This is honestly such a low thing to do, in my opinion. I think it makes people a bit more vulnerable to admit their interests and passions because it’s like new stuff that others can use against you, it’s something you genuinely enjoy and it might hurt more when others put you down about it. If I say I really love singing and then someone says, “Why? You have a terrible voice,” or, “But you can’t even sing well,” then I’m going to feel really shitty about myself and what I enjoy doing.
I actually did want to be a singer when I was younger. My dad started constantly making me feel bad about my voice, though, saying shit like, “Do you even hear yourself?” and I gave up that tiny dream soon enough. I understand criticism, I get it, and I don’t mind being on the receiving end of it, but it’s different when it’s spoken like an insult, like ridicule, like taunting or patronizing. It’s different because criticism is supposed to be constructive, not destructive, and it’s a shitty feeling to have your hopes dashed by some jerk’s snide comment.
And it’s not just dreams and aspirations and passions for doing things; it’s also interests, things that we like. I’m fully aware of most people’s opinions on One Direction, boybands, fanfiction, etc., yet I continue to like those things because they make me happy. They make me feel better, and sometimes, they keep me going throughout the day.
I can’t tell you how upset it makes me when I’m having a conversation with someone about something like music and they’re telling me how much they love screamo or rap or country or something I’m not a huge fan of, but when I just nod and say, “I don’t listen to that genre a whole lot, but that’s cool,” or something, only to see them give me a disgusted look and hear them say shit like, “Ew, I hate them, they suck, I can’t believe you like them,” when I say I love One Direction, it’s frustrating and offensive and just disappointing that only one of us was able to act like a fucking civilized, polite human being. Like, what the fuck? I just told you that they’re one of my favorite music artists and they changed my life and basically saved me in the exact fucking way that your favorite music artist did for you, and instead of reacting mildly and in the same polite manner that I did to yours, you just had to go and be a total dick about it.
My favorite band used to be Pierce the Veil and I vividly remember some people, including my parents, taunting me or criticizing me for it because they’re alternative.
If I like something, I fucking like something, and it’s nobody’s place to fucking judge me for it.
If I can readily accept your interests and hobbies and likes and dislikes, then I would hope you would do the fucking same for me.
It’s style too. I used to dress more goth-ish, I guess, and like an emo/scene kid, but it never made sense to me for other kids to mock me for shopping at Hot Topic or wearing black or liking band tees and having a certain hairstyle or listening to certain music. None of that defines me, and it should not be the foundation for your opinion of me.
I am more than just my interests, more than just my passions, and definitely more than just my fucking style.
I am a fucking human being. I like some things. I dislike other things. But all the same, I deserve to be treated with the same fucking respect that I give to you.
And y’know what? If you can’t give me that, then you’re not even worth my time.
Rant over.
