Talking to my friend one day about my vinyl collection, I remember him stopping me short to say, "right, but would you really like records if they weren't 'cool?'" His disparaging comment on something that borders obsession was almost insulting, and the only response I could reasonably display was a blank stare loaded with annoyance; just like that, its existence as a fad in today's culture completely undermined the passion that's rightfully in charge. I get the problem most people have with jumping on the bandwagon, I really do, but when you discount someone's feelings and interests, that's the real problem.

I'm not sure where people got this idea, but somehow it came into existence that in order to like something - truly like something - you must not only discover it before its descent into the mainstream, but also know every little thing about it. If you can't list every starting quarterback on your home team from the past 10 years, don't you dare call yourself a football fan; and if all you know of a band is their number one single, think twice about professing your undying love. On paper it sounds ridiculous, and that's because it actually is. In a society where bullying is all too prevalent, such seemingly harmless belittlement is something to be avoided. Let people like what they want, take an interest in what they want, and call themselves a fan of what they want; it really doesn't concern you.

Simply put, it's just not nice to regard yourself as superior due to a more extensive knowledge, devoted patronage, or particular sex. Where video games are concerned, unless you're a man or an "attractive" woman, you've automatically lost the privilege to call yourself a "gamer"; coupled with a misogynistic ideology, the same problem still exists. You don't own this enterprise, so drop the self-important attitude and get on with your life.

You shouldn't have to prove why you deserve to like something. When beliefs like this are popular, it can make anyone feel afraid or unworthy to express themselves. When someone follows your admiration with "yeah, but…" or a comment to one-up your own, it almost reduces your opinion to nothing; why does it have to be a battle? I collect records to own a piece of my favorite decades in music, yet when I explain this to others, I come off as no more than a pretentious girl trying to look cool; but newsflash, I'm not cool, and I'm not trying to be. So continue to love what you love, and while you're at it, show some love to others! Whatever your opin, I'll still call myself a fan of James Taylor with or without knowing the blood type of his mother's cousin three times removed.