Post: #1

Hello guys I swear to god this is not a troll thread. It is just an honest question.

I'm 23 years old and I have never ever had a like for any kind of music. It was always a "trouble" for me because as you can imagine a great deal of conversations with all kind of people revolve around of music. When I was in junior high and in high school I never liked music I was not dying to go to any concert or buy any musical paraphernalia. So I was always a little ostracized for not liking music. When I entered med school I thought I would somehow develop some taste for music but it never happened it. I tried with different genres but my efforts were futile. I have always thought that there was something wrong with me for not liking music. But I recently gave up on the subject entirely, I guess I have an obsession with books the same way people have an obsession with music. I read approximately 5 books a month for the last 2 years. And in my car I either drive silently or listen to some podcasts that I like.

Now my questions:

1) Is there any music indifferent people around here in the forum? Has it impaired your social life somehow?

2)Should I feel guilty for not liking music? I read somewhere that between 2-4% of the population have "musical anhedonia".

3)What is the opinion of musicians here about people that are completely indifferent to music.

Post: #2

Post: #3

I wonder if I can understad you. I am a musician. I have no real interest in, say,architeture. If i see an amazing building, something awe inspiring, I might look fora while, but otherwise I do not care.

Is it at all simmilar to that? I mean has any piece of music ever affected you at all, even for a moment?

Post: #4

(08-14-2014 03:06 AM)Sonsowey Wrote:  I wonder if I can understad you. I am a musician. I have no real interest in, say,architeture. If i see an amazing building, something awe inspiring, I might look fora while, but otherwise I do not care.

Is it at all simmilar to that? I mean has any piece of music ever affected you at all, even for a moment?

I don't actively dislike music and hate any musician, please don't take that impression. It's just that in my heart I have never felt any curiosity for searching music. I'm just completely indifferent. I don't care about bands, groups or single musicians or singers. It has never affected me or touch me in any way. Or if it has, it has done it far less than to regular folk.

Post: #5

Very interesting!

Post: #6

I am completely the same!



I do enjoy listening to some music, but I have absolutely no favorite bands or the like, and I've been to only one concert in my life (because a friend gave me a ticket as a gift).

In high school it was definitely an impairment because I couldn't say that I'm a rock, metal or whatever guy and just fit in, but nowadays it's just considered quirky, even refined. Even though it's a different thing it's similar to not drinking, smoking or doing drugs - at first it marks you as weird, but eventually people start to admire you for it.

Post: #7

I totally understand you fellow inhuman alien!

While I do like some music (generally it tends to be rock, metal) - it doesn't mean much to me. For me talking about music is the most boring topic imaginable. I also have never understood the idolatry of musician cult. If I like some songs from some artist I have never thought that I should therefore care about this artist's personal life and shit. I have only two times in my life been to a music concert and both times I was bored to death even trough I liked the music but just listening to music and doing nothing else is still boring. The first time I was invited by friends and it broke our friendship because, they saw me being bored and decided that I was not a fun guy. Also most music I like tends to be from 60ties, 70ties or 80ties (even trough I was a teenager in 2000ties) and I don't care to follow the latest musical fashion for me it is a bore.

What you need to do is learn how to lead conversation to topics you can present in an interesting fashion that you know well. Don't tell girls you don''t like music or they will be scared of you realizing that you are an entity of alien origin. So don't blow your cover and tell that you like a wide variety of music, call some popular bands and then lead a conversation elsewhere.

Post: #8

I have been to maybe 3 concerts in my entire life and it wouldn't bother me if I never went to another. I don't particularly care about individual musicians, bands, who they're married to, what they do in their personal lives, etc.

But, I absolutely love music. Has there never been a time where you are sitting listening to a song, and you are just awe inspired my how well the lyrics are put together? Maybe it described something exactly as you were going through like a heartbreak. When I am having a shitty day or just not in a good place, the first thing I will do to cheer myself up is listen to some good tunes. I love analyzing lyrics. Modern day music does nothing for me, but the 70s and 80s were brilliant for music and I can recite word for word probably hundreds of songs.

Honest question - are you a very unemotional person? I almost think someone that can't appreciate a good song could have some mild case of autism or something.

Post: #9

(08-14-2014 03:33 AM)Handsome Creepy Eel Wrote:  I am completely the same!



I do enjoy listening to some music, but I have absolutely no favorite bands or the like, and I've been to only one concert in my life (because a friend gave me a ticket as a gift).

In high school it was definitely an impairment because I couldn't say that I'm a rock, metal or whatever guy and just fit in, but nowadays it's just considered quirky, even refined. Even though it's a different thing it's similar to not drinking, smoking or doing drugs - at first it marks you as weird, but eventually people start to admire you for it.

Exactly the same with me. its not that i don't like music, i'm just indifferent to it. I've been to a few concerts in my life and was just bored out of my mind. I would be more entertained by just looking around at all the people there and seeing how into it they are. I'm actually happy not to be one of these people as I think it would have closed off certain avenues for self-improvement had I gotten into music as much as my peers were growing up.

Tbh I sort of look down upon people that identify with music and specific genres so much that they have their ear buds in all day everyday and take pride in announcing how they couldn't go a single day without their music. Everything in moderation I suppose

Post: #10

(08-14-2014 03:40 AM)big poppa Wrote:  I have been to maybe 3 concerts in my entire life and it wouldn't bother me if I never went to another. I don't particularly care about individual musicians, bands, who they're married to, what they do in their personal lives, etc.

But, I absolutely love music. Has there never been a time where you are sitting listening to a song, and you are just awe inspired my how well the lyrics are put together? Maybe it described something exactly as you were going through like a heartbreak. When I am having a shitty day or just not in a good place, the first thing I will do to cheer myself up is listen to some good tunes. I love analyzing lyrics. Modern day music does nothing for me, but the 70s and 80s were brilliant for music and I can recite word for word probably hundreds of songs.

Honest question - are you a very unemotional person? I almost think someone that can't appreciate a good song could have some mild case of autism or something.

I do project an unemotional persona. But I wouldn't say that I have autistic traits. I'm merely an extremely private person who values secrecy. I do have loving relationships but they are few and far from between. Although to be honest with you guys I have never been in love with any of my gf. However I deeply love my father. so it's not like i'm dead inside. Curiously enough my father is also uninterested in music, maybe even more than me. And my mother is not any connoseur in the subject.

This fact coupled with my lack of interest in the local soccer teams. And my absence of religion (my parents were not recalcitrant atheists, they just didn't care about religion). Have made difficult for me to make friends in Mexico.

I don't now if I answered your question man. I hope so

Post: #11

Sort of get what you mean, growing up in the midwest I wasn't into college football, which is religion there.

As for music, besides trance, not into a whole lot. Maybe some 80s glam rock.

Post: #12

(08-14-2014 03:33 AM)Handsome Creepy Eel Wrote:  I am completely the same!



I do enjoy listening to some music, but I have absolutely no favorite bands or the like, and I've been to only one concert in my life (because a friend gave me a ticket as a gift).

In high school it was definitely an impairment because I couldn't say that I'm a rock, metal or whatever guy and just fit in, but nowadays it's just considered quirky, even refined. Even though it's a different thing it's similar to not drinking, smoking or doing drugs - at first it marks you as weird, but eventually people start to admire you for it.

Fuck I thought I was alone. Thank you. Maybe this forum attracts a lot of subversive individuals. And indifference to music is a side effect of that type of personality. On the side, why would you say that not liking music could be considered as refined even admirable.

Post: #13

1) You're looking at purely instrumentals or classical music in that case.

2) Stop feeling guilty.

3) I'm a guitarist; if someone isn't into music then they aren't into music. Try spoken-word poetry.

Nothing's wrong with giving zero fucks about music. Granted, you're in the minority, but there's nothing wrong with it.

You appreciate the written and spoken word better than you appreciate the sang word. It's as simple as that.

Have you tried spoken-word poetry in that case?

Post: #14

(08-14-2014 04:29 AM)Jose Bolsiski Wrote:  On the side, why would you say that not liking music could be considered as refined even admirable.

As long as you like some music but avoid the "I'm a huuuuuge fan of XYZ" image that is common to most people, and are confident about it (i.e. not "I'm sorry I have no favorite bands"), I find that reactions are quite positive. Unusual shit that would usually be considered weird becomes a sign of a stable and erudite personality. For example, I have had some of people tell me that it's beautiful how I enjoy this:





On the other hand, I can't say that I don't like any music at all. You're probably more extreme to me. I just dislike listening to radio, music playing in a car or workplace or concerts, but I do get excited by some of it. Not in a "woooo!" sense, but enough to have an admiration for it and a sense of joy. If that's not the case with you, I'm out of advice sadly.

Post: #15

I get where you're coming from. I do enjoy music, particularly metal/rock/heavy with guitar solos and melodical themes, but I very rarely seek out music or put on music when I'm just chilling. I'd rather listen to talk radio most of the time. Part of the reason is that I can't stand modern pop/top music. It's utter crap to my ears, basically the entire top 50 is usually unlistenable, due to being manufactured, extremely simple, artificial music. It's definitely junk food. I do think that musical appreciation is learned skill, like reading for example, and if you didn't have a musical home, then it could be impaired.

And yes, I do find musical idolation to be childish and sheepish, but that's because I dislike any kind of celebrity worship.

Post: #16

This thread reminds me of when I was about 19-20, at university and writing a long email to my mentor at the time asking for advice on this very topic. I felt like an alien for not liking any of the music that fellow students were into and could barely stand hanging out & going out with them for that reason.

I was rather indifferent to most genres of music until I took up dancing. I do like quite a few genres now (swing, blues, various latin ones), but the cult-like worship of bands in popular culture, and the typical emotion incontinence displayed in reality TV singing shows are still foreign to me. I prefer small live jazz bands in bars or restaurants, that you can dance to or drink to while socialising with others. Celebrity bands that perform on a huge stage / stadium with big explosions and attention whoring costumes etc. aren't my thing.

Shit, now I sound like a hipster lol

Post: #17

(08-14-2014 03:00 AM)Jose Bolsiski Wrote:  Hello guys I swear to god this is not a troll thread. It is just an honest question.

I'm 23 years old and I have never ever had a like for any kind of music. It was always a "trouble" for me because as you can imagine a great deal of conversations with all kind of people revolve around of music. When I was in junior high and in high school I never liked music I was not dying to go to any concert or buy any musical paraphernalia. So I was always a little ostracized for not liking music. When I entered med school I thought I would somehow develop some taste for music but it never happened it. I tried with different genres but my efforts were futile. I have always thought that there was something wrong with me for not liking music. But I recently gave up on the subject entirely, I guess I have an obsession with books the same way people have an obsession with music. I read approximately 5 books a month for the last 2 years. And in my car I either drive silently or listen to some podcasts that I like.

Now my questions:

1) Is there any music indifferent people around here in the forum? Has it impaired your social life somehow?

2)Should I feel guilty for not liking music? I read somewhere that between 2-4% of the population have "musical anhedonia".

3)What is the opinion of musicians here about people that are completely indifferent to music.

I'm curious, were you raised with music around as a small child? I could imagine this happening if you weren't exposed to it at a very early age. And the opposite often true, kids raised by musician parents often end up being musicians of some sort themselves.

Post: #18

(08-14-2014 03:36 AM)Mage Wrote:  For me talking about music is the most boring topic imaginable.

Sports.

I've never had a random stranger walk up to me and say "Hey, how about Michael Brown's harpsichord playing on 'There's something on my mind'."

Post: #19

(08-14-2014 08:12 AM)speakeasy Wrote:  

(08-14-2014 03:00 AM)Jose Bolsiski Wrote:  Hello guys I swear to god this is not a troll thread. It is just an honest question.

I'm 23 years old and I have never ever had a like for any kind of music. It was always a "trouble" for me because as you can imagine a great deal of conversations with all kind of people revolve around of music. When I was in junior high and in high school I never liked music I was not dying to go to any concert or buy any musical paraphernalia. So I was always a little ostracized for not liking music. When I entered med school I thought I would somehow develop some taste for music but it never happened it. I tried with different genres but my efforts were futile. I have always thought that there was something wrong with me for not liking music. But I recently gave up on the subject entirely, I guess I have an obsession with books the same way people have an obsession with music. I read approximately 5 books a month for the last 2 years. And in my car I either drive silently or listen to some podcasts that I like.

Now my questions:

1) Is there any music indifferent people around here in the forum? Has it impaired your social life somehow?

2)Should I feel guilty for not liking music? I read somewhere that between 2-4% of the population have "musical anhedonia".

3)What is the opinion of musicians here about people that are completely indifferent to music.

I'm curious, were you raised with music around as a small child? I could imagine this happening if you weren't exposed to it at a very early age. And the opposite often true, kids raised by musician parents often end up being musicians of some sort themselves.

I dont recall to ever listen to music with my parents. So I guessed I wasn't exposed to music. I was however always surrounded with books and magazines. I have travelled in car with my dad for up to 10 hrs without music. And it is perfectly normal for he and I. I'm however a huge fan of listening to podcasts while in the car.

Post: #20

"Societal obsession with music" I won't lie I've had those thoughts myself when I'm standing on a streetcorner waiting for the light to change and I'm the only one not wearing earbuds. I've studied music and am a musician (not professional though I have been paid to perform). I love music and listen to often. But I prefer quiet ambience, myself.

So I don't think it's weird at all. But I do think music probably affects you more than you realize, you just don't consciously seek out music simply to enjoy the experience of hearing it. Do you enjoy movies? Nearly all movies use music to guide viewers' emotions.

Post: #21

(08-14-2014 03:00 AM)Jose Bolsiski Wrote:  1) Is there any music indifferent people around here in the forum? Has it impaired your social life somehow?

I was sort of like you until I reached high school. Afterwards, I got really obsessed with metal and its various sub-genres, namely thrash metal, speed metal, death metal, and black metal. After high school, I started to open up a bit more and started to enjoy other genres such as rock and electronic. However, I sort of know how you feel - you are just indifferent to music.

To be honest, I think that liking metal so much during high school somewhat impaired my social life. They weren't any other metalheads at my school so it was hard to relate to my peers. Furthermore, I was very judgmental of person's musical taste and I often looked down on people who didn't like the same music as I did.

After high school, I loosened up a bit and I started not to care about a person's music preference since it was pointless.

(08-14-2014 03:00 AM)Jose Bolsiski Wrote:  2)Should I feel guilty for not liking music? I read somewhere that between 2-4% of the population have "musical anhedonia".

Why should you feel guilty for not liking music?

If someone told me they do not like music, I wouldn't care. Trust me, it is a lot better than people who say they like every music genre since it shows that person doesn't really have personality or does not know who they are for that matter.

(08-14-2014 03:00 AM)Jose Bolsiski Wrote:  3)What is the opinion of musicians here about people that are completely indifferent to music.

I am not a musician but after studying a bit about music I think I can somewhat answer this question.

At its most basic function, music is supposed to bring people together. It is similar to drinking or sports in that way.

Therefore, when you tell person that you do not like music or any other activity that brings people together, it sub-communicates that you don't like hanging out with people or bonding with other people. That explains why some people, especially girls, freak out or look at you strangely.

Overall, OP I wouldn't stress out about not liking music. Just keep it private. If someone asks you about music, just give a generic answer or be imaginative and say something ridiculous for your self-amusement. Its all about your frame at that point.

Post: #22

I too don't care much for contemporary music. I find it distracting to have music when I'm doing work, or concentrating. If I'm doing something menial and repetitive (like washing dishes or cleaning house) sure, play on whatever. But for listening I just don't care much. I do appreciate well crafted music, but it doesn't rule my life, nor do I define or identify myself by the music that I hear.

Now and then music will move me but overall I find those that are obsessed about music to be missing something inside, that they think the outside noise will cover for what's missing.

I think that if you can't stand silence it's because you can't stand being alone with your thoughts. Not good.

Post: #23

“Without music, life would be a mistake.”

― Friedrich Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols, Or, How to Philosophize With the Hammer

There's probably some genre of music for everyone. I've listened to everything from classical to rap to death metal, and it's not easy to do any of those genres well. As passionate as I am about music I'll be the first to tell you most of the stuff out there is fucking garbage and the people who really know how to do a good job at creating great music are diamonds in the rough.

Although, some people may just really not like music at all. I have trouble understanding this, but I also realize that most guys get really excited about cars and were jerking off to pictures of engines when they were teenagers which makes absolutely no sense to me. So if you honestly don't like it, just focus on the other things you actually are passionate about.

Post: #24

Music, or more accurately music scene knowledge is primarily a mechanism by which the herd sorts itself out. Same goes for sports and nerd trivia. People like to feel like they're group insiders so in a social gathering they start nattering about something they have in common in order to fit in. Of course this alienates anyone not in the group, but since most people have the social skills of a braying walrus they don't realize they're doing it. Thus, hipster parties only seem to have music conversations, bro parties talk about sports, and nerd parties talk about the social implications of a marxist economy in the Star Trek setting. I'll leave it to you to guess in which group I fit.

Post: #25

I am in complete agreement. You should not at all feel guilty about not liking music, because most music today is complete and utter crap.

Personally, I listen to either really old stuff like old bluegrass and classical, or in tongues I do not know, like salsa and metal. Instrumentals without words are nice as well.

But you are right, obsessing about books is far more instructive than obsession about pop culture, which is what obsession about music translates to.