You know when something is objectively good, but personally you have no taste for it?

[GesuGesu]

That's me quite often when people recommend me series to read and I know I should give it a chance, but it is 75-100% out of my zone of interests. I don't want to offend them and say "dude I just don't want to read it" for some kind of personal reason like "the art isn't up to standard", "I prefer eastern-styled art" or "I don't like reading psychological horrors please stop pushing it on me"

In other words, I feel a bit guilty and elitist for feeling this way but don't try to feed a man when he's not hungry. If I am personally in the mood to read I will go and pick something up myself u_u;;

[DiegoPalacios]

It can happen. When a series is good but is not my taste i just explain that is not my cup of tea.

No need to feel guilty, different people have different tastes, including taste for different kinds of good series.

[shazzbaa]

I know I should give it a chance, but it is 75-100% out of my zone of interests.

Then.... why do you think that you should "give it a chance"?

Like, you read/watch/listen to/play things for fun, not for obligation. If something that you do for fun isn't fun for you, why force it?

I think there's sometimes where like, there's something I'm personally not into, but I know it means a ton to a friend so I'll listen to them talk about it, or watch an episode or two with them so that they can share it with me. But like, if I say "nah, I'm not interested," and my friend takes offence and thinks I'm being snobby? That's a problem on the friend's end.

There's also definitely things my friends have recommended me, and told me I'd be really into it, and they're actually right!! I would be! But I just don't feel like getting into it for whatever reason -- maybe there's not even a real reason, or I'm busy being interested in some other fandom and I just don't feel like I have the energy to get into a new thing. I don't think that's bad or snobby? That's just... being a human with limited resources and energy! "Dude I just don't want to read it" should be all the reason you need.

I usually just tell folks, "nah, I'm probably not gonna read/watch it, but you can tell me about it!"

[SleepingPoppy]

I don't think it's elitist to just say something isn't to your preference. Usually when I answer to these kinds of things I'll acknowledge that the thing (book, movie, tv show, etc) sounds really good, but I just don't personally feel interested. Unless it doesn't sound good, but you can still be nice about saying it's not for you. There's no need for it to be a big deal~

Of course there are times when someone recommends something that sounds exactly like you'd like it, and probably you would if you could sit down and try it, but getting yourself it do that is hard. And thats okay? Either you'll get to it eventually or you won't. It's your time. I am holding hostage several books I'm supposed to read on behalf of a friend.

[rmdooley]

There is a difference between the objectively valuable and the subjectively preferable

There is nothing wrong with recognizing a work of art possesses true quality while being honest in that it does not appeal to your individual preferences.

[Wumbl]

A lot of people give me a hard time for saying I personally don't like any of Eminem's newer music - although he's technically skilled and he still works hard on his stuff, I personally don't care for any music he's released since 2013. I don't even like Rap God. I acknowledge that he's a great writer, I just don't like that he hasn't adapted his sound.

I also like some things that are considered objectively bad or underskilled - I like the rapper 6ix9ine. Objectively speaking, he doesn't work hard to make his lyrics clever. He doesn't go for subtlety too often. He's overly aggressive and most of his lyrics are written with fun in mind rather than skill.

Then again, it might just be because most people that like rap are massive "old heads" while I have never been that way. I don't care for the whole "nostalgia" craze if I'm honest.

We all have different taste and even if something's good it could be made for a different audience. If you're not the target demographic that's no big deal. Eminem's target demographic is several years older than me. 6ix9ine is very close to my age so his demographic is people my age.

If you don't like psychological horror but it's a good horror, you don't HAVE to give it a chance. You're not the person that's meant to read it because it's for people who like horror.

[Rhonder]

This is me quite often with video games xD I'm just not into a lot of the "popular genres" like FPS or Western RPGs. So I get a lot things like "Whoa you've never played Skyrim!? but I thought you liked RPGs?!"

Even beyond that I tend to have unpopular opinions a lot, even within the genres/things that I do like lmao. Dunno if that speaks to me having bad taste or just being an oddball. For example:

Disgaea videogame series, 3 is my fave hands down. It's most people's least fave.

Zelda series, though BotW was just "okay" (felt too much like a western RPG for me than a zelda game xDD), was most people's GOAT. And most people's favorite, Ocarina of Time, is only about... #6 on my list.

and the list goes on xD Extends to comics, anime, etc. as well. I like/prefer many unpopular things, it seems.

[beta1042]

God I wish people would stop giving me crap for never completing a Star Wars film. To me they are just a total bore fest every single one I've tried. But people just can't seem to accept that I will never care for them.

[punkarsenic]

this is the other side to like, quality being relative - what you like is relative as well.

like personally, i recognise that duchamp is like, a Very Clever And Good And Important Artist - i also feel nothing for his work and have no interest in researching or imitating it bc it doesnt appeal to my interests, despite me being an artist. i think hes pretty boring.

works of art dont deserve your time and attention just on their supposedly objective merit - works of art deserve your time and attention if you get anything out of them, intellectually or emotionally or whatever. you have personal taste. it can even be incredibly niche. thats fine.

[inkythoughts]

Seriously, "I'm sorry but I'm not in the mood/it's not my cup of tea" is completely enough, if anyone takes offence it's their problem, not yours.
And to be honest, there are so many shows and movies I'm "supposed" to watch because they're so good but I just ... never have been in a mood for them and instead rewatched my cheesy favourite kdrama. Taste is nothing you need to justify to others, just acknowledge that it's your personal taste and should not dictate how others perceive it. And I mean, the mood thing is actually quite important because seriously, would you watch an action flick all the time? I like my fair share of them but sometimes I just need Miss Marple and Barneby. Or a rewatch of Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun.
There's literally nothing bad about that.

[amortelito]

This happens to me a lot. Please don't beat me to the ground: I hate Frida Kahlo's art. It doesn't mean I don't understand the meaning of the paintings, is not that I don't understand the historical and cultural value. I know her history, I can't say enough times that I'm aware of the value!! But people don't understand that I am entitled to have a personal taste which is independent of the rational appreciation of the art. "Oh but she is an icon!!" Yes, I don't like it. "But she is Mexican woman!!" so? I don't like the paintings!!!! Someone gave a Frida purse, I wanted to throw up. Someone suggested me to make Frida inspired drawings for a folkloric decoration. (sorry for the rant XD)

[GesuGesu]

It hurts me to potentially hurt their feelings especially if it's THEIR OWN CREATION that they're shilling me.

[TAMAnnoying]

I 100% feel that its fine to give something a try even if it's not in your realm of interests. You never know when something might surprise you and you like it! However if its just not your thing then life is far too short for you to force yourself to continue reading/watching it in hopes that it will eventually become your thing or to make your friends happy. Nothing appeals to everyone 100% everyone has diffrent tastes and likes and you can't really change that. Read what you want, even if you might be "missing out"

[BobbyjoeX]

i never liked Donny Darko, was told to watch it during highschool by all my friends... still have no interest in it today

[GesuGesu]

It's usually something along the lines of someone self-promoting and I look at the thumbnail and description and just NOPE. I usually walk away without any comments.

[LordVincent]

I understand exactly what you mean. Tbh I disagree with the idea of "objectively good" to a certain extent, because the purpose of art and entertainment is to entertain and engage individuals, at the end of the day. So because of this, what is good or fulfills its intention will vary greatly depending on 1. the creator intent, does the creator meet their own personal goal?, and 2. The individual consumer. Does this piece appeal to me? No? Then it is not a good fit for me.

I get very tired of people trying to argue about why things they just personally don't like are somehow objectively bad so NOONE ELSE CAN LIKE THEM!!! How entitled does a person have to be that they think their conclusions on the matter hold that type of weight?

[GesuGesu]

The opposite of that is objectively bad but no one has the heart to tell them.

[joannekwan]

I totally feel you!
Like I watched Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas because so many people seemed to like it and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. Like … I liked the visuals … but I ended up agreeing with critics that it meandered without character development or a solid chain of events. I'm surprised general audiences like it, seemed more of an art house film.

But anyways, just be blunt and say it's not really the sort of thing you like, even if it's a personal creation. They gotta learn sometimes you can't please everyone.

[skicoak]

like personally, i recognise that duchamp is like, a Very Clever And Good And Important Artist - i also feel nothing for his work and have no interest in researching or imitating it bc it doesnt appeal to my interests, despite me being an artist. i think hes pretty boring.

Are you trying to make me cry?!?

The Father of the DaDa movement is boring?!

I am aghast !

[skicoak]

I will say this... if you know something if good, it's always worth observing/studying even if it's just identify why it can't bridge the gap to your personal taste.

Just my opinion.