I Hate What You Like, But I Forgive You, Because You're Dumb.

From time to time, you cross an internet article who goes like this: 'Why X is Overrated/Underrated'; 'Why I Hate X'; 'X is not that good and here why'. I think it is safe to assume that almost everyone may have read an article with this theme. I already said that I don't believe there is such a thing as over or under rated. The fact that you like/dislike something that others dislike/like does not mean that something don't deserve the praise/hate it receives. It just mean that YOU have different tastes than others, which is not a problem and perfectly normal. The problem goes when people goes to great lengths to prove that they are right and everyone else is wrong.

When people do the over/under rated articles, they show why certain games/movies/songs/TV shows don't appeal to them. Let's stick with games for now. You dislike a game everyone likes? Maybe you don't connect with the characters and story. Or the gameplay is not what you wanted. The art style may not be of your taste. All valid reasons to dislike it.

The problems with this kind of articles is that they tend to not just explain why the writer doesn't feel compelled to like something everyone else loves. Most of the times the writer try very hard to dismiss any argument in favor of what he dislikes as being the opinion of a misinformed, conformist crowd. So, everyone likes that game? It is because they only play what is popular or never played really good games.

Some go full confrontational, belittling everyone who have an opposite view of the subject as idiots, conformists and unable to think by themselves. Others will say they respect others opinions, but make sure to affirm that any opinion different from their own is solely based in ignorance. 'You are only liking it because you don't know better, but I forgive you'.

No. Maybe they just don't have the same tastes than you. Maybe they genuinely like what you hate and make a conscious, well informed decision. But this line of thinking rarely occurs, because it is not about being 'right' or 'wrong'. There is nothing right or wrong in someones particular taste for entertainment, clothing, food or hobbies. They are just different.

Those articles is not about being 'right', because there is no right or wrong. it is about feeling superior. It is about to show to everyone else how much of a 'better' person you are. It is all about being a snob. By making sure you belittle a large group of people because of their tastes, you can put yourself in the group of the cool guys. It makes you feel superior and rightful.

You are not. You have all the right to dislike or like something different from everyone else. You have the right to express your opinion. But that doesn't make you better than everyone else. It makes you different.