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Comment by brandnewlow | Hacker News Reader

My favorite part of this story is actually where the author admits that he categorically loathes any music that doesn't have a catchy hook and someone singing words he can follow.

A pet peeve of mine has always been how _everyone_ claims to like music. When there are people who dislike ice cream, people who dislike movies, people who dislike sports, people who dislike dancing...why is it that you never meet anyone who will admit to disliking music? That always annoyed me as a musician who's met many people who can't possibly actually enjoy music considering their listening tastes. Yet, because of social pressure, these people will never publicly admit to disliking music.

So it's refreshing to hear from someone who admits to feeling zero affection for music. There are people who admit this about visual art. People who say this about drama. But it's rare to meet someone who will admit this about music,

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Also consider that if you're a musician, people are less likely to say that they dislike music to your face, out of politeness.

I don't think it's so much cultural pressure as it is unusual. It's like meeting somebody who doesn't like art. It is so common and there are so many kinds out there that categorically disliking it entirely is strange. Most people probably do not want to be seen as strange.

It's also possible that in Western culture, not liking music is traditionally associated with something sinister. For instance, in Julius Caesar, Cassius is described as follows

  "...He reads much,
  He is a great observer, and he looks
  Quite through the deeds of men. He loves no plays,
  As thou dost, Antony; he hears no music.
  Seldom he smiles, and smiles in such a sort
  As if he mock'd himself, and scorn'd his spirit
  That could be mov'd to smile at anything.
  Such men as he be never at heart's ease
  While they behold a greater than themselves, 
  And therefore are they very dangerous."

which contrasts with the more sympathetic character, Brutus, and his love of music.

There's a more explicitly anti-tone-deaf example in The Merchant of Venice: "The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night And his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted."

Virtually everyone likes food, but not everyone is a gourmand. I think it's mostly the same way with music. People may not like the music you like, but they still like music.

People don't need music to live, like they do with food. It's a different situation.

My assertion is that if there are people who don't "do" art and people who don't "do" theater, then there must be people who don't "do" music. Yet I've never met anyone who will say this aloud.

People don't need to like food to live, and yet they do.

If they didn't like food, they would die, or they will start to like food when they realise how it relieves their hunger.

I disagree. Response to music is fundamentally human. Animals respond to music, so the ones who say the have zero appreciation for music are kidding themselves. Now, all music? Of course not, I cant stand, rap and girl bands, but others appear to like them.

people who can't possibly actually enjoy music considering their listening tastes.

That sounds contradictory to me. They might like unsophisticated music, but it's still music and they still like it.

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