I like to read. I love to read.

I like to listen to music. I like to go to the movies. I like to watch TV.

Until I moved to the United States, I didn't realize that there were a whole list of movies/books/etc. I could never admit to reading/watching/etc. It appears, here, there are two sets of people: one. people who have no standards, two. people who only read literature or watch small budget/foreign movies.

It appears I don't belong in either.

I like to read what I like to read and I tend not to worry about what others think about it. I read John Grisham and I read Charles Dickens. I'm not embarrassed of one just like I'm not particularly proud of the other. I don't read Danielle Steel and I don't read James Joyce or Hemingway. I believe that you can't judge something unless you've actually done it. if you've never read Sydney Sheldon, can you really say that he sucks? If you've read even one book, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, but I know tons of people who are happy to bash a novel they've never read, a movie they've never seen.

I think when you have the whole attitude that surrounds the mindset of 'I'll only watch movies that are small budget and independent', you're automatically ruling a whole set because it doesn't fit into criteria that you've preset at a certain point for a certain reason. It's such an exclusionary mindset. But that's their problem. What people choose to deprive themselves from is completely their own problem.

I mostly mind the people who judge you for liking something they define as low quality. There is an entire list of music you should never admit to listening. And God forbid you enjoy some mainstream writer or movie. Which means you have to walk with your head down in shame and hide any part of you that might find the movie fun or the music entertaining.

Why are people so judgmental? Why do people have to categorize themselves? Why can't you read comics and literature and Harlequin all in one and still be a high quality human being? Why do you have to wear all black and adhere to strict rules just to be intelligent?

I love Disney. I love cartoons. I enjoy watching teenage movies and TV shows and music.

And I refuse to be called stupid or non-intellectual.

Previously? Point of View.