We always do threads like “What songs are you embarrassed to like?” or “What movies would you never admit to liking?” But what about stuff that you cannot admit in public that you don’t like?
For instance, I don’t like Elmo from Sesame Street. There’s a lot of adults who don’t like Barney or the Teletubbies, but everyone I know just adores Elmo. But I don’t like him. I don’t know why I don’t. There’s no one reason, I guess. I just don’t see his appeal.
Also, I don’t like the movie “2001: A Space Odessey.” Yes, it’s a masterpiece. I understand that. But I couldn’t get involved in it, and I don’t understand it, and I didn’t like the ending. People act as though it’s a crime to not love this movie.
I’m sure there are more, but that’s what comes to mind right now.
It’s not even so much that I’m embarrassed to not like this stuff. But if I mention my true opinion to people, they act as though I had said that Lincoln was wrong for abolishing slavery.
Adam Sandler. HATE the boy. And Chris Farley. I don’t hate him but I’ve seen him on SNL and just can’t find him funny. I’m not embarassed, really, in most ways i’m glad. It just makes me feel I’m the only one who doesn’t get their appeal.
Rap. I’m not ashamed…its just that at my school, it feels like I’m the only one who detests it. (Though I’d be I’m sure i’d be part of a minority at this board if I did.)
I don’t really “get” Jimi Hendrix- I mean, the music is okay but I don’t feel enlightened upon listening. I know the dude is a real icon and all, but that’s just me.
Jeanie- I get what you mean when you say you’re not embarassed. Those things I mentioned, particularly the former two, I’m glad I don’t like. But I know people who would be screaming, “What is the MATTER with you?!” if I admitted it.
Hey I hate ice cream. I’m lactose intolerant. I think I used to like it- though really I think it was just that I felt pressured by society to like it. In reality, I never had anything more than vanilla, and I never really adored it. Now I’m starting to realize ice cream and I never had a relationship.
Football- Hate that one. Speaker, you don’t like it neither? I’m surprised! I thought all males loved it. (You go up in my esteem now.)
Zoggie: The Jimi Hendrix thing may have a lot to do with how old you are. If you were hearing him thirty years ago, when he was still alive, he’d be mind-blowing. But now, after so many guitar players have emulated him and his style, listening to the original stuff isn’t anything “new.” I had this reaction the first time I ever heard Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Mind you, I’d heard all the songs on it already, but I’d never heard the whole thing lip-to-label. I was pretty unimpressed. But by the time I heard it, which was in 1986, I’d already heard all the stuff that came after.
As for what I’m embarrased not to like, well, I don’t like rye bread. Most everyone else I know does. Do you know what kind of a weird look you get when you try to order a reuben on something other than rye? Just makes me want to say “yes, I pull the wings off of flies and shove firecrackers up cat’s butts too. Now just give me the sandwich on wheat, okay?”
Poetry. Ogden Nash; sure. Edward Lear? Gimme some more. Sylvia Plath? yawn
Tea. Not iced tea, not green tea, not oolong, darjeeling, Earl Grey, chamomile, not with honey OR sugar OR cream OR mint OR lemon…I just don’t like tea. I wish I did. It’s cheaper than coffee.
Reggae. Every friend I have thinks Reggae is IT. I just…can’t. It puts me to sleep.
D&D. I had wanted to learn to play since I was 13, I’m into Tolkein and all that happy-crappy, I finally got the opportunity to play when I met my now-husband, and…I can’t stand it. Maybe it’s just the groups I’ve tried, but I can’t stand it.
Peanut butter I can’t handle at all, it might have been that when I was young it stuck to the roof of my mouth. Mustard I can not add it to any of my sandwhiches but McDonalds hamburgers no problem.
Taxi Driver
American Beauty–I feel like the whole point of that movie was the divide the world into two groups. . . the smart people (the ones who “get” it) and the dumb (people who don’t like it). And because I don’t like it, everyone assumes that I didn’t get it, and I’m stupid.
I hate coffee and beer. In fact, I don’t like any grain-based beverage. Barley tisane is just pure evil. But not liking coffee in the Silicon Valley is like bring the kid who is always picked last in PE. There’s been meetings where I’ve accepted a cup and let it go cold.
Hate Rap. Hate Rye. Don’t know who Elmo is. Never saw Survivor or American Beauty. Maybe I’m just old.
Ohhhh…yeah! I’m with Saint Zero on that one! I HATE TV! Hate, loathe, despise, don’t watch it. I recently got one for the first time in four years, because some friends of mine were giving it away. Turned it on twice, both times when I was leaving the house to see if the dog likes it. She doesn’t either. It gets two channels and they’re both fuzzy. No loss. I plan on leaving it here or giving it to someone else when I move.
People CANNOT understand that I do not watch it. Even those that don’t immediately call me a freak never acclimate to the fact that I haven’t watched TV for years. It’s DRIVEL, people! COMPLETELY INANE!
Persephone- True. And sometimes it takes awhile to get into certain types of music. I know there are a lot of books/music that I wouldn’t have been into a couple of years ago that I like now.
I don’t get a lot of modern TV. Well I love “Friends” and “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” and Matt Groening shows but I think those people on that MTV show Real World are obnoxious shmucks. Real people suck. That’s why we hire pretty people to act for us. Old TV like Gilligan’s Island and the Monkees and Bewitched is cool though.
I don’t get sports period, Speaker. What can I say?
It’s slightly more fun to play than too watch, but I’d never take it as a career or hobby. I like punching more (Tae Kwondo).