Is it considered "normal" to have a strong distaste for any material containing Romance?

[hermes]

I think its normal, but mostly because most things that include romance stories are cheesy or tackled on. In that case, I would suggest maybe you don't hate romance, but you haven't found many examples of it done right.

 

[Lt._nefarious]

A few days ago I would have agrees but then I watched the movie Wild At Heart and, well, Just watch this...


See, soppy romance can be really quite good, especially with the addition of Nicolas Cage...

 

[DarthSka]

I don't really mind romance as long as it's more of a background element or a subplot, and as long as it doesn't become the main focus. Rarely, there will be a romance story I don't mind or like, but too many times it's too cliche' or cheesy for me to enjoy. There are some genres where I don't mind those kind of things, but romance isn't one of them.

 

[Misterian]

I only really get this problem with most fan-fics that like shipping certain characters together regardless of what compatibility the fan-formed couple (or couples) would actually have.

 

[Something Amyss]

If you're a dude, it's pretty normal.

 

[Andrew Drake]

Hate it, unless it is handled well. As in with a understanding of subtlety and comedy and where both belong.

So in short: I HATE IT ALL!!!

Except anything from BioWare since they are logical enough to keep everything on the sidelines.

 

[Mr F.]

Romance has its purpose. Having a distaste for all romance is not normal. The only lives that are devoid of ALL romance are those lived by psychopaths.

I'm not a psychopath, and my life has literally been devoid of anything that could be regarded romantic. I don't have a complete distaste for romance, but I do have a great disregard and antipathy for many overtly romantic things. Now, obviously, this thread shouldn't centre around my issues, but I'm really not surprised that the OP is turned off romance, as it can be really, really hard to attune yourself where nearly everybody else seems to be getting lucky and you're not.

But the fact that you mention not getting lucky DOES indicate that romance has played a part in your life, however small. Unrequited love is half of romance. I mean, a central theme is "Boy meets girl, girl already has boy, boy proves himself better than other boy through quest/savingworld/beingrich/bacon, boy wins girl". A hell of a lot of poetry, from all fronts, is centered around "Boy loves girl, Girl barely notices boy, nothing ever happens".

So I still hold that the only lives that are UTTERLY devoid of romance, devoid of it to the point where they do not even think about not getting lucky are psychopaths. And that they would not care, what with being psychopaths.

I can understand being turned off romance. I used to be. Hell, I used to hate seeing young couples, all happy and whatnot, what with my only experience with dating and romance (At the time) being making out with a morbidly obese chick. But, once I had a few more forays into the realms of love (Getting engaged. No longer being engaged. Stuff like that) I just... Grew up, I guess.

Not saying that you are immature for hating romance just... Well, I dont understand it. In my experience once people get above the age of, say, 17, they have... grown to either like hints of romance in things or, at the very least, not hate it. Relationships are a part of growing up is what I am saying, so... Yeah.

I think I lost my central point here.

I still hold that the OP aint normal for having a "Strong distaste for any material containing Romance" considering that most material has romance within it, even as a sub plot, and that romance makes up a large part of our everyday lives. Unless, naturally, the OP is bitter (Like you appear to be) about their own life, which does make them normal for hating romance, but not normal if they are above the age of, say, 17.

I guess I am saying that if you have a strong distaste for romantic material in things you should grow up. I do not mean this is a mean way, or in a way which sounds like a personal attack, I mean it as someone who DID hate romantic things and then DID grow up.

 

[Chemical Alia]

I kinda also could do without romance in movies and games. A lot of the time it feels tacked-on and gratuitous. Sex scenes and even extended kissing scenes makes me feel awkward, like watching two strangers making out or something. HBO is pretty much the worst at this.

I also don't generally seek out stories with romance main plots. Even with stuff I love, like Disney cartoons, the romance is pretty eye roll inducing. Also kinda strangely, it's not just me but all the females in my family who tend to share this opinion.

 

[FootloosePhoenix]

Considering it's handled in such a piss-poor way most of the time, I'd say that's a pretty natural reaction. I don't mind the concept of romance itself cropping up in media (books, games, films, ect.) since it's an important component of the human experience and should be explored. Not all the damn time, bear in mind, but it's certainly a viable, justified topic. Romance in everything really needs to stop though.

 

[Xan Krieger]

I hate any and all romance in real life and fiction. My birthday is the day before Valentine's day. How dafuq did that work out?

 

[Overusedname]

You kinda sound like you've only been exposed to bad romance (GA GA OOO LA LA). Which is not abnormal by any means. Most romance I've seen sucks. When it's realistic, symbolic, subtle or enhances the emotional investment, that's when it works. I thought the subtle development between Zidane and Garnet in FF9 was unique, funny, and enhanced the hell out of both characters as you see their connection go through the ups and downs. Revolutionary Girl Utena is a great Anime for it's deconstruction of gender roles, homophobia and manipulative relationships, thus the whole thing is built around romance and sex and it actually makes sense. It even deconstructs the relationship between lust and emotion.

For the record, now I'm already struggling to think of other examples of romance done right. Most of it feels shoehorned in, and doesn't improve the story. Sometimes it even detracts from it.

 

[MetalMagpie]

Is it?

If not, well, aparently, I'm not normal, since I have a strong dislike for the genre and themes wherever it appears.
Doesnt help considering how unavoidable it is.

And for the record, I can discern between love and lust.

Fairly normal. Very normal if you're under 20. Some people take a while to "grow into" the idea of romance (and thus depictions of romance). Other people just never really feel comfortable with it (which does not mean that they'll never form a romantic attachment to someone - just that they don't feel comfortable seeing depictions of it and/or engaging in overtly romantic behaviour).

I wasn't very comfortable with depictions of romance in books/films/etc. until I hit about 16. I'm still not that comfortable with very "over-done" romance.

 

[Colour Scientist]

=
Is your avatar from Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain? Being it or not it made me remember that movie. And in my opinion the romance in the near end of the movie was the worst part from it, though overall I liked the movie.

It is indeed. As you can tell from my avatar, I'm quite the fan. I love most of Jean Pierre Jeunet's work though.