Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[jc6036]

I don't know why, but if something that was relatively unknown begins to get mainstream popularity I start feeling little pangs of anxiety.

I don't know if it's the recognition of the flood of haters that comes in with the flood fans, or some sort of sub-concious hipster coming out in me or what. Take MLP, for example.  The show has been featured on national news sources more than once, and everytime I see it on one of those news sources I cringe a little bit, realizing that the show/work of fiction/whatever may have just gained a lot of mainstream popularity. 
I don't know if it's just a little problem I have, and I don't know what that says about me, but whatever.

Anybody else feel those little pangs of anxiety when you finally realize something is becoming mainstream?

[Fenrir]

I feel the same way sometimes, though it comes not from any inner hipster; I have an inner Highlander.

There can be only one.

[kaijyuu]

The only concern I have is the creators of things getting swamped with legions of demanding fans, instead of just a small group of demanding fans.


Yeah the "special exclusive club" feel is gone when your interest starts being shared by everyone, but really, that's not important.

[Svarte Troner]

When it comes to music I feel the same way. That's probably why I listen to obscure black metal bands that 3 people in Russia have heard of.

[Blargityblarg]

Anxiety is mainstream.

[Delta Foxtrot]

I'm happy when things I like get into mainstream consciousness. If I like it it must be good. Therefore more people enjoying the good stuff means more happy people. What I don't like is when stuff I like gets dumbed down for mainstream consumption, though it's admittedly more rare.

More people liking something doesn't in and of itself make the existing stuff worse. Worrying about its influence in the future is a legitimate concern, but the past is done. It can't be undone.

[Flying Dice]

Now son, admitting you have a problem is the first step. Well done.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

OT: Not really. Mostly glad to have new people to share it with.

[Fenrir]

Delta, I think perhaps you suppose this feeling more reasoned than it is. He does not say that he fears it will be eroded by the increased adoration; he said only that he feels an anxiety.

[lordcooper]

OP, you're either a hipster and/or an elitist swine.  Sorry you had to find out like this.

[PsyberianHusky]

I was anxious b4 it was cool.

[jc6036]

OP, you're either a hipster and/or an elitist swine.  Sorry you had to find out like this.

Huh.  Okay then, moving on... (definitely not elitist though scratch that, if you play dwarf fortress you may as well be elitist , maybe hipster, on a small scale)

What I don't like is when stuff I like gets dumbed down for mainstream consumption, though it's admittedly more rare.

I think that this is one of the things causing these little pangs of anxiety.

Fakedit: Upon sitting here and thinking about it, I think that I may have a case of hipster-itis, except that I still enjoy mainstream stuff, it's just that it freaks me out when small stuff goes mainstream.  But once it's mainstream I suppose I wouldn't really care.  Eh.

[Cyprinus]

Now son, admitting you have a problem is the first step. Well done.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

OT: Not really. Mostly glad to have new people to share it with.

x

[Neonivek]

I am happy that nothing I do or enjoy goes mainstream if it wasn't already.

Heck I've been practicing hypnosis (hypnotising people, usually online) for years and that is so far from mainstream you can sometimes end all conversation by bringing up your ability to say so. It actually outright annoys me to be truthful.

Though I will say that I have found myself often chosing things because I didn't want to do what was popular. That has actually paid off sometimes but it usually kicks my butt.

[Solifuge]

Yeah, as someone who makes a habit of taking the road less traveled as my Modus Operandi, I understand the twinge of loss you get when what was something you shared with only a small community becomes something mainstream. Heck, I remember the days when I used to email Notch and he'd reply personally, back when he had just started Minecraft... it was cool, and it felt like I factored in as a significant part of something I really liked. When that changes, it changes the dynamic you knew, and means new things for the creator as well. It isn't necessarily a bad thing, though; It's a moment of transformation. I think what you're experiencing is just anxiety over change, from something familiar and known to something larger and different... to speak in a general sense.

(How do I embed images?!)

Alternatively, make a pilgrimage to here.

[kaijyuu]

Speaking of suddenly mainstream, I found this in the comics section of today's newspaper:

http://www.foxtrot.com/2012/04/04012012/

You know, what he was really unhappy about was the fact they forgot Applejack's hat.