Musical Stereotypes.

[Kagobin]

TL;DR at bottom.

A few days ago I was riding the MARTA(Atlanta's premier transit system) through downtown. I was on my way to meet an old friend I hadn't seen in ages.

Now, I realize that not a lot of people in Atlanta listen to Metal, Dubstep, or anything more sophisticated than the ill-grammatical rapping of Lil' Wayne(mostly because the majority of Atlanta's citizens are in fact, black), but riddle me this.

My headphones on, I am enjoying the musical stylings of Skrillex, Avenged Sevenfold, and Deadmau5. What am I wearing? Jeans and a t-shirt. Boots. A hat. No piercings, tattoos, suggestive/offensive clothing, etc.

As I stand up, grab my bag, and attempt to get off of at my stop, I'm stopped by a rent-a-cop who looked like he had just finished his 87th Ho-Ho for the day.

The dialect went as follows:

"How can I help you sir?"
"Take off those headphones" *points to my headphones*
"Question Mark?"
"I don't appreciate that kind of satan-worshiping s**t in my station, now take, it, off."
*Takes off headphones, walks away*

Looking at it now, it was probably nothing more than some security guard on a power-trip, but it got me thinking about how fast people are to blame the short-comings and criminal deeds of others on media such as Music, Video Games, Television, etc.

I've been called a metal-head, rage-a-holic, drug addict(this one made me lol) just because of the music I listen to.

TL;DR: What is your opinion on stereotypes related to music? Have you ever judged someone solely on what they listen to? Have you BEEN judged by someone else? Do share.

 

[Cain_Zeros]

Wow... Avenged Sevenfold isn't even that heavy. Metal gets connected to Satanism (falsely 99.9999999999[you get the point]% of the time), but the rest of it? I don't particularly enjoy dubstep, but I don't see anything Satanic about it... Dude's a tool.

 

[NeutralDrow]

How did he know what kind of music you were listening to if you had headphones and no distinguishing characteristics?

On topic...not sure. Hell, even my equal love for pounding power metal and stupidly-happy J-pop hasn't drawn me much negative attention. Still, I kinda wish I could remember where that "100 characteristics of Power Metal" list was, since it might be relevant...

 

[stvncpr236]

Ive never understood the whole view that if you listen to one type of music your not aloud to listen to another, for example I like Bedouin Soundclash, (for those of you who don't know they're a Canadian Ska band Highly recommended) and so people basically say I'm not allowed to listen to metal or rap or anything else, all of which I listen to.

 

[Bags159]

How did he know what you were listening to?

 

[enzilewulf]

I have been called out on my rap heavy music tastes but really I like anything. Never been called out as bad as you though.

(Yeah if you read that big long bible of a post its gone, I need to use better wording.)

 

[Instinct Blues]

I don't judge people soley on what they listen to because that would be stupid and if I did that I wouldn't have the friends I have now. I think the stereotypes related to music are quite stupid and 99% of the time they end up being completely false. Not everyone who listens to metal is an anarchistic, satan worshipping bastard just like not everyone who listen to indie-pop is a hipster twat. I myself enjoy a wide variety of music and I try not to judge bands solely on what genre they are because good music is good music no matter what. So I try to listen to everything from black metal all the way to the latest pop hits. It doesn't mean I like everything I hear, but I give it a chance at least.

 

[Kagobin]

How did he know what you were listening to?

They were REAL headphones, not earbuds. They sat on top of my ear. supra-neural i believe is the term.

 

[LobsterFeng]

Maybe he was just mad that your music was too loud. I mean I don't know that your music was too loud, but if you were wearing headphones and he could hear what you were listening too, then your music was probably too loud.

OT: I think I unconsciously stereotype people with music but I try not too.

 

[feeback06]

I'm not sure if I've ever been judged on what I listen to, but if I ever have been then screw em. I REALLY hate to be this guy, but maybe you should turn your music down when on the station since I'm guessing that guy could hear your music. If they can't hear it, then they shouldn't complain. Horns up my friend.

 

[Bags159]

How did he know what you were listening to?

They were REAL headphones, not earbuds. They sat on top of my ear. supra-neural i believe is the term.

I still don't see how this reveals what you're listening to.

 

[Kagobin]

just like not everyone who listen to indie-pop is a hipster twat

But everyone who listens to indie-pop IS a hipster-twat?

I joke.

OT: But seriously I think you do have a valid point in that musical ignorance is very present to the point of people downright refusing to listen to anything but X or Y.

 

[Kagobin]

How did he know what you were listening to?

They were REAL headphones, not earbuds. They sat on top of my ear. supra-neural i believe is the term.

I still don't see how this reveals what you're listening to.

IF you shove a speaker into a rubber box and shut it you will barely be able to hear anything.

If you prop it nice and neat on top of the rubber box its going to make a lot more sound.

Especially when you have to adjust volume for the rubber box's wheels scraping on the train tracks and the trio of black folk discussing whether or not you can jizz rainbow colors.

 

[Tanakh]

What is your opinion on stereotypes related to music? Have you ever judged someone solely on what they listen to? Have you BEEN judged by someone else? Do share.

Yep, I use music to gauge people tastes. I don't care about the genere, but about the quality of the artist.

I also ask friends about new amazing artist on a regular basis, like to listen to all the music I can.

 

[lacktheknack]

The only time anyone's tried to confront me about my music (long story, resulted in them saying "I bet you're listening to something Satanic!" and grabbing an earbud), I was listening to this.

<youtube=G7gBNImggKM>

There were no applied labels. How on Earth do you label repetitious groups of four phrases with children cackling in your ear and a something doing something with something in the middle? For eleven minutes? I don't think their concept of "music" even covered this.

They just dropped the earbud and walked off.

 

[omega_peaches]

Usually when I tell somebody my 5 favorite artists, all stereotypes go away.
(Eminem, Vampire Weekend, Radiohead, Dr. Dre, deadmau5)
In no particular order.

 

[Caligulust]

The most I've gotten crap for was a Bad Religion t-shirt, which I can understand why.

I haven't really judged someone by their taste in music. Though, it might say something about their personality. I'm having trouble not talking about cliques and such, so I'll drop it there.

Certain things appeal to certain people, and stereotypes have roots in reality.

Also Dubstep is a new genre that I do like to and I don't really know the Escapist opinion but I am sure there will be some idiot who calls me out on my music and telling me his/her music is superior in every way.

Yeah, the internet isn't very friendly towards dubstep. Or any genre at all, for that matter. The general consensus on it is "wubwubwubwubwubwubwub".

 

[madster11]

People who judge by music are idiots.

I have such a massive diverse range of music i listen to and enjoy i could be 5 different people if the people who label by music tried to.
From In the Ghetto and Blue Seude Shoes to Freak on a Leash and Gangsters and Strippers by Too short ("Gotta get a ***** and get my dick sucked" at 0:01)