There are two ways "Fads" can affect your opinion - I don't let either happen.

[MJN SEIFER]

There's this thing that is being majorly hyped up, and everyone who's anyone is a fan - that is a "fad" ladies and gentlemen. Now, fads seam to affect people one of two ways; they will either decide to join the "crowed" so they are part of what's "in" - or they will publicly refuse to even look at it, simply because it's a "fad" and they don't want to look like they are just "following the crowed" as I said earlier.

However, I don't let either get to me - I simply become fans of things because I like them. I don't care if they've got a massive fan following or not, plus if something I like does have a fan following, my opinions will not change if and when the fan following begins to die down - for example I still kind of like Pokemon (the anime) and it was admittedly a "fad" when I first got into it, but I discovered it purely by accident (it was on the TV when I turned it on, simple as that) - now Pokemon is in no way the "cool" thing to be a fan of, but it's something I like - so if I'm in the mood I will watch the show.

Now, I know a lot of people don't like High School Musical mainly because it was over-hyped by Disney (like practically everything Disney gets its hands on these days) I simply chose to watch it, because I thought one of its songs sounded good, so I bought it and not only did I like the other songs, I thought the storyline and messages were actually pretty well written, but these things get over looked by the fact that it quickly decided to cash in with a below-par sequel (this is purely my opinion, but I found absolutely no storyline structure in the sequel, and first film kind of seamed like an "ending"). By the time I got HSM the fad had begun to die down, and the fact the sequel seamed to spawn overnight did very little to help.

Of course things can work in an opposite way too - some of the things I like have absolutely no fan following, I however like these things, and consider them to be "underrated gems" which I watch simply because I like them.

So to sum up, if you see me expressing my love for something that already has a massive fan following - it's not because I'm another crowed following fanboy - I'm simply just another fan.

[Vyk]

I'm in the second group. But its not like an elitist thing, though that sometimes has a part in my opinion. But its more like people hyping things just makes me disgusted. There's been a few cases where I've checked out something that was hyped and was willing to concede it was good. But the hype itself left such a bad taste in my mouth I couldn't stay enjoyed and become any kind of fan, even though I probably would have without the hype. That's why I avoid hype the way some people avoid spoilers. I don't want anything possibly good being ruined by retarded fans. Generally I like things simply because they're good. My interests do wax and wane but not because of trends. And there's very frequent occasions that I'm into something long before it becomes popular. And I'll willingly admit to a little elitist attitude. But I think that's warranted. As stated, hype band-wagon fans are generally retarded and don't usually deserve or appreciate anything unique original and good. So it irritates me when they taint one of my enjoyments. But all I have to do is survive the storm and then continue to enjoy whatever it was. This retro trend is a great example these days. Where all the old 80s cartoons are becoming popular again and hot topic is selling Ninja Turtle stuff and Invader Zim is everyone's favorite alien, even though most of the emos touting the merchandise were in kindergarten or younger and likely weren't around to experience them. An argument that a friend pointed out to me about the massive Nightmare Before Christmas hysteria. That movie came out in freaking 1993. There's a chick I work with who's about to turn 18 and that's her favorite movie ever. She was ONE when it came out. Some kids are like "I used to watch that all the time when I was a kid". Uh no, you were watching Sesame Street. So either your parents watched it all the time, or its just emo band-wagon retards bullting to look cool

Hype'y band-wagon BS taints things. I enjoyed NBC when it came out. But its so popular and obsessed over these days. I haven't watched it in years. I'd actually like to check it out again. But I just never feel like bringing myself to. I hear too much about it as it is without purposely exposing myself to it

/rant

[Jiro]

I'm deterred when the fan base is idiotic. If their reasons for liking something aren't thought out or actually relevant, then I'll probably pass it off as something for imbeciles (which unfortunately leads to missing some good stuff).

Apart from that, I try not to let others influence my tastes too much. I keep an eye on the crowd in case they stumble on something great. It just means I can't get my elitist on

[Moon Rabbits]

What is it with 20 year old men, this forum, and Disney?!????

[Slothy]

What is it with 20 year old men, this forum, and Disney?!????

Not everyone had a funectomy as a child.

Though I don't really understand liking High School Musical. Not my bag, but classic animated Disney and Pixar are cool.

An argument that a friend pointed out to me about the massive Nightmare Before Christmas hysteria. That movie came out in freaking 1993. There's a chick I work with who's about to turn 18 and that's her favorite movie ever. She was ONE when it came out. Some kids are like "I used to watch that all the time when I was a kid". Uh no, you were watching Sesame Street. So either your parents watched it all the time, or its just emo band-wagon retards bullting to look cool

You know it's possible that the person saw it during their childhood even if it's well after it came out and really likes it right? I watched the original Star Wars trilogy ALL THE TIME when I was a pretty young kid. I grew up with it and I remember my love of Star Wars being a big part of my childhood. Who cares if I wasn't born when Return of the Jedi came out?

A little more on topic; I like what I like. You got problem?

[Momiji]

A little more on topic; I like what I like. You got problem?

Pretty much this. I used to be the type of person who would like things simply because no one had heard of it, and then I realized how dumb that was. I just like what I like and dislike what I dislike.

[Croyles]

I'm deterred when the fan base is idiotic. If their reasons for liking something aren't thought out or actually relevant, then I'll probably pass it off as something for imbeciles (which unfortunately leads to missing some good stuff).

Apart from that, I try not to let others influence my tastes too much. I keep an eye on the crowd in case they stumble on something great. It just means I can't get my elitist on

This just made me think, since when do you need a reason to like something? Its not like enjoyment is always logical.
Actually, I think the more you try to define why you like something the less you are going to like it.

To me it just sounds like you belong in the second group.
And everyone is in the first or second group every once in a while, whether they realise it or not.

Dont mean to sound snobbish or anything, im including myself in this

[Bastian]

When the first few Harry Potter books were just out, I refused to read them. They were too hyped and surely that meant that they were awful. My tastes are superior to the mass public, you know.

But I do love a well-written children's book . . .

So when local radio personality did a little segment on the Harry Potter books (long before the first film came out) and talked about how she too refused to read them because like me she'd read so many amazing books as a kid (and listed all my favorite childhood books) and said there was no way Harry Potter could possibly compete against those . . . but then was sick and picked one up someone had left for her . . . and loved it. And while was still sick went to get the second and third one . . .

I decided to give it a try.

And hated it. A few chapters in I thought "Geeze, Roald Dahl, much?"

But I was pleased with myself for giving it a valiant effort!

And then a friend insisted a year later that I hadn't really given it a proper chance and I should try again. So I did.

And I LOVED it! And read all four (the fourth had JUST come out) in quick succession.

The moral of the story is: if you're too snobby to be into something just because everyone else is, you're probably just being a jerk and are depriving yourself of something you'd love.

[Croyles]

The moral of the story is: if you're too snobby to be into something just because everyone else is, you're probably just being a jerk and are depriving yourself of something you'd love.

Amen my brother

[Jiro]

I'm deterred when the fan base is idiotic. If their reasons for liking something aren't thought out or actually relevant, then I'll probably pass it off as something for imbeciles (which unfortunately leads to missing some good stuff).

Apart from that, I try not to let others influence my tastes too much. I keep an eye on the crowd in case they stumble on something great. It just means I can't get my elitist on

This just made me think, since when do you need a reason to like something? Its not like enjoyment is always logical.

You don't need a reason to enjoy something. I enjoy things and can't fathom why, my logic tells me I should hate it.

But if you like something because ZOMG SO ORSUMMMMMM etc then you're a dick and you're making me hate whatever you're raving about. If you're just saying something is pretty cool and that's it then I'm down with that.

I just... idiots affect me far more than I should let them. (aimed at the context of my post, not you Croyles)

[Jessweeee♪]

I try my best not to let it affect my opinion, but the group that swings the other way (avoiding the hype) tends to ruin things for me. Let's take Linkin Park for example. I am very good at ignoring flaws and just enjoying the things I like about something. So I was content when I was a middle school kid with no money or internet access and three Linkin Park CDs. Then when I had regular internet access and had other methods of finding music, my taste in music expanded. In this time I would read all of the usual negative things about Linkin Park and eventually I just couldn't ignore the flaws anymore! I listen to it now, and it's kinda "ehh....I'll skip it this time..." I finally deleted all of them from my iPod a few weeks ago because I can't listen anymore!

[Crop]

I try my best not to let it affect my opinion, but the group that swings the other way (avoiding the hype) tends to ruin things for me. Let's take Linkin Park for example. I am very good at ignoring flaws and just enjoying the things I like about something. So I was content when I was a middle school kid with no money or internet access and three Linkin Park CDs. Then when I had regular internet access and had other methods of finding music, my taste in music expanded. In this time I would read all of the usual negative things about Linkin Park and eventually I just couldn't ignore the flaws anymore! I listen to it now, and it's kinda "ehh....I'll skip it this time..." I finally deleted all of them from my iPod a few weeks ago because I can't listen anymore!

I agree with this.

Please don't anyone hurt me, but I LIKE Star Trek Voyager, there I said it. I used to really enjoy it, until I started watching SFDebris's reviews of the show, where he points out its obvious flaws. Now I barely ever watch it, and find myself bitching at it when I do.

His reviews are awsome though.

[Bastian]

I loved ST Voyager and no-one can make me dislike it. So there.

[Madame Adequate]

I just like stuff and dislike stuff. I try not to be too influenced by others, but obv. some influence exists.

[Levian]

I just like stuff and dislike stuff. I try not to be too influenced by others, but obv. some influence exists.

+1

If there's something that doesn't appeal to me to begin with, an obnoxious amount of hype can push me further away from checking it out. Although, sometimes fads can push me towards checking something out that I normally wouldn't, so it goes both ways.

The Matrix is an example of the first one I mentioned. Having seen trailers it seems like a sci-fi visual effect porn movie with extra coolness factor in form of sunglasses and trenchcoats. The insane amount of popularity around it drove me further away from it. I might eventually check out the first movie to see if I'm wrong or not since it's gotten such a high rating at IMDB.

Avatar is an example of the second kind. I'm not a big fan of fantasy and fictional worlds with made up words for various creatures and actions. (Before anyone points out I'm registered at Final Fantasy forum, let me just say that it's not the fantasy part that appeals to me I'd love a realistic RPG.) I probably wouldn't have seen this movie if it wasn't so hyped, I just had to see what all the fuzz was about.