The Right to Not Be Interested in a Popular Series

It's a common occurrence enough. You are talking to some people and the topic of a popular series comes up. It's then you find out one of your friends does not like that series or is not even interested in seeing it for a first time. The classic response is either, "How can you not like _____?" or "Dude, you're missing out." I, however, argue for the right to not care.

It's not too hard to find people who don't care about a popular series like Harry Potter, Star Wars, or Lord of the Rings. However, fans of those series can be annoying. There is nothing wrong to analyze the mythology and delve into a series, but at the same time, there is nothing wrong with not being interested in the series either. What is wrong, though, is to somewhat "insult" them after they have stated their claims. Sure, it may not be the popular opinion, but that person just stood up for his belief or interests. There is no valid reason to try and make something so trivial an act of villianry.

It's said that probably about half of the people don't like a series like Harry Potter, but they don't care either way so don't really voice their opinion as loudly as hardcore fans. That is usually the case of extremists. The worse part about extremists is that they tend to make it an "Are you in or out?" They never really seem to care about the middle or villainize the out. Now since the fans are the ones with the louder voices, there is something that they have over the nonfans, peer pressure.

It is mainly because of peer pressure that I argue for the right to not care about a popular series. It takes a quite a bit of will power and inner strength to combat peer pressure. To be able to be free from that peer pressure helps make you an individual that can stand up for your beliefs. As meaningless a series may be, it's a big step for strengthening your will to be able to resist the bad peer pressure that you know will get you into trouble. You are a person and you deserve respect for standing up to be one.

For those on the "victim" side, stay strong. There are plenty of other series you can talk about with your friends. If they say you need to "expand your horizons," then you say the same thing back and ask them to give you respect for your stance since you are bound to have to deal with some bullies over the issue as petty as it is. Realizing you don't need to have every interest in common or do everything together to be friends is perhaps one of the most important things to know when standing against peer pressure. If they cannot respect that when you point it out, then they might only want control and don't think of you as a friend anyways.