The Unbelievable Frustration of “You Didn’t Get It”

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• I have to agree with this post so much! There are so many shows that I'm tired of people telling me I HAVE to watch. If I'm not watching it yet its because "I'm Just Not That Into It" The show isn't taking any offense by my lack of desire to spend hours of my time starting and catching up on a show that I have zero interest in seeing, so avoid people going of on tangents about how I NEED to be watching something I just say "Oh I've been meaning to watch it" in my head I add "In an alternate universe where that version of me kind of sucks" or I'll say "Oh it's on my list, probably during the summer, or probably after it ends so I can watch it all at once." I know the chances of me starting some of these "beloved" shows is a 1% and I'm okay with lying to these people so they leave me alone. :]] Also please take note that I have refrained from actually naming any of these shows (some of them may even be YOUR favorites, and I don't want to have to lie to you!) :]]

• I totally agree. I really didn't like The New Normal, and not for the bigoted reasons like OMM. I just wasn't entertained by it, and I'm someone that'll laugh at just about anything. Anyways, I might have been a little harsh in my review of it, but I got mad heat from a bunch of Ryan Murphy's fangirl minions. Everyone is entitled to an opinion!

• I respect your opinion but how can I repect a person who prefers to lie about watching a show or the possibility of him watching that show rather then defending his opinion and I agree with everything the auther said because he gave shows like game of thrones a chance before announcing that he does'nt enjoy them but you on the other hand just assume that you won't like a certain show whithout giving it a chance so I recommend that you watch shows before announcing you dislike and stop lieing to people that want to share that experince with you :)

• Oftentimes a person can tell from reading about a show, watching a trailer and being told about it whether or not it will interest them. In your opinion, does that mean that you watch every single series on tv to decide which interests you? If so, then kudos to your diligence. It doesn't seem practical however especially to people who don't want to waste their precious free time watching something that the know won't hold their attention.
  Rae's 'lying' is merely a defense mechanism that nearly every single person on this planet uses in order to delfect from a situation that could cause friction.
  Would you rather hearing ' oh I'd been meaning to watch that once it had finished'. or 'to be honest i think the show is pretty crappy and i'm just not into it' ... which would result in a better conversation I wonder!?

• You might be trying too hard to justify your excuses - a recurring theme in this blog.

• I didn't realise I was justifying anything, but was merely sharing an opinion. But ok then, have it your way.

• Here's an example. I don't even need to read this. It's based on a tired formula. I'll be honest with you as to my reasoning.

  Your formulation is particularly one dimensional. Your self-contradiction is diametric and absolute in the first sentence. "I respect your opinion but [I don't]"

  I have no interest in watching Dexter, for example. A benevolent psychopathic serial killer makes about as much sense as a career rapist with a heart of gold.

  "It's ok. Every last one of them was asking for it..."

  I've approached the subject of recommendations I don't want to watch or listen to with my friends in both ways. Sometimes, a simple "I can't stand the Beatles," is sufficient to end the conversation. Other times, it's a whole lot more effective to say "I'll keep an eye out for that on Netflix," and move on to the next subject.

• If you've given shows a chance before saying you don't like them, then it's plenty fair enough. I just can't get into Breaking Bad or How I Met Your Mother...but boy was I wrong about Game of Thrones - loved it the second time around! Personal attacks are obviously uncalled for so who cares? Give your critical opinion and be proud of it. The world of television definitely needs more active viewers so thanks for that! Btw, props to naming your dog Karl Marx...that's awesome.

• This article is a bit of a grab for views, with picture of a "Game of Thrones" character, isn't it. Also, if you don't like "GoT", what the hell do you like?? Swamp Loggers? Teen Mom?

• If I had to guess, I'd say he probably likes not-Game of Thrones. Which is a pretty broad category when you think about it. Game of Thrones is a very niche show: fantasy, drama, book conversion, very dark compared to a lot of shows in the U.S. (in terms of good guys not really winning a lot of the time), complicated politics crammed into shortened periods of time... these aren't qualities everyone looks for in their entertainment. That doesn't automatically mean they only want LCD reality TV. Maybe they just prefer something more concise, or something with some witty humor, or more coherent plot-wise even if you miss an episode, or whatever. Any number of things.

• Reasonable response, you make some good points. i don't really think GoT is a niche though. I guess I just love the grit and intensity, mixed with some good old escapism.

• Well-put. It's not that I can't appreciate the gritty elements or anything like that. It's well-done and I can see why plenty of folks like it, but I'm not much of a fantasy guy, so I get distracted by some of those elements.

• Different strokes for different folks I suppose. Forgive me if you haven't heard that saying before. I was thinking recently about why I like the shows that I do, and I came to the conclusion that while I like grit and dark elements, the most most important aspect of any potential show is the theme of life and death. Every single show i watch has some element of life and death in it. It explains why I don't watch Mad men despite knowing that it is probably a very good show, yet it does not appeal to me

• My editor is the same way haha We've even had the talk about how many folks have TRIED to get him into Mad Men, but it's just not his bag

  Different strokes for different folks indeed!

• I don't control the images, so you'll hafta take that up with someone else haha

  I'd be happy to provide a list of shows I do like, but that's not what this article is about. It's about not liking something and not having to constantly justify why you don't like it.

• My apologies, I had just watched the season finale of GoT then saw the article with a GoT image attached so i clicked on it thinking it was discussion of the episode. Needless to say I was dissapointed and a bit peaved, which is why my initial comment was a bit nasty. That's my own problem however. Thanks for the reply anyway

• An online critic that complains publicly when someone criticises him on the criticisms he makes about another someone’s work…

  With the complaint that he shouldn’t have to constantly justify his work… hahahaha

  I'm just going to skip to my main thought...

  Online Critics basing articles on their personal opinion should explicitly state that it is their personal opinion in the article with a clear justification about your opinion (SUCH THAT THEIR IS NO NEED TO CONSTANTLY JUSTIFY YOUR OPINION... YOU SHOULD HAVE PREPARED YOUR WORK PROFESSIONALLY SUCH THAT IT IS RIGHT THE FIRST TIME!! NO FURTHER EXPLANATION SHOULD BE REQUIRED)... Otherwise people assume an article was done based on research or is of the opinion of the company that you work for... Which in the case of 'Best Top 10 Movies Ever' articles, people can get pretty annoyed at the sucky choices an individual makes absent research

• THERE* :)

• Stating that it is just a personal opinion, which being a critic every review is based on their own personal opinion, will not stop him having to justify said opinion. There will always be those people that feel the need to argue the case and prove to you why your opinion is wrong.
  Also, all caps is tantamount to yelling you realise...

• This is the perfect illustration of what the author said. Calhoun doesn't like the thing you like, so you make snippy remarks insinuating C. might like things you consider stupid enough that you use them to demean others.

• And now I see your subsequent remarks in which you apologize for the snarkiness. Sigh.

• The most pompous, arrogant thing someone can say, when you say you didn't like a movie or show is...."You just don't get it"...Oh I get it....I just don't FUCKING LIKE IT.........People ruin people for me

• and the um… rape-y elements of the show just weren’t doin’ it for me.

  People that like it? Good for you...

  Be truthful - you built this article around your little rape comment didn't you?

  Well good for you that you don't like rape and so many millions of others so obviously do eh?

  C**k

• Yep, that's what came through for me as well. Smugness couched in "Hey, I have the right to my own taste" is still smugness. Of COURSE I don't give a fig whether someone who wrote a thesis on horror movies (a genre I generally dislike) digs GOT of not. In fact, even without the thesis on a genre I dislike, I don't care. But I do resent the cheap shot about rape-y elements. I daresay that rape comprises some of the sexuality in the show, particularly early in the first season. Is there some point where the show suggests this is fine and dandy? If so, I've missed it. And given the vast scope of the series, there is a lot to look at involving sex, violence and sex & violence that doesn't reduce to rape-y elements. Unless it's important to try to get your smugness on.

• I'm sorry if that's how you read it, because I didn't intend it as such. I'm not saying GoT fans are rapists or even approve of the act. Rape is just- I guess it's my threshold? I know some of my friends who can't watch a movie when an animal dies. It doesn't mean they condone killing animals, it's just something that proves too distracting.

• I've watched all three seasons of Game of Thrones several times. I'm struggling to think of a "rape" scene.

  I remember Sansa almost getting raped, I remember Brienne almost getting raped. If you continued to watch the show you would have been disappointed if you think it's "rapey"...

• Being sold by your brother as bride is kind of "rapey" in my opinion - and this is more or less practiced as "normal" in some cultures still today. In a way i can understand the authors issues here - although GOT even beautifies it in a way. Reality is much more cruel than the TV show ever brought it on screen.

• You don't think you might be imposing those views?

• Sorry, not a big fan of rape. Or incest. But I do like Game of Thrones. That's nice that you don't . Now bugger off!

• He must really dislike "Serbian Movie"

• If you don't like Game of Thrones, you're an idiot.

• Really? This is the whole point of the article! People who hold such downright incoherent views as yours! Explain to me how ones opinion of GoT overlaps with their ability to problem solve, create, and comprehend. Real idiocy is exemplified by people who think that TV preferences are affected entirely by intellect! Just don't get the opinion I don't like GoT. I spent all day Tuesday watching season 1 clear through for the first time! and I loved it! But that doesn't make me smart! My ability to know otherwise makes me smarter than you, though, if your comment is anything to go by.

• This article would have been a little more helpful with some example of a show you do like. Right now it just seems like you are complaining about online commenters, which in most cases is exactly what the commenter wants. Basically you got trolled into writing an article.

• Good point, I honestly hadn't considered that. At the same time, I honestly don't want to use something I do like to defend what I don't like. I like plenty of stuff, but that doesn't change the fact that I (as well as everyone else) am entitled to not like something and it's not like I don't have my reasons for not liking it, you know?

• Actually, I think an example of a show you like would have distracted from your point.

• Shut up

• This post resonates with me because I am, in fact, a converter. For reasons both selfish and altruistic, I could make a full-time job out of trying to talk friends and family into watching just one episode of Breaking Bad. I give them the premise, tease it a little bit - no spoilers though - and even offer to do a re-watch with them so we can compare notes and I can guide them on their little journey.

  So maybe I just want to have an excuse to watch LOST for the umpteenth time and maybe I just want to relive the initial experience vicariously through eyes that have not seen, but I also want to think that it will give them a terrific story line to get into instead of watching Seinfeld re-runs on TBS (not that there's anything wrong with that). For real though, Netflix should have put me on the payroll with all the time I dedicated to local promotion of the new AD season.

  Take it easy on converters. We just want you to enjoy the show as much as we did so we can love you when you agree with our view and theories, or berate your opinion when you disagree. Ahh, the circle of viewership.

  Speaking of which, did you end up liking LOST?!?

• I don't begrudge you converters. Honestly, I don't think I'm talking about converters as much as it is AGGRESSIVE converters. You want me to give it another shot? I totally get that. It's more about the fact that people try to tell you that there's something wrong with you when you don't agree with them, do you know what I mean?

  Regardless of whether we agree or not, I respect the hell out of you for engaging in a thoughtful way with my post. As you can see from some of the other posters, that wasn't always the case and I do sincerely appreciate your perspective.

• Lost was literally the stupidest show ever made. You and the rest of the 15 year old girls that loved it are retarded.

• I can totally understand this post. I hear so much about Breaking Bad or CSI, but , for me, it doesn't matter how well written, well directed or well acted such a show is. The subject matter has no interest for me. I actually ONLY like fantasy and some sci-fi, so stuff like Game of Thrones, Once Upon a Time and Stargate series have me glued to the screen. Other stuff I won't give a chance because it is just not up my alley.