Defend to the Death?

Let's say you're at a party. Not just a typical party with all your friends. This party is maybe full of...coworkers. You have zero in common with those coworkers. Not only do you share a different worldview on just about every subject imaginable...you also like Glam. Your coworkers don't even know the word Glam. They like classical and country. They think anything associated with rock immediately means Goth...and have no idea what that means either. They think heavy Metal = death. You know, burning churches, killing your parents. That sort of thing. Do you explain Glam? Do you defend your music? Do you care what other people think?

Now, I work with a lot of conserative folk. I'm using the word conversative word here in its truest sense. I don't just mean politically - but that is also true. I mean, the people I work with are buttoned-up, suit and tie, country music and America loving, red meat eaters. Moreover, this is a great group of people. Everyone I work with is basically two decades older than me, but you'll have that I guess. So, I'm the young one that likes Metal. Who votes liberal. Who doesn't eat meat. Who didn't change her last name when she married. You know. I'm the rebel.

These country music loving coworkers of mine are actually interested in the music I love. They get quite a kick of hearing my stories of meeting musicians and going to festivals. They think it's cool I'm actually friends with some pretty famous people (but I would never name drop here). The bottom line: they are open minded to hear about what I like. And what I don't.

Some people will immediately shut down when you say you like Metal. I think that comes from a lack of understanding - and a whole lot of stereotypes. I really don't like country music, but I'm opened minded enough to hear why someone else loves the genre and I do know a thing or two about the artists. I mean, there was a six month period in my life where I was a country music disc jockey, but that is a story for another place and time.

So, we're back at our party and the group of people very unlike you (and me) are having a conversation about music. Do you jump in or keep your mouth shut? Do you talk Glam? Do you defend the genre or teach the ways of Poison and Quiet Riot? In short, do you defend to the death?

Comments

[Lucifer]

YES. I am constantly having to defend the likes of Motley Crue and Skid Row. hardly any of my friends like Glam, and are always slating it. They like drum and bass and indie and stuff. I'm always attempting to turn people to Glam, and i'm constantly elbowing my way to wherever the music is playing so I can put some Motley Crue on.

[Chessie >^..^<]

Imagine being the only 'glammer' in an office of people who like R&B/Rap/Hip-hop...and me trying to explain going to a Kip Winger show in Pittsburgh... :O

Yeah, I've had to stand up for Kip a couple of times. I managed to convert my husband after ten years, but, hey, he got me to listen to Queensryche... ;)

[MotleyCrue666]

HELL YES!

Im 13 and at my school its all these jocks right. so here i am in my ripped up or skinny jeans with Motley Crue, Winger, Cinderella, and Poison. They r like WTF im like dude this is life and then i explain everything all my friends which i do have a lot of have at least gotten into glam a bit if its bon jovi and poison and some Hardcore Superstar and Bang Tango!

[Shaddie_Shakewell]

Yes, I defend my views. Actually I don't just defend, I attack. It's not the prettiest part of my character but I'm just so sure that MY listening habit is the right one. I mean, I do give others a chance and repect their views. It's your loss if you listen to rap. But respecting doesn't mean I can't manipulate. I always stand behind glam, hair metal and the 80s. I remember having a conversation where this guy was talking something about Coldplay and Radiohead (no, I don't fancy them) and I stared at him with a kind of a pitying face and said that they suck. I always make statements like that though usually with longer speech. I also do live in an environment where other people listen to some totally different crap than glam. Well, there are a couple of girls who listen to some.. nu-metal or something but not glam. So when I pop out of the scene with my style and listenings they, too, are interested in hearing stories about my adventures. And gladly I tell them. I love to go against the mainstream and bit by bit manipulate them all!! Muahaha.

[Christian]

Well, I am always wearing at least a tour t-shirt, and if it's cold, a denim jacket covered in patches. So, my position is clear, and yeah, I'll defend it every time. I don't mind if other people like stuff I hate, but if they want to knock what I like based on ignorance, I'm ready to draw swords, anytime.

I don't find that often tho, people are mostly bemused that a 40 yo guy is so into music.

[poisonfannumber1]

My friends used to think it was funny because I love Poison, so I took them to a show and now they're hooked. I also made sure that all 3 of my daughters went to a Poison concert. I wanted to save them from rap & the new crappy music. It worked. I'm always wearing my Concert Tour Tees. They go well with my hair that hasn't been cut in 12 years.

[Dai Raion]

Firstly, I am a conservative. But I'm definitely not the stereotypical "buttoned-up, shirt and tie" kind, nor do I particularly like country music. (But when I channel surf past the country music video station I can't help but notice that many of those bands are now the ones putting on the big live shows kind'a like the glam bands did back in the day.)

Secondly, metal, especially the glam/hair bands of the 80's through the mid 90's is pretty much all I listen to, and that includes both mainstream and christian bands. But bring up that second one and many metal fans immediately shut down on me, so I can personally identify with your statements about that.

Your co-workers sound like they're a great group, Allyson. They're interested in the music that you (and the rest of us who visit this site regularly) love, enjoy your stories about who you've met in the metal music world and where you've been. And they respect you.

I'm all for a "defend to the death" approach to talking glam/hair metal, or anything else that's important to me, when the situation mertis it. But if the co-workers in your "party" scenario are obviously unlike you (or me) than, even if you were to jump into their conversation about music and bring up glam, mostly likely you still wouldn't connect with that particular group.

[Sparky]

You bet. Defend always. I work for a Christian publishing house, so I'm always hearing religious phrases and versus and music. I don't judge anyone for the music they like or choose to listen to, and I wouldn't want anyone to judge me for liking Glam. I'm proud that I grew up on Crue and that at 38, I'm still going to Crue shows. I don't apologize for or shy away from the music that shaped me. No, I don't care for country music but I can appreciate that other people grew up on it and it might have shaped their lives. Just don't want it on my radio or iPod.

So, to answer your question - in that group of people unlike me, standing around talking about music, do I jump in and defend to the death? Hell, yeah!

[Tommy <~~~ classically liberal]

You're a liberal?!!

I think it's funny that people don't realize how much I love Sinatra and some of the old standards.