Everyone has a unique taste in music. It can be powerful, take you places and make you feel things you never imagined. You form a bond or a much deeper connection to the beat, the words and everything that music consists of.

Music has a huge impact on society. The type of music you are passionate about can really determine your overall position in society. One particular problem I have witnessed, is music shaming. If you are not familiar with this concept, let me give you the 411. Music shaming is the act of scrutinizing someone else’s musical interests coming from the want to feel superior. The problem is that most of us don’t even realize we are doing it.

According to Mercedes Guillen, 28-year-old child development major, music shaming comes from when others don’t really care to listen to what others are listening to.

“I’ve been told that I am too young to listen to the classics,” said Guillen, “I tell them I have an old soul, that I kind of like that era.”

When you really look at this topic from a different perspective you may start to see how ridiculous music shaming really is. Everyone loves music and have a diverse taste for it.

Just because someone has different taste in music does not make it wrong or bad in any way. You would not criticize someone for eating a burger when you may prefer a sandwich. It’s the same concept.

The most important thing about music to Dean Loock, a 26-year-old graphic design major, is that the beat doesn’t overpower the lyrics. He is open to other music genres too and recently he became interested in country.

“I hated country until recently this year,” said Loock. “I started listening to Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown band. I listened to the lyrics and that’s what really was amazing because the lyrics are just really meaningful and I like that.”

According to Loock, people would judge him for listening to an old Linkin Park song, but then other genres everyone would chime in.

“People tend to like my music when I’m listening to my 70’s, like Queen or Journey,” said Loock, “People tend to like that, the classics.”

Maybe this is some self-validation kind of thing, maybe it is difficult for people to understand why someone would feel differently about certain music because it is ultimately so important to us.

In the article “The American Spectator: Music and Morality” by Roger Scruton, he tries to clarify as to why others may feel they have a reason to judge based off of society’s judgements and the message music may convey.

“If the message is sensual, self-centered and materialistic, then we should not expect to find that our laws address us from any higher realm than that implies.” said Scruton, “However, ours is a ‘non-judgmental’ culture. To criticize another’s taste, whether in music, entertainment or lifestyle, is to assume that some tastes are superior to others. And this, for many people, is offensive.”

Often in society, when one becomes fixed on the pop music culture, they are then judged to be too “square.” This does not really add up, if you think about it. Pop is just short for popular and doesn’t popular generally mean awesome or cool? But honestly, I cannot tell you how many times I have gotten the good ol’ eye roll or blank stare or even a loud snort for just expressing my love for T-Swizzle or the Biebs.

Pop music is just one genre I am listing here, imagine all the different kinds of genres that have been targeted, but at the end of the day, these genres have become objects of impartially ruthless criticism.

Loock said, he feels that music is so expressive and people have their own opinion about it. That music is so perceptive and society says it’s okay to judge music based off of what others like.

“Music is so free and liberal that people feel they are entitled to give their opinion,” said Loock, “And to tell someone their music choice is bad.”

Next time you ask someone what their favorite type of music is, instead of judging them simply accept their diverse taste or perhaps join in. Those that obsess over One Direction or head-bang to some metal rock like AC/DC, go for it! Don’t let opinions of others make you feel like you need to change the music you love. You may even surprise yourself and actually end up having similar taste in music.

Alex Gonzalez, a 21-year-old film major, encourages others to attempt to step outside their comfort zones when it comes to music.

“If you strictly listen to one genre, I implore you to diversify your tastes and appreciate more that’s out there.” said Gonzalez, “you’ll be missing out on so much cool stuff if you don’t!”