"So, what music are you into?"

Whether it's rock and roll, pop, rap, country, or Viking metal - everyone has a music taste. Certain songs and artists belonging to different categories that make us feel good. The music that makes up want to get up and dance, that we know every word to, that has helped us through tough times and that hold tender memories.

Because music tends to have this intense power over us, we can sometimes grow very attached to the genres we like and become defensive if someone insults them. We can also become judgemental or snobbish towards genres that just "aren't for us"... or so we think.

Music can become so personal to us, we begin to identify with it. Country fans can be related to boot-wearing, Soutern-accent-holding folk, while punk fans can be seen as those with two-foot-high colorful mohawks and band tee shirts. It's natural - when something makes us feel happy and understood, of course we'll bond with it. However, that doesn't mean we have to be closed off to the rest of the music world, or generalize others.

Genres are simply subcultures of music in general. Who are we to judge others based on something so miniscule like their style or music taste? Especially when you could be completely wrong about your own taste...

By giving different genres a fair chance, you not only could find your new favorite song, but you could also learn to open your mind a little more. You could be a die-hard rock-and-roll fan, but there could be a rap song out there that you can really jam to.

The world today is struggling enough with acceptance. The least we could do is take music out of the equation - something that's created to bring us all together. So next time someone asks you, "What music are you into?", try not to be so quick to name just a couple genres. Keep an open mind - you never know what you'll find!