Does it annoy you when people try and convince you that X is great when you think X is not?

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Taken from the thingy thread...

Kate, just out of interest, how would you react if some bloke you liked took you to on eside and gave you the "Spacemen 3 are great" talk about, say, RHCP? In fact, make that an open question to everyone. In fact, I might start a thread about it - how do the eulogisers and hyperbole-spouters and preachers take being eulogised / hyperbole spouted / preached at?
-- Nick Southall (n.j.southal...), March 18th, 2003.

How do you react when someone tries to convince you that X is a shining diamond of beguiling sonic wonderment when you've always been convinced that X is actually music for cunts? When they start eulogising / preaching / etcetera to you, godforbid, someone who knows what they like and that it is good? Inspired not only by the above mentioned thread but also by my receiving an email off the band who played the Van Halen / Dire Straits covers during the Battle of the Bands I judged a couple of weeks ago asking me "what exactly is wrong with Dire Straits?"

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:24 (twenty-three years ago)

It annoys me considerably more when people try and convince me that X sucks when X is obviously great.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:24 (twenty-three years ago)

X were the worst band ever to come out of Australia! You are all gay.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:29 (twenty-three years ago)

I agree with Geir - someone trying to convince me that I shouldn't like something I do is always much much more objectionable than someone trying to convince me I should like something I don't.

I've been guilty of both often enough to not really get upset though.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:30 (twenty-three years ago)

I imagine that happens a lot, Geir.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:31 (twenty-three years ago)

now now.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually there is little I like better than someone making a really convincing, funny, excited case for something I think is rubbish. And I sometimes change my mind too. What does annoy me is when people go down the 'of course' route and assume that something they like doesn't even NEED defending, usually because it's 'a classic' and there must be something wrong with me.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:34 (twenty-three years ago)

someone making a really convincing, funny, excited case for something I think is rubbish

Yeah, see, I'm wholly convinced that most of the music I like/defend/investigate on musical terms actually IS rubbish!

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:36 (twenty-three years ago)

Let me get in a hissy fit, please Marcello...

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Not at all
I like apeshit passion about about trivial things it passes the time better

― girl scout heroin (iamamonkey), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:43 (twenty-three years ago)

I just shrug my shoulders and think whatever.

― jel -- (jel), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:46 (twenty-three years ago)

how can you lot not think Athlete are the best band in Britian?! U R all gay...

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 11:59 (twenty-three years ago)

SHit, sorry, I answered this on the wrong thread.

Basically, it comes down to how much I respect the taste of the other person and how much respect they show for me and my tastes.

― kate, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:05 (twenty-three years ago)

Alix and I saw an Athlete video in the pub last night - what a stinker!

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:05 (twenty-three years ago)

I sold Athlete's debut EP on ebay for £30 a few weeks back. u r all still gay, though.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Athlete - Nick Hornby's idea of a "happening" band.

I am not gay.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Who are Athlete? What a crap name for a band.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Their debut single was called, ahem, "Rock Scene."

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:19 (twenty-three years ago)

"someone trying to convince me that I shouldn't like something I do is always much much more objectionable than someone trying to convince me I should like something I don't."

i'd more or less agree with this. telling me why they don't like it is cool, but persuading me to stop getting enjoyment out of a record seems like such a mean-spirited thing to do. as for convincing me to like something, it all depends on the tone. if it's "Oh, you just don't GET IT!" they can fuck off, but i can be persuaded to give something another chance with a few helpful suggestions as to what i might have missed (although to be honest, while this can convince me to listen again, my opinion isn't often changed.) someone on ilm convinced me to give codeine another chance recently, using thoughtful arguments, but i still haven't gotten round to giving it another listen.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:19 (twenty-three years ago)

Athlete- you know how Goldrush had that one great single, and then went really shit? Imagine if Goldrush started their career off as shit as they are now, and then went through exactly the same degree of drop in talent. And then they started randomly channeling the Supernaturals at various points in their songs.

Yes, they are that bad.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:21 (twenty-three years ago)

"Rock Scene"? Wow. That sounds ace, though I've never heard Goldrush. Supernaturals you say? They of the 'Smile' tune? Does Geir like them?

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:22 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd bet dollars to donuts if Geir heard them they'd be his new favourite band. They get played a lot in branches of Wetherspoons, when they get fed up with playing Mis-Teeq to show how "urban" their special offers on Directors' Bitter are.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Cockthrush, oops, I mean, Goldrush had a "great" single?

Gah! Clearly where you come from "great" is a synonym for utter and complete rubbish. What single of theirs did you think was even bearable?

The only use I have for Athlete is that they seem to be trying to make things happen for Fonda 500. Come to think of it, ditto for Goldrush, so there you go. I'm going to go wash my monitor out with soap now. Never mention Goldrush in my presence again, thank you. Feh! Feh!

(I know that I am contradicting what I said upthread about being willing to listen to people if they were polite and respectful, but feh! Goldrush! With them, it's personal!)

― kate, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:25 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh come on, the original version of "Same Picture" is great. It was when they decided "Man, there's not enough shit acoustic bands in the charts with wavering vocals at the moment" that they jumped the shark.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:26 (twenty-three years ago)

I like it when this happens, especially if it's someone whose opinions I generally rate - even if we don't share much musical common ground. If I like the way they like the things they like, I'll be likely to try and see if there's anything in what they say. Except for Primal Scream - here I just cover my ears.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:27 (twenty-three years ago)

Dom, are we listening to the same single, cause I don't think so, I don't think so!

There was exactly ONE Goldrush song I didn't hate but I can't remember what it was. Then again, watching the BF's sex faces as he played it might have had more to do with my enjoyment of the song than actually liking it...

― kate, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:31 (twenty-three years ago)

Supernaturals you say? They of the 'Smile' tune? Does Geir like them?

I love Supernaturals. Check my 90s albums list and my all time singles list. :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:33 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't you get bored?

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 12:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Do you people know how many hours of my life have been wasted by people trying to make me like Bob fucking Dylan? OKAY. I GET IT. HE'S "IMPORTANT". LEAVE IT ALONE.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:18 (twenty-three years ago)

nickalicious I luv u.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:26 (twenty-three years ago)

dylan needs those inverted commas. otherwise he is unimportant.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Nope. he needs font face arial black, font face +1, font color dayglo fucking orange, underline, bold, italic and blink tags.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:46 (twenty-three years ago)

He needs a fucking good kicking is what he needs. "You can't sing! And you're a shit poet! Fuck off already!!!!!!"

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:49 (twenty-three years ago)

(10,000 furry hippies in black turtlenecks descend on Nick Southall, screeching "Kill the Heretic!")

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:52 (twenty-three years ago)

dylan is unimportant. like holloway road launderettes or the independent on sunday.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 15:54 (twenty-three years ago)

Do you people know how many hours of my life have been wasted by people trying to make me like Bob fucking Dylan?

Nickalicious! Friend, hero, countryman! I kiss you.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:08 (twenty-three years ago)

People who don't like Dylan always seem to think there's some kind of huge worldwide conspiracy to make everyone like Dylan. Would that it were so, but it isn't: of course that won't stop people acting all mock-amazed when they encounter somebody else 'free-thinking' enough not to dig him.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:10 (twenty-three years ago)

People who don't like Dylan always seem to think there's some kind of huge worldwide conspiracy to make everyone like Dylan.

Eh, no more or less than a similar Beatles pseudo-conspiracy. Anyway, I doubt I'm so much 'free thinking' as I am 'a bitter bastard.' ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:13 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd like to second Tom's remark, but change it to this
People who don't like The Beatles always seem to think there's some kind of huge worldwide conspiracy to make everyone like The Beatles. Would that it were so, but it isn't: of course that won't stop people acting all mock-amazed when they encounter somebody else 'free-thinking' enough not to dig them.
Except that there IS a conspiracy.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Damn. Ned beat me to posting.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:16 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah it totally applies for the Beatles as well. They got to me in the end and I finally ended up liking them.

― Tom (Groke), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:17 (twenty-three years ago)

i was reading and started thinking about when i like a band and then i start talking myself into disliking them...usually it is when a band becomes popular.

― marcg (marcg), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:19 (twenty-three years ago)

I found X to be horribly didactic. Spike Lee's usual trudgery.

― maria b (maria b), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 16:21 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm more bothered when people try to pressurise me to listen to stuff I'm convinced is a bad bet. When everything I've heard about artist/album X leads me to believe I'm not going to like it, but someone whose taste is pretty dissimilar to mine is having a go at me for not "giving it a fair listen". Of course I just MIGHT like it and I feel unreasonable/unfriendly not giving it a try. But from experience I'm more likely to end up resenting the time (and possibly money) wasted and still pissing him/her off by not liking it.

― ArfArf, Wednesday, 19 March 2003 17:47 (twenty-three years ago)

this sounds like every Deadhead i've ever known. all of whom swear that if i listen to umpteen bootleg tapes of jerry endlessly and pointlessly noodling on his guitar that i'll "finally get it." though i don't "want it" in the first place.

― Tad (llamasfur), Wednesday, 19 March 2003 18:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i liked Whispering Bob

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 20 March 2003 00:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Bob Dylan has a huge fanatic following amongst music geeks, sure, but this is more than made up for by the fact that he's like the most hated on guy amongst casual fans evah ("you think he has an ugly voice? Why thank you for that most original insight! I had never really thought about that.")

The Beatles' following...well, I do have a friend from Missouri who told me all these stories about how in her school everyone loved The Beatles and you were ostracised if you didn't (this in the late 90's, mind you), but apart from that, I can honestly say that I've never met a Beatles "fanatic" in my life. This is because being a Beatles fan is a bit like saying you enjoy Shakespeare or that you think Citizen Kane is a really good movie- it will make you seem dull to even the most oblivious individuals.

Also: I love it when Class Of '77 journos/bloggers/columnists diss Dylan/The Beatles/The Rolling Stones, pat themselves on their backs for being oh-so-subversive, then go back to writing love letters to The Sex Pistols and Television and Talking fuckin' Heads.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Thursday, 20 March 2003 00:45 (twenty-three years ago)

Err, as for the question- no, not really. Mainly because I love arguing, and surely even the most remote possibility that I might like something new is surely a good thing.

― Daniel_Rf (Daniel_Rf), Thursday, 20 March 2003 00:47 (twenty-three years ago)

I can honestly say that I've never met a Beatles "fanatic" in my life. This is because being a Beatles fan is a bit like saying you enjoy Shakespeare or that you think Citizen Kane is a really good movie- it will make you seem dull to even the most oblivious individuals.
Ohh-ho-ho. You should've met Squeazil. He was a friend was hopelessly irrational about the Beatles. I didn't have such an attytude about the band until I got sick of his dimwitted attempts to proselytize about them.
(Anyone who read that rant I wrote a week ago about "glaze-eyed fanatics who claim that Paul McCartney Invented Gravity" will know what I mean.)
If you do an ILM/Google Search for the phrase "invented gravity" you'll stumble across it.

― Lord Custos Epsilon (Lord Custos Epsilon), Thursday, 20 March 2003 03:03 (twenty-three years ago)

the only interesting thing about dylan was his voice. the music is just blotting paper and that's what renders his art inadequate.

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 20 March 2003 08:43 (twenty-three years ago)

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