Everyone has things that they enjoy. Sometimes those things are movies, or books, or bands, or something else, or a combination of all of them.

When one likes something and one truly enjoys that thing, one likes talking about it. One likes telling people about this thing they enjoy, especially with others who also enjoy that thing. It's a great feeling when one gets to talk with other people about their passions.

However, there's always those few people in the group who just bring you down. They're the people who tell you you're annoying, or to shut up, or that whatever is you're talking is stupid. They're the people you don't like talking to because they're just so negative.

If you are one of these people, I’m here to tell you that it doesn't make you cool. In fact, it makes you seem like an absolutely horrible person, and here's why.

When someone comes and talks to you about their passions, they're showing you a true side to their personality. Have you ever seen someone talking about something they're excited about? Their eyes light up and they have this blinding smile on their face and they look so happy. They're opening up to you because often the reason someone likes a certain thing is because they see themselves in it. They see something that resonates with their soul, and telling someone about those passions is letting themself be vulnerable in front of you. It's a silent way of baring their soul to you.

When someone pokes fun at the things you're passionate about, it hurts. It feels like they're personally attacking you because of how closely you've allied yourself with your passions. It hurts especially badly when someone tells you that you're annoying, or to just shut up, because it makes you feel like you can't talk about your passions anymore. Any time you try you'll feel guilty because you think you're annoying the person and you'll apologize so many times it might set a new world record. Trust me, I know. You can see the light die from someone’s eyes once they get it into their head that the thing they love talking about is annoying.

Yes, there are times you don't mean to crush someone like this. If you're having a bad day and you don't want to talk, it's more understandable. It doesn't mean it hurts any less, but your intentions were not to hurt the person.

However, sometimes people intend to hurt when they make negative comments. Sometimes they just can't accept that there are differing opinions on a subject and they want to force you to see their way. They'll tell you the thing you like is stupid simply because they don't like it, and there's a problem with that.

One of my favorite bands is 5 Seconds of Summer, and no, it's not just because they're hot. Their music is one of the things that helped me through a very dark time in my life. To have people come up to me and tell me that that band sucks and that I shouldn't like them hurts, because that band means so much to me.

I’m not saying you can't have differing opinions. I’m all for that. You don't have to like a band simply because I do. I’m just asking for the courtesy to like what I like in peace without you bashing on it purposefully.

It doesn't make you look cool. It doesn't make people like you. It doesn't make people agree with you. It just makes you look like a douche, and all it does is hurt the people around you. Just accept others’ passions, and life will be golden.