Guilty Pleasures: your thoughts

[The Personist]

I see this thrown around a lot, and I don't like it one bit. I think that feeling guilty for liking something implies that it's bad, or that you shouldn't like it but do nonetheless. You can enjoy something that is objectively inferior to your favorite band. I don't feel a shred of guilt for liking Anberlin or Fall Out Boy, though I know people who would call them guilty pleasure bands. Why is it that we need to hide behind guilt when we listen to things that decrease our "cred"? Discuss.

[xJesusFreakx]

I think that kearn1tm (I forget his real name) said it best... The basic idea behind a guilty pleasure is, "I like this band, and so do you, but since I listen to it begrudgingly, I'm better than you." Really, I think that term may very well be one of the the most pretentious terms someone can throw around.

Subjectively good obviously =/= objectively good, and enjoying music that isn't amazing does not in any way make you an inferior person.

[Burn That Shit]

you don't need to masturbate, just wait for nocturnal emission.

[nlo13]

Thanks for making me feel ashamed with this thread, David.

[The Personist]

I think that kearn1tm (I forget his real name) said it best... The basic idea behind a guilty pleasure is, "I like this band, and so do you, but since I listen to it begrudgingly, I'm better than you." Really, I think that term may very well be one of the the most pretentious terms someone can throw around.

Subjectively good obviously =/= objectively good, and enjoying music that isn't amazing does not in any way make you an inferior person.

Yes. I agree completely.

you don't need to masturbate, just wait for nocturnal emission.

I prefer skullfucking.

[The Personist]

Thanks for making me feel ashamed with this thread, David.

<3 still luv u, babez

[xJesusFreakx]

Yes. I agree completely.

:highfive:

Now we just need someone to come in here and disagree so that we can have some merciless, ugly attacks that we will call discussion.

[envytheliving]

I think that kearn1tm (I forget his real name) said it best... The basic idea behind a guilty pleasure is, "I like this band, and so do you, but since I listen to it begrudgingly, I'm better than you." Really, I think that term may very well be one of the the most pretentious terms someone can throw around.

Subjectively good obviously =/= objectively good, and enjoying music that isn't amazing does not in any way make you an inferior person.

Well-said. I agree.

[nlo13]

<3 still luv u, babez

Write me a poem about blink-182 and we'll call it evan, er, even.

[The Personist]

Write me a poem about blink-182 and we'll call it evan, er, even.

Haha win.

Maybe.

[nlo13]

Haha win.

Maybe.


Maybe? It's 'cause of my post count, isn't it :'(

P.S. there's too much agreeing in this thread.

[theguy77]

i dont need to feel guilty because my taste is superior anyways.

but seriously, i'll gladly admit that relient k is nostalgic for me and i can have a lot of fun listening to their records -- five of which i still own.

[The Personist]

What if someone enjoyed Metro Station? should they feel guilty for that?

[flow2345]

Why is it that we need to hide behind guilt when we listen to things that decrease our "cred"? Discuss.

Because people generally want to fall into a group, and listening to such music that has no "cred" will get them rejected from the group.

[Neo Cassady]

What if someone enjoyed Metro Station? should they feel guilty for that?

Well, if

feeling guilty for liking something implies that it's bad, or that you shouldn't like it but do nonetheless, and you throw in the fact that they seduce little girls, then they should feel guilty, not necessarily for liking the music, but for liking what the band represents.

[fewhiuwefiodejq]

I have about 200 guilty pleasure bands.

/that means i listen to bad music

[tyramail]

i think it's silly to feel guilty for any music you might enjoy.

[KingJohn_654]

you don't need to masturbate, just wait for nocturnal emission.


I prefer skullfucking.

i love you guys.

[giovanni_c]

About the original post, who would ever consider Anberlin a "guilty pleasure" band?

[crimsonandclovr]

About the original post, who would ever consider Anberlin a "guilty pleasure" band?

my thoughts exactly. i'm guilty of using this term, but not for anberlin.

[stereokiller]

What if someone enjoyed Metro Station? should they feel guilty for that?

you always bring out the best scenarios.

as observed, i think here in ap.net, people who listen to metro station don't get as much cred as someone, who listens to the Deer Hunter for example. It's how people defend their favorite bands, I guess?

Ap.net members who like metro station don't actually give out the best reasons for liking the band. Also, I guess it becomes a guilty pleasure band when majority of the people hate it?

lol.

[nerdvglc]

i would love to say i don't judge people for their taste in music, but i am such an elitist sometimes. on one hand i like to respect other people's taste because nobody has the same exact taste i do, with random faves all over the place. but at the same time, i tend to not respect (or get along) with people as much if they love bands like metro station, new cobra starship, brokencyde (original; no. true; yes). or even if they like a band that i do, like all time low, but they think they're the end all of the best of music, i think that's weird too. i guess i'm just an asshole, and i'll come to live with that over time.

...

i'm done. i'm cool with being an asshole sometimes.

[Thesleepingwell]

I often get used to being bashed on other forums cause I like Paramore.
But it does not worry me because I'm honest.

People should be open about the music they like.

[cacophonous]

I like "See You Again" by Miley Cyrus. And "7 Things" and "Fly on the Wall."

But not "The Climb" or anything by Hannah Montana. Forget that stuff.

[Thesleepingwell]

I like "See You Again" by Miley Cyrus. And "7 Things" and "Fly on the Wall."

But not "The Climb" or anything by Hannah Montana. Forget that stuff.

I saw her peform on TV once, I actully thought she was quite good.
Not enough for me to want to hear her music though.

If you wanna talk pop singers.
Kelly Clarkson. Yes, I have one of her albums.
I admit to having a crush on her once.

That is my actual gulity pleasure.

[xJesusFreakx]

What if someone enjoyed Metro Station? should they feel guilty for that?

No.

Well, if

, and you throw in the fact that they seduce little girls, then they should feel guilty, not necessarily for liking the music, but for liking what the band represents.

You can enjoy a band's music without liking what they represent.

I saw her peform on TV once, I actully thought she was quite good.
Not enough for me to want to hear her music though.

If you wanna talk pop singers.
Kelly Clarkson. Yes, I have one of her albums.
I admit to having a crush on her once.

That is my actual gulity pleasure.

Woah... Kelly Clarkson is an amazing vocalist. I have three of her albums. I'd be "guilty" about Paramore, Set Your Goals, and Staind before I would for Kelly Clarkson.

[TotalCollapse]

The reason that people label some bands they like as "guilty pleasures" is because they don't want to be judged for liking the band. Someone may say that Paramore is a guilty pleasure when they're talking about them with a group of people that do not like the band at all, but when they're in the Paramore thread they won't call them a guilty pleasure at all because everyone there loves them. Whether the band is a guilty pleasure or not is based on who the person is talking to and what their opinion is on the band.

[s.t.e.v.e.n.]

I don't think that everyone who uses the term guilty pleasure really means their burdened with guilt by it. When someone tells me that such and such band is their guilty pleasure, I just assume its nothing like anything else they listen to and no one would guess they'd like it. I don't find that pretentious.

[Supernovacaine]

My guilty pleasure is Limp Bizkit, hands down. What can I say, I got hooked when I was like 14 and Chocolate Starfish came out (yes yes castrate me, cut off my ears and throw me into a vat of acid, I get it). I don't listen to them much anymore, but they still find their way into a playlist of mine now and then. I feel extreme guilt because Fred Durst has the writing skills of a caveman and is a brutal vocalist, and am fully aware of this fact. However some of that guilt subsides when I realize that the instrumentals of the band are decent. The musicians (excluding Fred and that stupid DJ, they don't count) possess talent, its just a shame they've put their talents into this band. So I suppose if you can find a way to ease some of the guilt you feel about a particular band or artist, its pretty simple to mask the shame.

[yayitsjoe]

the only guilty pleasure i have is Kelly Clarkson.

[And Hours Pass]

About the original post, who would ever consider Anberlin a "guilty pleasure" band?

I have heard it a lot with Anberlin. I'm really not a fan myself, but I do frequently find that people don't like to "own up" to being a fan. The religious aspect of the band always hit me in a weird way.

I often get used to being bashed on other forums cause I like Paramore.
But it does not worry me because I'm honest.

People should be open about the music they like.

Well next time that happens, you can quote me because I'm a fan as well. Riot's a great album.

Woah... Kelly Clarkson is an amazing vocalist.

I can't begin to count the number of drunken evenings that I have enjoyed "Since U Been Gone" at a bar.

The reason that people label some bands they like as "guilty pleasures" is because they don't want to be judged for liking the band. Someone may say that Paramore is a guilty pleasure when they're talking about them with a group of people that do not like the band at all, but when they're in the Paramore thread they won't call them a guilty pleasure at all because everyone there loves them. Whether the band is a guilty pleasure or not is based on who the person is talking to and what their opinion is on the band.

This is really interesting. I never thought about it this way.

I don't think that everyone who uses the term guilty pleasure really means their burdened with guilt by it. When someone tells me that such and such band is their guilty pleasure, I just assume its nothing like anything else they listen to and no one would guess they'd like it. I don't find that pretentious.

I also hadn't thought about it like this. I don't know if I agree, but it's something to think about. I think that I consider guilty pleasures things that most people would criticize. For example, Usher's "Caught Up" would fit that category for me.

[Fedaykin]

you don't need to masturbate, just wait for nocturnal emission.

never happened to me

[boxingwithstars]

the only guilty pleasure i have is Kelly Clarkson.

no need to feel guilty about that, she's got a great voice. and Breakaway is probably one of the best mainstream pop albums of the decade.

i don't feel guilty for liking what i like. sometimes i need to feed my bubblegum pop fix with some Justin Timberlake. sometimes i just want to listen to Rascal Flatts and Sugarland and The Dixie Chicks for reasons i cannot explain. i think The Climb by Miley Cyrus would have been a great song if they got someone with a better voice to sing it. when i've been drinking and 3OH!3 comes on at the bar, it makes me want to dance. i can't help it, and i don't think i should feel bad about that.

[Momo32T]

you always bring out the best scenarios.

as observed, i think here in ap.net, people who listen to metro station don't get as much cred as someone, who listens to the Deer Hunter for example. It's how people defend their favorite bands, I guess?

Ap.net members who like metro station don't actually give out the best reasons for liking the band. Also, I guess it becomes a guilty pleasure band when majority of the people hate it?

lol.

I think it goes back to that pretentious thing...if a band gets very popular and the quality of music isnt up to the better indie bands standard, then people will hate it just to hate it. With Metro Station though, there demographic is a lot of middle school and high school girls. If you are a guy my age and like it...well you got some explaining to do.

I think Fall Out Boy is a different case. They were well liked before people jumped on the bandwagon. And their audience base is both guys and girls. I like new FOB less, but its nothing to consider a guilty pleasure.

[yayitsjoe]

no need to feel guilty about that, she's got a great voice. and Breakaway is probably one of the best mainstream pop albums of the decade.

i don't feel guilty for liking what i like. sometimes i need to feed my bubblegum pop fix with some Justin Timberlake. sometimes i just want to listen to Rascal Flatts and Sugarland and The Dixie Chicks for reasons i cannot explain. i think The Climb by Miley Cyrus would have been a great song if they got someone with a better voice to sing it. when i've been drinking and 3OH!3 comes on at the bar, it makes me want to dance. i can't help it, and i don't think i should feel bad about that.


you make me feel better about myself.

[AndrewIcex]

Some would say Seal is a guilty pleasure, but personally I have always been a fan.

[boxingwithstars]

you make me feel better about myself.

so glad i could help boost someone's self esteem.

[lesterCorp.]

i guess guilty pleasure's are just completely subjective depending on the music you listen to.

i listen to bands like annuals, dear and the headlights, electric president & minus the bear, so i guess my guilty pleasures are blink-182, new found glory and the starting line, as it's just not my usual music taste preference, i still think they're somewhat talented musicians.

i've just always thought "guilty pleasure" to be the bands that don't fit into the norm of what you usually listen to.

however, there's another argument that it's a term used for the music you listen to that is just plain untalented, crap music, i.e "crunk" music (whatever that means)....altho you shouldn't feel guilty but ashamed, they're ruining music...i have no time for no-talents.

[jbaseball44]

I don't think that everyone who uses the term guilty pleasure really means their burdened with guilt by it. When someone tells me that such and such band is their guilty pleasure, I just assume its nothing like anything else they listen to and no one would guess they'd like it. I don't find that pretentious.
Would agree, at least that how i use the term for myself.

[HometownHero]

I like what I like and fuck other people who tell me it sucks

[iheartmusic043]

I listen to all kinds of music so I really don't have any guilty pleasures minus Rascal Flatts and 3OH!3 because I don't listen to many bands like them. Oh how I love RF. Can't wait to see them next week.

[xJesusFreakx]

The reason that people label some bands they like as "guilty pleasures" is because they don't want to be judged for liking the band. Someone may say that Paramore is a guilty pleasure when they're talking about them with a group of people that do not like the band at all, but when they're in the Paramore thread they won't call them a guilty pleasure at all because everyone there loves them. Whether the band is a guilty pleasure or not is based on who the person is talking to and what their opinion is on the band.

This example wouldn't be blatantly inspired by the pretentious attitude I mentioned above, at least not from within, but it would rather be a sort of defense mechanism against others with that attitude. It's like that little sister that copies what you say and do in an attempt to be accepted by you. I see nothing inherently wrong with that, but eventually you should grow out of that and learn to be comfortable with your own personal tastes and opinions.

I don't think that everyone who uses the term guilty pleasure really means their burdened with guilt by it. When someone tells me that such and such band is their guilty pleasure, I just assume its nothing like anything else they listen to and no one would guess they'd like it. I don't find that pretentious.

Should the term "guilty pleasure" be used to describe that, though? I can't think of a better term off the top of my head, but there is still a subtle condescending undertone, intentional or not.

[Carolina.Alex]

cobrastarship.

[saveferris]

What if someone enjoyed Metro Station? should they feel guilty for that?
the line has to be drawn somewhere

[bradsonemanband]

i openly admit that i listen to hilary duff and marilyn manson on the same day sometimes. i dont feel guilty for liking music.

[yourlungsonly]

My guilty pleasure would have to be The Maine, I can't help it.