Ever feel like this site is polluting your opinions?
 

I posted two songs that I consider really amazing in "Song Wars!!!!!!!!!!!", only to have them completely trashed by other members. That's not necessarily a bad thing as everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but sometimes I find myself thinking lowly of bands/songs/albums that I like just because they're not popular here. Or within the musical elite, or whatever. And that's not right; my opinions are MY opinions, and I hate to think that I like or dislike something only because it's the cool thing to do here.

And this doesn't apply exclusively to MB, it's any kind of critical reaction to any kind of media, really. If I read a poor movie review, I enter the cinema with a biased mindset. Chances are, the movie is going to suck more than it would have if I had never read that review. I guess that's an impossible thing to test, but that's how I feel nonetheless.

In a way, I'm just mad at myself for being so musically flimsy. I'm not mad at people who criticize me for what I listen to.... I can take criticism. I am trying to expand my tastes and knowledge, but sometimes I feel as though those things come at the expense of who I really am. I suppose I should a take a break from MB for a while.

I can sort of understand where you're coming from, although I'm pretty much the polar opposite. Although it's not all the time, I sometimes find myself not liking or wanting to like music that other people think is "cool" because I automatically assume they all like it because others like it and therefore it has no real value. But then I realize that I never gave the music a chance at proving its value, and am guilty for the same thing I blame others for.
It's hard to get past bias and really take things at their true value because it's even harder to not be influenced in some way by others throughout your life. It would be unreasonable to think you have to be objective about everything all the time, and I think the best you can do is recognize the factors playing a part in your particular circumstance and keep it in mind when deciding about the things you care or don't care for.
I think that's the best way to keep an open mind.

I'm too comfortable in my own bubble to be affected negatively...the only thing this site does is help me discover new music, not abandon any residual tastes.

Art of all kinds tends to be like that for people who are really into it. Your reasons for liking the art you like are mostly rooted in your emotional response to it so it's not surprising that you feel it acutely when someone bashes it. I know I used to be really sensitive about that stuff when I was younger, I think you just grow a thicker skin about it over time.

You should have been here two or three years ago, you couldnt even mention grunge (for example) in the forums without being attacked, (and Im not suggesting that is good or bad):confused: you can actually mention mainstream music and have discussions pertaining to the subject these days here at MB.
Your personal opinion and taste in music is the only thing that really matters anyway, you are just as versatile as any musician would be when you apply yourself to any form of music, guitar player, music conductor, or you may just listen to music, either way, your opinion and influence does count.
Music belongs to everybody, not just one certain group of listeners/fans.

I do feel like this forum contributes to making me feel guilty about enjoying a certain song or album, sometimes.

What I feel is that that's not always such a bad thing, it's by struggling against your original position on certain things to see another point of you that you get to making the best decisions.

And regarding that, I don't think people get "attacked" that much if they say they like something that's considered bad; it's just vehemently affirming that something is good when most people find it bad, and not having many arguments that support your cause that's frowned upon.

Why, I just saw someone make a good case for Motley Crue the other day, and some members accepting it.

I never feel guilty for what I listen to. I like what I like. The only time I'm really influenced by others' opinions is when a band is talked up a lot. Then I might listen to them based on the good reviews. If a lot of people say a band is crap, I might listen to a couple songs if they were mildly interesting to me at first but mostly I'll stay away. As far as stuff I already listen to, though, I really don't care.

I think I try and listen to everything with an open mind, and try to discover the things I enjoy.

Regarding what you first said, perhaps "embarrassed" would be a better word for it, but then again I'm rather self-conscious.

^

It's understandable. I definitely want people to enjoy what I listen to...after all, it is a direct reflection of who I am. I'd say looking through someone's mp3 player is a better way to get to know someone than having an hour long conversation. I just listen to so much music that I think everyone should consider amazing that the quirky albums I have in there shouldn't even matter.

Unfortunately, when scrolling through one's mp3 player, people always try and dig up the things they know and think is shit. Oh well.