I cannot describe the visceral level of aversion I have to mainstream shit. It doesn’t matter if the show is the best thing on earth, if the general public knows about it (And I don’t mean the internet I mean the general public) then I refuse to watch or partake in it. I have no idea why and it genuinely kills me to be like this and I have no idea why.
It prevents me from joining most fandoms nowadays unless the fandom is super niche. Things like Hotel Hazbin, Star Wars, The Office, K-pop (in general), Kpop Demon Hunters, most popular anime… WHY. WHY AM I LIKE THIS?? Is anyone else like this? Even people just mentioning “Oh yeah I love One Piece, you should watch it sometimes” makes me go “Oh fuck nah I’m good” as if the damn show was a personal insult. I feel like a stuck-up prick when I do this but I genuinely can’t control it, why???
I think it’s just that I’m afraid that I’ll end up enjoying it. Like some of the mainstream shit looks interesting(?) The Amazing Digital Circus is one that piqued my interest for a few seconds, I remember watching some out-of-order episodes of One Piece before anime became mainstream and I liked it.
Another fear I have is that it’ll make me easier to be advertised to or make me more vulnerable to falling into trends/merch or whatever. Im scared that if I do watch K-pop Demon Hunters and enjoy it, then like— I dont know how to put it into words, but It’ll make me apart of that mindless mainstream crowd that’ll just give any brand their money regardless of what they’re selling because “POPULAR BRAND I LIKE IS DOING A COLLAB WITH KPOP TEEHEE” I dont wanna give these shitass corporations my money, but I also wanna be able to enjoy something and know what other people are talking about when they reference popular things.
I just dunno how to put it into words… It’s as if the aura of the people that surround all these shows and movies makes me wanna subtract my head and limbs into my body like a turtle from how bad it makes me cringe
I think you’re doing the right thing. There’s a reason zombie movies got so popular haha! Just adjust your responses to something less confrontational to the person, like “I’m not the target audience I guess”