# Things that don't look like they should be enjoyed by intelligent people **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 25, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051 "2010-09-25T23:19:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/1 "2010-09-25T23:19:57Z")
What are some things that look like they appeal to people of average or lower intelligence, but are enjoyed by a number of intelligent people. I was reading an article from [Cracked.com](http://Cracked.com) when I got the idea for this thread. Cracked looks like it should only be enjoyed by people with attention deficit disorders, but if you read the substance of their articles they’re actually pretty perceptive. The Straight Dope is another one. Every time I use one of Cecil’s articles as a cite I always get one of these: :dubious:. The site’s name, outdated logo, and Slug’s cartoons, don’t provide the site a service in the credibility department. The fact that so many people find Cecil credible is a testament to to his research quality. Quentin Tarantino’s movies are often mistaken for mindless pop entertainment when they are really quite intelligent. Lady Gaga suffers the same problem with her videos. Joss Whedon shows. The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and The Onion are often trashed by the people they mock as nothing more than comedy. All are more perceptive and intelligent than most mainstream news. Know any other examples? ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/2 "2010-09-25T23:42:53Z")
The very name Grateful Dead, coupled with the association with drug use among both the band and Deadheads give many the idea that the Grateful Dead was just a refuge for burnouts from the 60’s and wannabe neo-hippies… The people I know who are most serious about the Grateful Dead’s music are PhD’s, lawyers, teachers, a district judge, social workers etc. Not to say there weren’t some real “lost sailors” at any given Dead show, but 95% of the true wierdos (some harmless, others predatory/hardcore criminals) were not there for the actual music, but instead because the scene outside a GD show was a hell of a good party for those merely looking for a wild time. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/3 "2010-09-25T23:45:51Z")
Sudoku. Whenever I see someone consumed by one of these inane number puzzles, in public no less, I immediately discount their intelligence, and am always surprised, and a bit dismayed, when I find people in my circle of colleagues and acquaintances who enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/4 "2010-09-25T23:46:44Z")
how about stepping off your fucking pedestal and realizing that people can like things that you don’t without being “less intelligent” than you? what the fuck is it with people who need to continuously have their egos fluffed? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/5 "2010-09-25T23:55:19Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > how about stepping off your fucking pedestal and realizing that people can like things that you don’t without being “less intelligent” than you? > > what the fuck is it with people who need to continuously have their egos fluffed? Actually, it’s more like “Why the heck does Mike, a person I respect, like something I find so ridiculous? Hmm…maybe I’m missing something.” ETA: Or maybe I simply misjudged Mike. 😃 I mean, come on, it is Sudoku. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/6 "2010-09-26T00:02:12Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > Sudoku. Whenever I see someone consumed by one of these inane number puzzles, in public no less, I immediately discount their intelligence, and am always surprised, and a bit dismayed, when I find people in my circle of colleagues and acquaintances who enjoy it. How are logic puzzles for the unintelligent? Because that is what they are, especially the tougher ones. My contribution is Lolcats. They look like the height of stupidity, and many are, but the clever ones are _really_ clever. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/7 "2010-09-26T00:11:17Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > how about stepping off your fucking pedestal and realizing that people can like things that you don’t without being “less intelligent” than you? > > what the fuck is it with people who need to continuously have their egos fluffed? Over react much? He’s not saying they are less intelligent than him. He’s asking for things that look stupid, but appeal to intelligent people. That’s a huge difference from saying people are stupid for enjoying those things. Back on topic, my cardiologist is quite intelligent, and she loves Spongebob. My 8th grade science teacher had a phd in engineering (or something related to that field), and loved reading the Fear Street books, and Weekly World News. He even wallpapered one wall of the class room with articles from it around the time that comet hit Jupiter. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/8 "2010-09-26T00:18:47Z")
> [@Bosstone](#): > > How are logic puzzles for the unintelligent? Because that is what they are, especially the tougher ones. Yes, Sudoku is a logic puzzle, but its popularity comes from its deceptive simplicity. It seems like it should be more difficult to solve than it actually is, giving a solver of average intelligence a heightened sense of accomplishment. There are logic puzzles that are much more challenging, and are solvable with a little work, yet would never achieve the popularity of Sudoku. Hey, if folks like Sudoku, and millions apparently do, more power to them. It’s just one of those things that make me say “Hmm…” ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/9 "2010-09-26T00:23:58Z")
> [@Mr.Accident](#): > > Over react much? He’s not saying they are less intelligent than him. He’s asking for things that look stupid, but appeal to intelligent people. That’s a huge difference from saying people are stupid for enjoying those things. > > Back on topic, my cardiologist is quite intelligent, and she loves Spongebob. My 8th grade science teacher had a phd in engineering (or something related to that field), and loved reading the Fear Street books, and Weekly World News. He even wallpapered one wall of the class room with articles from it around the time that comet hit Jupiter. To your point, I love Spongebob. Well, actually I love Squidward, but you get the gist. So I’m no elitist snob. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/10 "2010-09-26T00:35:44Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > how about stepping off your fucking pedestal and realizing that people can like things that you don’t without being “less intelligent” than you? > > what the fuck is it with people who need to continuously have their egos fluffed? **jz78817**. Dial it back a notch or two. This is IMHO, not the Pit. This isn’t a warning this time, just a note. But, you seem to have strong feelings, and in forums other that the BBQ Pit, you need to keep it under control. **samclem** Moderator, GQ and IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![kidneyfailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9f8e36/32.png) [@kidneyfailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidneyfailure)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/11 "2010-09-26T01:09:22Z")
Beavis and Butthead. I always considered it to be a great satire of “Generation X” and of moronic teenagers in general. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/12 "2010-09-26T01:16:06Z")
I was going to say Joss Whedon shows, especially Buffy The Vampire Slayer. You’d never guess it would have appeal to intelligent folks from the title. ---
**Author:** ![hougaswd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@hougaswd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hougaswd)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/13 "2010-09-26T01:51:15Z")
Manga. Got into it via Adult Swim anime. I love the beautiful pen drawings. Walt ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/14 "2010-09-26T02:54:00Z")
The Three Stooges. > [@Lakai](#): > > The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and The Onion are often trashed by the people they mock as nothing more than comedy. All are more perceptive and intelligent than most mainstream news. You do realize you’re setting a very low bar with that last sentence? Good thing, too. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/15 "2010-09-26T03:38:22Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > Beavis and Butthead. I always considered it to be a great satire of “Generation X” and of moronic teenagers in general. My friend and I used to joke about starting a club for “Intelligent people who like Beavis & Butthead”. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/16 "2010-09-26T04:55:39Z")
May I flip the OP on its head and bring up a pastime that _should_ appeal to those of high intellect, but doesn’t? For years I collected, researched, studied, and generally geeked obscure jazz of the 78rpm era. Despite still having a passion for the music - being a musician myself, btw - I eventually stopped collecting and drifted apart from my fellow record geeks. Why? Because, with rare exceptions, the people deepest into the music were a. not musical at all and b. so single-minded as to be almost one-dimensional. Now admittedly, rare music demands a full-time commitment just to hear it at all, never mind really know it and know about it. But it became clear to me that I was going to have to spend the rest of my life hanging in stuffy rooms with people who were not particularly nice, bright, interesting, or possessed of much awareness, insight, or curiosity about the world we lived in. I still love the music, but I couldn’t take the company. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/17 "2010-09-26T05:23:05Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > The Three Stooges. [Curley] Soitenly. Hey Moe… [/Curley] ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/18 "2010-09-26T13:33:52Z")
Top 40 Country Music- My wife is college-educated, well-read, and an extremely talented artist. Back in The Day she won multiple awards for her singing, and was first-chair soprano on an all state choir. She can put any headliner opera act to shame when she tears up _Caro Mio Ben_ or _Pie Jesu_. Yet when it comes to the inane babble that is modern country music (We’re country! We’re more pure, honest, God-fearing and hard-working than you city folk!), she eats. that. shit. up. Another one of Kenny Chesney’s musings about how special his hometown is? Turn it up! Another Taylor Swift weepfest about her boy troubles? Hell yeah! Makes me wanna jab a fork in my ears. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/19 "2010-09-26T14:23:03Z")
My wife, a college educated dentist, likes and watches the Spanish language equivalents of “Judge Judy” and “Divorce Court” and “Oprah” and other rubbish of the sort. At least she knows the commercials are for stupid things targeting a poor and ignorant audience. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2010, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051/20 "2010-09-26T14:58:22Z")
The Onion had an article on middle aged people who realized how stupid it was to participate in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, at their ages! So does The Rocky Horror Picture Show fit here? Or is it really just stupid? (I found the article a bit sad, because after the gleeful silly feeling of anarchy when you’re young and dressed up as Dr. Frankenfurter and you’re out at the midnight show with all your friends…well, time marches on, my friends. And you can’t be a 50 year old lawyer tossing hot dogs and toast at the movie screen as you are now focussed on looking down that long road where you can just glimpse the barn…) I enjoyed Astro Boy when I was in early high school. I was an excellent student, completely normal in every way, into boys and the Beatles, yet I got up early Saturday mornings to watch a weird black and white Japanese cartoon, and no one - no one - understood why. Decades later, well - Adult Swim, anyone? Who is it watching anime at 2 a.m.? So I was an early bloomer there… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-that-dont-look-like-they-should-be-enjoyed-by-intelligent-people/555051.md?page=2)