THAT is being an elitist. > > Or, you stop liking one of your favorite bands because they become popular, and refer to them as “sell-outs.” Well, this can describe two different scenarios: 1. Band records really good song/record and becomes popular; 2. Band records radio-friendly-hit-with-catchy-hook that sounds totally unlike their earlier work and becomes popular. Now, you can’t fault somebody for becoming popular just because they’re good - but you can certainly complain about the latter scenario. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/86 "2010-08-02T17:28:50Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Damn. It’s getting to where you can’t even hate shit that sucks. Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion - as long as it’s an informed opinion. It’s fine to hate shit that sucks. But you shouldn’t say you hate something while admitting you know nothing about it. And it’s rude to say this to people who like the thing. That’s essentially saying “I have no direct knowledge of this thing so I’m basing my opinion on the premise that whatever people like you think must be wrong.” ---
**Author:** ![Not\_a\_Platypus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@Not\_a\_Platypus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Not_a_Platypus)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/87 "2010-08-02T17:30:54Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Something related that kind of bugs me is people who say they never watch television. First of all, I never believe them, and second of all, it just reeks of an assumption of cultural and intellectual superiority. It doesn’t make anybody more sophisticated or interesting if they don’t watch TV and it doesn’t make anybody unsophisticated or stupid if they do. Or maybe they’re tired of you talking about whatever is on TV this week and they’re trying to let you know that they can’t discuss that with you. The only time I ever say “I don’t watch TV” is when friends start talking to me about some show they’re watching and want to get my opinion on the latest episode. It’s not that I look down on them or think I’m superior; it’s that we just don’t have that in common, so maybe we can talk about something else. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/88 "2010-08-02T18:47:18Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, this can describe two different scenarios: > > 1. Band records really good song/record and becomes popular; > > 2. Band records radio-friendly-hit-with-catchy-hook that sounds totally unlike their earlier work and becomes popular. > > Now, you can’t fault somebody for becoming popular just because they’re good - but you can certainly complain about the latter scenario. Either one of these is still obnoxious. Just because a band records one hit that blows them up doesn’t automatically make their entire catalog of music, that same music you were previously a fan of, suck. Now if everything they release after that one hit was different from all their old stuff that’s one thing. But to abandon a band because they release one song you don’t like that happens to be a hit is obnoxiously elitist. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/89 "2010-08-02T18:59:05Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m somewhat ashamed to admit, although I’ve never seen an episode of the Jersey Shore (most of my pop culture knowledge comes via _The Soup_), the fact that everyone was spelling Snooki as “Snookie” was driving me fucking nuts. Same with me, actually (except I’ve never watched The Soup; I don’t know where my pop culture knowledge comes from, but it clearly takes strong hold). ---
**Author:** ![Vorpal\_Blade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/9de0a6/32.png) [@Vorpal\_Blade](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vorpal_Blade)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/90 "2010-08-02T19:29:12Z")
[quote=“Guinastasia, post:83, topic:548732”] > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Who said anything about sheeple? Like it or not, most popular music is written, performed and produced to appeal to the lowest common denominator. > > I don’t like Top 40 radio or MTV because I don’t like synth-pop or Nickelback. The same stuff that makes those things popular is the same stuff that makes it suck. If you _genuinely_ don’t like it, that’s one thing. But if you soully don’t like it…QUOTE] Solely ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/91 "2010-08-02T20:46:37Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > The Dope? Elite? One word: Buffy. Yeah, but they can deconstruct that shit like nobody’s business. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/92 "2010-08-02T22:55:44Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > Well, this can describe two different scenarios: > > > > 1. Band records really good song/record and becomes popular; > > > > 2. Band records radio-friendly-hit-with-catchy-hook that sounds totally unlike their earlier work and becomes popular. > > > > Now, you can’t fault somebody for becoming popular just because they’re good - but you can certainly complain about the latter scenario. > > Either one of these is still obnoxious. Just because a band records one hit that blows them up doesn’t automatically make their entire catalog of music, that same music you were previously a fan of, suck. Now if everything they release after that one hit was different from all their old stuff that’s one thing. But to abandon a band because they release one song you don’t like that happens to be a hit is obnoxiously elitist. Oh, fine. I don’t like _Jersey Shore_ because it glorifies stupidity. I don’t like Nickelback because their songs annoy the shit out of me. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/93 "2010-08-02T23:22:00Z")
> [@jlzania](#): > > I don’t think this make me superior but I do find myself really baffled by the amount of time other people spend plonked down in front of a flickering screen watching people that they don’t know behaving badly. > Just not my cup of tea. Hey, now. Some of us only watch an hour of that a week now that Real Housewives Jersey is the only Housewives franchise on Bravo showing new eps at the moment. (Unless Bethenny Frankel peeing in a bucket for an hour a week counts?) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/94 "2010-08-02T23:32:58Z")
Actually, I feel more _embarrassed_ when I don’t know the latest pop culture. (“Uh, who’s Snookie/Lady Gaga/The Soup/etc?”) It makes me feel like a dork. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/95 "2010-08-03T01:40:12Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > Plus, there are an awful lot of retarded people out there. If 40% of the population likes something, chances that it doesn’t suck are slim. Maybe ( or maybe not). But so what? > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Who said anything about sheeple? Like it or not, most popular music is written, performed and produced to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Again. So what? I don’t particularly care what the goal is. I’m certainly not going to let it sway my opinion. Sometimes stuff that appeals to the lowest common denominator might be pretty good. The Beatles didn’t suck. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > [@Guinastasia](#): > > > > If you _genuinely_ don’t like it, that’s one thing. But if you soully don’t like it, only because it’s popular, not because you don’t like the song, or that type of music, then THAT is being an elitist. > > > > Or, you stop liking one of your favorite bands because they become popular, and refer to them as “sell-outs.” > > Well, this can describe two different scenarios: > > 1. Band records really good song/record and becomes popular; > > 2. Band records radio-friendly-hit-with-catchy-hook that sounds totally unlike their earlier work and becomes popular. > > Now, you can’t fault somebody for becoming popular just because they’re good - but you can certainly complain about the latter scenario. Why? ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/96 "2010-08-03T02:15:37Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > > [@lezlers](#): > > > > Plus, there are an awful lot of retarded people out there. If 40% of the population likes something, chances that it doesn’t suck are slim. I didn’t say that, please don’t misquote me. We seem to be on the same side of this particular debate. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/97 "2010-08-03T02:18:08Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Why? Well, one reason is that in concert, they will play more of their new-style stuff than the old-school stuff, leaving people no choice if they want to hear the old stuff live. Fortunately I’ve never experienced this, although for awhile I thought Dashboard was going that way. Saves the Day _is_ going this way, but I can’t say that they are playing a new style just because it became popular, because they’re not popular 🙂 They are part of the late 2000’s trend of “alterna/punk band generally recognized as emo tries to pander to critics/themselves by writing more self-consciously adult, vaguely Beatlesque music”, except like the rest of them, they forgot the “popularity” part of the Beatles equation. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/98 "2010-08-03T03:36:57Z")
Nobody is saying you can’t dislike shit that you think sucks, but being rude and obnoxious about it to people who do like it, or even worse, being rude and obnoxious about a person/show/band/movie _that you admit you don’t even recognise_ is just really jerkish, and says much more about the person who felt the need to proclaim their superiority rather than the people happily talking about said person/show/band/movie, no matter how lowbrow or common it may be. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/99 "2010-08-03T04:08:57Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > > [@Yookeroo](#): > > > > I didn’t say that, please don’t misquote me. We seem to be on the same side of this particular debate. Nested quotes? What are nested quotes? I’ve never heard of them. I wish. ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732/100 "2010-08-03T13:51:15Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > > [@lezlers](#): > > > > I didn’t say that, please don’t misquote me. We seem to be on the same side of this particular debate. > > Nested quotes? What are nested quotes? I’ve never heard of them. > > I wish. I know what he was trying to do, that’s usually why almost all my posts have an edit at the end, because I inevitably fuck up my quoting and have to go back to fix it. I just hate that particular attitude I was misquoted as having. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-feeling-superior-for-being-ignorant/548732.md?page=6)