Popularity and Feigning Ignorance

[Lola Granola]

This sort of came up in chat the other day. Why do people hate on popular things/trends/events/ etc. when they have no idea what they're talking about? Is it because they want to be "different"? Do they want to be "noticed" by openly stating that they don't follow the crowd? Why is there an issue about people liking things other people enjoy? For example.

Person A: World of Warcraft is such an awesome game!

Person B: Omg I would NEVER play that game.

Person A: Have you ever even tried it?

Person B: No. Its probably really boring.

Person A: Um, 11 million people play the game.

Person B: So what? I'd still never play it.

Later on.

Person C: What kind of games do you like playing?

Person B: Well, I like role playing games.

Person A: ...

Person C: Do you know what kind of game World of Warcraft is?

Person B: Yeah...

Person C: Its a MMORPG...

And so forth.

Other examples? That thread that was like WTF on Hollister/Abercrombie/American Eagle clothing. The author changed their mind when people who actually cared about fashion gave some of their insight.

So why hate on popularity (for no reason) when whatever it is earned that reputation? Have you ever been negative towards something or judged something popular without even knowing the justifications?

[Sagat]

Because people feel the need to express what meager individuality they have left by voicing whatever dissent they can, at any given time, in any given topic.

As for hating on things without knowing its justification .. I hate fashion actually. I find it an empty, shallow persuit, and an utter waste of time. I don't have to know about what Tommy Hilfiger does to make their jeans so great, nor do I need to know just how much work some person puts into their skirt design, all that is irrelevant to me as the effect it has is enough.

[Kariya The Wind]

I'm wondering why people would care so much about World of Warcraft, who gives a sweet Jesus if one plays it or not.

[Hideki Motosuwa.]

Usually around my friends, I'm like this. And I try to fit in once in a while, and ignorantly judge things that are talked about between people, when I have absolutely no idea what that thing is, or what I'm even talking about. I admit it.

[Azel]

You see this is something called human nature. People make decisions. Decision making is a reasoning or emotional process which can be rational or irrational, can be based on explicit assumptions or tacit assumptions. People make decisions about something sometimes based off of explicitly what they've heard from other people (i.e. their friends). Sometimes people make decisions off of simply what they've seen in the past and create a personal bias against it. It could very much be about being different. Sometimes people don't like things in a very paradoxical manner (i.e. I don't like you because everyone else likes you).

It all comes down to assumptions. Instead of actually trying out WoW or putting on a T-shirt, or listening to a few songs from a band, people insinuate based off of what they see on T.V., or what they read in a book, or what they hear on the internet or perhaps even a personal bias of their own. You can't change people that aren't willing to experiment. It's part of humanity. All you can do is be content with who you are and the next time someone is so quick to speak say--have you actually tried it?

[Lola Granola]

I'm wondering why people would care so much about World of Warcraft, who gives a sweet Jesus if one plays it or not.

Before anyone else thinks this is a thread about WoW, or fashion, those weren't the points. They were used as examples.

[DOOM!]

BECAUSE NOT EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD HAS TO LIKE THE SAME THING ALL 12 BILLION OF THEM LIKE! PEOPLE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT OR CONTRARY OPINIONS AND PREFERENCES.
I WANT TO WEAR THIS!!!

And, Most Importantly

[Guerrera]

It's kinda like how a lotta guys hate on Johnny Depp despite that he's so popular... jealousy!

Lol @ Doom. I want those shirts.

[DOOM!]

Not quitely. Let's saaaay: I hate George Clooney because the first movie he starred in was "Return To Horror High" (which, by the way, sucked), playing the role of the first ususpectig victim, which wasn't much of a role. And boy was he as butt-ugly as George Michael in his youth!
I also hate him because he appears in many Martini commercials, and (take it from an expert) Martini is not that great of a drink.
Oh so what?
- Martini is through the most expensive drinks in every nightclub? I can buy them with 10USD from the pennyshop, or 5USD, from a guy who smuggles.
- It's Italian? I live in Italy, and certainly don't see honey pooring from the springs or gold paved roads.
- Geroge Clooney recommends it? Geroge Clooney would also recommend VagiClean if it were produced by a more respectable company.

[Guerrera]

Not quitely. Let's saaaay: I hate George Clooney because the first movie he starred in was "Return To Horror High" (which, by the way, sucked), playing the role of the first ususpectig victim, which wasn't much of a role. And boy was he as butt-ugly as George Michael in his youth!
I also hate him because he appears in many Martini commercials, and (take it from an expert) Martini is no that great of a drink.

Ohh I see. That's different then...

But Depp is actually talented and decent-looking, how could people hate on him?

[Evangelinia]

People's opinions on things vary.

Alot of things that are popular, I do not like. Using the example of WOW, I do not like it. I do not like online RPGs. Why? Well, honestly, I have an addictive personality. Something like that, I could not restrain myself from it. Thus, I don't play it. I've tried it, but ditched it after dedicating every free moment I was not doing homework and anything else important.

Majority of mainstream things, I watched/done, I don't like it. So, its not because I'm different or attempt to be different, but its the fact that I CANNOT stand them.

[Anpan Hayase]

Oooh~ I liked that one shirt.

But anywhoo....

Some people just like to announce their distaste/disgust/disapproval for trends and such. Other people like to follow them.

[Ωmega]

Ive had a conversation about this with a thread on Hot Topic. When it FIRST opened, I shopped there. They had nice shirts that I couldnt find anywhere else, along with some nifty jewelry and nick-nacks.

I dont shop at Hot Topic now. Why? Because it became trendy.

Now, let me explain a bit better.

With its popularity, HT started carrying Disney crap [I mean, I would go to the Disney store if I wanted it], started carrying shirts for crappy, trendy bands, and just...sold out. Its bad when a store for people who like to listen to rock music attract girls who listen to pop. Its all too cutesy now.

When things become trendy, they change to something that can get even more attention and money then what it started out as. Bands start to change their songs, stores change their inventory for more sales, etc.

Sure, its better for whatever if is thats become trendy, but there'll always be those who prefer the original, or something different.

As for the example of a RPG player not liking WoW:

WoW is MMO. If the person is like me, they want to play by themselves, do quests by themselves, and not have 5 billion people around them.

[sataned]

This sort of came up in chat the other day. Why do people hate on popular things/trends/events/ etc. when they have no idea what they're talking about? Is it because they want to be "different"? Do they want to be "noticed" by openly stating that they don't follow the crowd? Why is there an issue about people liking things other people enjoy? For example.

Person A: World of Warcraft is such an awesome game!

Person B: Omg I would NEVER play that game.

Person A: Have you ever even tried it?

Person B: No. Its probably really boring.

Person A: Um, 11 million people play the game.

Person B: So what? I'd still never play it.

Later on.

Person C: What kind of games do you like playing?

Person B: Well, I like role playing games.

Person A: ...

Person C: Do you know what kind of game World of Warcraft is?

Person B: Yeah...

Person C: Its a MMORPG...

And so forth.

Other examples? That thread that was like WTF on Hollister/Abercrombie/American Eagle clothing. The author changed their mind when people who actually cared about fashion gave some of their insight.

So why hate on popularity (for no reason) when whatever it is earned that reputation? Have you ever been negative towards something or judged something popular without even knowing the justifications?

ok i understand the whole WoW thing... but honestly.. i dont think its the same just applying that concept into well.. like clothing and wotever else is considered "popular". My thoughts though, some people dont hate the trend, probably just hate the people that give into trends... like for example, i can go out and buy me like 3 shirts for 10$ while ur at hollister paying 75$ for 1 shirt.. its idiotic, and for wot? just so you can say your in style?hip?cool? (SHOP SMART SHOP UR LOCAL THRIFT STORE)

Do they want to be "noticed" by openly stating that they don't follow the crowd?

whos really noticing, those who arent trying to be noticed? arent the people going to all the trendy clothing stores the ones crying out for attention?, trying to fit it in?...PAYING 80$ for PANTS! and 70$ for a shirt...

think about it! and remember! SHOP AT UR LOCAL THRIFT STORE !

[Eris]

People are mindless lemming automatons. Do not concern yourself with their business.

This is what you are doing:
A: The sky is like... blue. How deep.
You: Wow! You're a retard!
A: No way! You're mean!
You: Eat flaming death you lemming!

This is what I am doing:
A: The sky is like... blue. How deep.
Me: KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!
A: *kneels before zod*

See the difference? You've got to assert power early. People are like unsolicited calls. Cut them off before they have an opportunity to say anything retarded.

[ComposerOfRequiems]

Fact: the people that hate trends just so happen to be the people never happy, at all.

Fact: trend haters usually are not in trend, and never are. Not by choice, but from the fact that most are not accepted by their "groups" of people.

[Momokachan]

My biggest thing with trends and popularity is I have neither the time nor the money to keep up with them. I have things like school, my own hobbies, and the like to keep me well occupied.

The thing with trends, too, is that a lot of people sell out to trends and brand names for the sake of being "cool." It's a vanity thing, and part of that deeper human need to be accepted. Americans just happen to do it through fashion or, in the case of World of Warcraft, through soul-sucking time-consumers (Sorry WoW-ers, but I'm still using my soul. I get my WoW fix through stories before class in the morning).

Frankly, if it's something I enjoy, or something that seems logical to me, I'll go with it. Maybe I'm falling into that stupid "I'm so non-conformist that I conform" category. I don't know. But what I do know is that not buying into trends has always worked for me, and as long as I'm happy, then I don't see why it matters to anyone else. (Cliques, I'm talking to you.)

[Daenerys]

Wasn't I person A? lol

[Lola Granola]

Sweet. Some good opinions, I didn't think about MaruDashi's. I'd be annoyed if something I liked changed for profit as well. And thanks Azel for answering my question generally and not getting too bogged down on the examples, what you said makes complete sense.

Dorian Grey: lol, no I don't think so. Regex pwned them and I don't think you were pwnt.

I completely understand judging something after you experienced it. But being anti anything because its popular without knowing what its about is just a wee bit close minded.

Some people are annoyed by trends, or those who follow trends. They like to think they're sell-outs, cliquey, or whatever.

In the same way its annoying when they criticize those who do. Especially when they take it for face value and don't realize that they don't know what the hell they're talking about. So you get a gold star for recognizing a trend. Doesn't mean you know anything about it.

Sataned: You can get a shirt from hollister for $10. But that has already been discussed.

Momokachan: I have a part-time job, I am a full time university student, I maintain my relationships, and I play WoW.

I have as much a soul as Oprah Winfrey. You just have to learn how to balance your time.

[Manhattan_Project_2000]

This sort of came up in chat the other day. Why do people hate on popular things/trends/events/ etc. when they have no idea what they're talking about? Is it because they want to be "different"? Do they want to be "noticed" by openly stating that they don't follow the crowd? Why is there an issue about people liking things other people enjoy? For example.

...

Other examples? That thread that was like WTF on Hollister/Abercrombie/American Eagle clothing. The author changed their mind when people who actually cared about fashion gave some of their insight.

So why hate on popularity (for no reason) when whatever it is earned that reputation? Have you ever been negative towards something or judged something popular without even knowing the justifications?

Well, I have never played WoW, but I don't particularly want to. Why? Because I have played MMO's before, and I wouldn't want to play one in the War craft Setting. I'm not going to tell you I hate it and you are stupid for liking it, but I want nothing to do with it.

But seriously, why not hate something you haven't actually done? Are you really going to stand by the argument that you have to experience something in order to make an informed judgment? Likewise, I've never had a limb amputated, but I can infer it's something I should avoid if at all possible. I think I should be able to tell if a movie is worthy or not from only preview, and in extreme cases even make generalizations on the intelligence of the people the movie appeals to (Epic Move, Scary Movie, Meet the Spartans, Date Movie- I'm looking at you).

Now reactionary-Hot-Topicesque-It's-Popular-so-I-should-hate-it thinking is freakishly dumb, but it's a fallacy to say that simply because something is popular it is good. The inverse seems more true then not. To quote (maybe not direct- not going to look) George Carlin "Think of how stupid the average person is. Now realize that half of them are stupider then that."

Fact: the people that hate trends just so happen to be the people never happy, at all.

Fact: trend haters usually are not in trend, and never are. Not by choice, but from the fact that most are not accepted by their "groups" of people.

Both blatant lies. I am just happy about things so far off of most people's radars it isn't funny. And staying "up to date" with "treads" is so easy it is almost more of an accomplishment to remain ignorant of them. And I have no group of people to veto my opinions, and even If I did I would ignore them.

[Sanosuke23]

It's because people feel entitled to enjoying themselves in peace.

Think of it like this: You and a small group like this one diner. You know the workers, you know the regulars, and the food is great.

Now, this great food inevitably attracts people eventually, word gets out, and every jerk you go there to get away from is sitting in your seat talking about how they're such a hardcore fan and a regular after a week.

Naturally, the diner needs to adapt, it changes to accomodate the noobs and you hate it.

[Masali]

I really have nothing to add except to Doc Doom.

We may be sheep, but hot damn do we look good.

*loves on Hollister hoodie*

[Kanjoudakai_Ira]

Well that's because some people don't wanna be a part of the "herd" or whatever it's called. They don't fit in and they're not afraid to do something about it and outstand. Some people on the other hand go along with it even tho they don't like something, just to be "cool"

[███]

Yeah well! I want to wear this!

http://www.lakewoodconferences.com/d...3/G_String.jpg