“What kind of music do you like?”

This question sends everyone into a state of panic.

If one answers this question truthfully, they will be stereotyped for the kind of music they listen to. If they are not stereotyped, the other person simply makes a negative remark, such as, “This is garbage,” “You like this?” or even “Why would anyone listen to this?” To avoid these remarks one might declare that they like all genres of music.

Music shaming is disheartening, especially when someone stops listening to music they once loved because of an irrelevant comment. When a comment is made about one’s interests, they usually become insecure about their music.

These acts of hatred are not limited to simple comments; one may scowl at you for listening to your music a little too loud. Who cares if your headphones are so loud that others can hear?

Asking this question is asking another what their opinion is on that topic. The idea that someone could possibly think that the music they listen to is superior to another music genre is insane. An individual’s taste in music comes from personality and life experiences. For example, someone who is an extrovert tends to listen to pop, funk and dance. On another hand someone who is an introvert tends to listen to mellow or calm music. The major factor in what music individuals enjoy comes from their emotional standpoint.

These emotions come from the amygdala, which is a deep, central brain structure that receives some of the first projections from the lower brain centres. Music stimulates the amygdala in a similar way to faces, smells, and other sounds, most likely because all of these stimuli are perceived as having social significance due to their communicative properties. Attached to the amygdala is the hippocampus, which is a storage of memories, and this is how significant events are memorized in one’s lifetime.

Thus meaning the events that one has been through affects the way music is perceived, and whether or not one may like it. Hating on someone for the music they listen to is like hating on someone for what they have been through. This is completely unethical; it is like judging someone.

It does not matter what anyone else says, you should never be embarrassed for expressing yourself.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of The Oracle, Columbus East High School, and Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.