What Is Music Snobbery and Why It Is Bad
If you love music and you happen to discuss it with others (online or in real life situations) you might have met people who come across as real jerks. For the lack of a better term. They tend to think of themselves as being better and more knowledgeable than the others, so they look down on others. Well, if you met individuals like these, than you already know who music snobs are.
Music snobbery is a negative attitude of looking down on others for their music tastes. While also believing some genres or artists are inherently superior to others.
I do not know about you, but I have stumbled upon music snobs a lot. Mostly online in places like YouTube comment sections and various forums. So it’s a pretty common occurrence actually.
And while people are free to do what they want, including being jerks. In reality being a sob actually hurts them the most.
What is Music Snobbery
Music snobbery is when someone thinks their taste in music is better than everyone else’s. Music snobs might mock or dismiss people who like different genres (sub-genres), bands or artists. They dislike the whole styles of music but take it even further by disliking others who listen to those genres.
This attitude comes from a desire to feel superior or more knowledgeable about music. Which to me seems like a simple case of low self-esteem. Such people often tie their music preferences to their identity. So when they feel strongly about the music they love, they might look down on other types of music to boost their own ego.
Social media and online forums also make it easier for these attitudes to spread. It’s super easy to find a place online where people share and reinforce their opinions with like-minded groups.
Snobism Test: Check Yourself
Not gonna lie, when I thought about which characteristics make a typical music snob I wondered if I might have some of them myself. I mean it’s always worth looking in the mirror before you criticize others. So do you want to see if YOU might be a music snob? Here’s a quick checklist of common traits. Take a look and answer honestly if any of these sound like you:
- Dismissing Popular Music: Do you automatically dislike music just because it’s popular or mainstream?
- Judging Others’ Tastes: Do you think less of people who like music genres different from your favorites ones?
- Boasting About Your Music Knowledge: Do you like to brag about knowing obscure artists or having a more “refined” taste?
- Refusing to Explore: Are you unwilling to check other music styles because you believe your favorites are the best?
If you checked off several of these…. well my friend, you might have some music snob in you after all. But don’t worry it’s totally curable😉
Why Being Being a Snob Is Pointless
Being a music snob is pointless because it shuts you off from enjoying a huge variety of great music. When you dismiss entire genres, bands and artists without giving them a chance, you can easily miss out on new and awesome music.
Looking down on others for their music tastes doesn’t make anyone cooler or smarter. On the contrary – it just makes them seem closed-minded and judgmental. And no one likes to be around such individuals.
I don’t consider myself a snob, but even I used to have some predetermined opinions about other genres. Until I realized how different music tastes can be. I have friends who enjoy completely dissimilar genres to mine. They simply hear and process music differently. It’s a simple fact. So now I see that they enjoy it, and I’m just happy they are having a good time.
Benefits of Being Open-Minded
Being open-minded about music can lead to amazing discoveries. That’s why I’m always eager to check a new tune, new genre, new band, new artist. When you try different music you might find new favorites that you never expected to like. Also with time your music taste might develop or change a bit, but without trying out new stuff you won’t even realize it.
Also being open-minded helps you connect with more people. Not only in music but in life in general. But with music specifically (taking into account how poplar it is) embracing a wider range of music can help you find new friends. It can help you see the world from different perspectives.
Conclusion
Music is all about enjoyment. If you open your ears to new sounds you will definitely find new tunes to enjoy. It’s that simple. So go ahead and have fun!
