Criticizing Music Taste

Arya Stark · 07-06-2013, 07:07 PM

In one of the threads, a new member commented on something they heard about members here criticizing the tastes of other members. They expressed their hesitation to explore the thread for this reason.

It's obvious here that many members think their taste in music is better than other members, while many are open to all types of music and opinions!

While I know that this is true and have experienced the negative consequences of such judgments here, I also know that some members take no interest in judging the music tastes of others. Many here simply wish to explore.

What do you think about this?
IS it okay to judge someone for their music TASTE? Why should anyone feel that they listen to better music than anyone else? Why does anyone feel their opinion in this subject is even important?

I remember about two years ago, I had shared an album that I was really excited about, only to be attacked for sharing it. I was called a middle school girl, compared to someone's little sister, and felt really embarrassed. I haven't listened to the album since then. Not because I didn't like it, but because I was upset and embarrassed. I can't express to you how much I liked the album, and how much I disliked some albums others were sharing, but never did I criticize the actual members.

It's just a weird concept to me that we attack the actual person, making them feel so bad that they change their music tastes. I have a lot more to say but what does everyone else think?

TL;DR is it okay to judge the music tastes of others, is it then okay to judge the person for having those tastes?

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 07-06-2013, 07:14 PM

I think it depends what their musical taste includes, like for instance, I wouldn't want to be friends with someone who listens to Iggy Azalea or Skrewdriver.

But a lot of people take their taste far too personal, I know a lot of dudes like to try to press their taste onto me and I always feel bad because I'm like "this is ****ing terrible" and they act so wounded lmao

Paedantic Basterd · 07-06-2013, 07:17 PM

I subscribe to the opinion that taste is both subjective and relative. Taste is subjective, in the sense that there's no external, unbiased determinant of "good" versus "bad", but it is relative in that someone who listens to a very broad range of genres and artists will have a better understanding of their own subjective tastes than someone who listens to a very narrow array of radio musicians.

I'm not interested in criticism of the person liking the music, unless it is because they choose to have a narrow mind. That is all I pass judgment on.

Arya Stark · 07-06-2013, 08:07 PM

Exactly! I pass judgment on people who I guess pass judgment on others for their music taste.

But it's exactly what I experienced here! It's pretty horrible to make people feel bad about what they listen to. You never know how they identify with it.

Burning Down · 07-06-2013, 08:11 PM

I find that criticism of music taste tends to happen more online than it does in real life. I'm a music major and so I share a love of classical music with my friends and all my other classmates, but beyond that our music tastes tend to vary widely. I've never witnessed any open judgment of someone's taste that extends beyond classical.

But online, it's different. Personally, the fact that I like genres like classical and jazz doesn't make me feel more cultured or better than other members who don't or who don't have an interest in it. I do get the feeling that some people have thought this way about me though but it's not true. I listen to all kinds of music and have an open mind, and I know what I like and don't like. I'm not here to flame people for enjoying music that I don't enjoy.

I think that music taste is often an extension of that person's character, so if they listen extensively to artists who are known racists/sexists/wife beaters/homophobes, etc, what does that say about the audience? I'm not going to call someone out for listening to those artists though.

I want MB to be a community where members are open minded about genres they haven't listened to or ones they assume they won't like, and likewise MB should be a place for education - members giving people good starting points when they want to get into new genres or artists, without the risk of anyone being judged for it.

So no, I don't think it's okay for people to judge others on their music taste. But unfortunately, it's not ever going to stop. Just like people get judged for other things like the clothes they wear to their socioeconomic status. It's just the way things are, sadly.

~~Lord Larehip~~ · 07-06-2013, 08:25 PM

I'm kind of torn about this. I simply refuse to participate on threads where people are discussing the merits of a recording celeb that I hate. I don't think they need me coming on there to tell them how much I hate this person--then why am I on the thread, right?

But on my own threads I can get fairly opinionated about musical taste. What I hate most right now is anything popular that you are damn well isn't going to be remembered 30 years from now or stuff people are buying now but will be too embarrassed to admit it 10 years from now. If you like music that falls into either or both of these categories, you listen to crap!

But I am primarily a jazz and classical musician with a fondness for industrial, noise, punk and metal. And I like the older black pop music stuff (except disco) when it was worth listening to which it isn't today.

Burning Down · 07-06-2013, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Larehip

I'm kind of torn about this. I simply refuse to participate on threads where people are discussing the merits of a recording celeb that I hate. I don't think they need me coming on there to tell them how much I hate this person--then why am I on the thread, right?

But on my own threads I can get fairly opinionated about musical taste. What I hate most right now is anything popular that you are damn well isn't going to be remembered 30 years from now or stuff people are buying now but will be too embarrassed to admit it 10 years from now. If you like music that falls into either or both of these categories, you listen to crap!

But I am primarily a jazz and classical musician with a fondness for industrial, noise, punk and metal. And I like the older black pop music stuff (except disco) when it was worth listening to which it isn't today.

So you think it's okay to judge people on their music taste?

Paedantic Basterd · 07-06-2013, 08:57 PM

Let's be clear that judging someone's taste and judging someone's character are not the same matter.

edwardc77 · 07-06-2013, 09:03 PM

In ancient Rome they used to say:
De gustibus non est disputandum

Arya Stark · 07-06-2013, 09:04 PM

Hmm so maybe the title should be changed.

But I don't really like either, Meg. I hate when people are like WOW YOUR MUSIC TASTE SUCKS. Cause it's mine and I like it.

But I hate more when people criticize ME for it.

07-06-2013, 09:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
edwardc77 Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Italy Posts: 128	In ancient Rome they used to say: De gustibus non est disputandum __________________ Thought he lost everything then he lost a whole lot more....

07-06-2013, 07:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
~~Sansa Stark~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn, Westeros Posts: 3,234	I think it depends what their musical taste includes, like for instance, I wouldn't want to be friends with someone who listens to Iggy Azalea or Skrewdriver. But a lot of people take their taste far too personal, I know a lot of dudes like to try to press their taste onto me and I always feel bad because I'm like "this is ****ing terrible" and they act so wounded lmao

07-06-2013, 07:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I subscribe to the opinion that taste is both subjective and relative. Taste is subjective, in the sense that there's no external, unbiased determinant of "good" versus "bad", but it is relative in that someone who listens to a very broad range of genres and artists will have a better understanding of their own subjective tastes than someone who listens to a very narrow array of radio musicians. I'm not interested in criticism of the person liking the music, unless it is because they choose to have a narrow mind. That is all I pass judgment on.

07-06-2013, 08:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
Burning Down The Music Guru. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Beyond the Wall Posts: 4,858	I find that criticism of music taste tends to happen more online than it does in real life. I'm a music major and so I share a love of classical music with my friends and all my other classmates, but beyond that our music tastes tend to vary widely. I've never witnessed any open judgment of someone's taste that extends beyond classical. But online, it's different. Personally, the fact that I like genres like classical and jazz doesn't make me feel more cultured or better than other members who don't or who don't have an interest in it. I do get the feeling that some people have thought this way about me though but it's not true. I listen to all kinds of music and have an open mind, and I know what I like and don't like. I'm not here to flame people for enjoying music that I don't enjoy. I think that music taste is often an extension of that person's character, so if they listen extensively to artists who are known racists/sexists/wife beaters/homophobes, etc, what does that say about the audience? I'm not going to call someone out for listening to those artists though. I want MB to be a community where members are open minded about genres they haven't listened to or ones they assume they won't like, and likewise MB should be a place for education - members giving people good starting points when they want to get into new genres or artists, without the risk of anyone being judged for it. So no, I don't think it's okay for people to judge others on their music taste. But unfortunately, it's not ever going to stop. Just like people get judged for other things like the clothes they wear to their socioeconomic status. It's just the way things are, sadly.

07-06-2013, 08:25 PM	#6 (permalink)
~~Lord Larehip~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 899	I'm kind of torn about this. I simply refuse to participate on threads where people are discussing the merits of a recording celeb that I hate. I don't think they need me coming on there to tell them how much I hate this person--then why am I on the thread, right? But on my own threads I can get fairly opinionated about musical taste. What I hate most right now is anything popular that you are damn well isn't going to be remembered 30 years from now or stuff people are buying now but will be too embarrassed to admit it 10 years from now. If you like music that falls into either or both of these categories, you listen to crap! But I am primarily a jazz and classical musician with a fondness for industrial, noise, punk and metal. And I like the older black pop music stuff (except disco) when it was worth listening to which it isn't today.

07-06-2013, 08:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	Let's be clear that judging someone's taste and judging someone's character are not the same matter.