"Red Flags" in Pop Culture Interests

I am not a frequent user of social media, and am not a TikTok user at all. Recently, though, I was exposed to this video that talked about what a man's interests might say about him. I'll be honest, I have not watched the full video, but three of the first four examples have to do with pop culture. Whether the examples in the video are true or not, I definitely make my own assumptions about people based on the things they like. According to the readings, so do most others (Sellnow, 2010, p. 1). 

Sometimes, interests are a telling sign of someone’s values. For example, if you consider yourself a fan of Joe Rogan, chances are you do share some beliefs with him. However, it is still possible to consistently consume someone’s content and disagree with them in some ways. Even so, some people, myself included, use certain types of media consumption as a deal breaker in relationships. The chance that your assumption about them is right is enough to deter you altogether. Some are more serious than others, especially from the perspective of women who are dealing with men. If you are able to weed out the bad ones just by figuring out their favorite movie, it can save time, and in extreme cases, it can save you from emotional or physical pain. Even if these assumptions are not always accurate, it is very interesting to me that it is a growing method of developing perceptions.

In my case, as a man, I have far less risk when it comes to dating. Still, I have my own “red flags” that I look for when meeting people or when using dating apps. With the risk of possibly offending some classmates, I will give a few examples. Some dating apps give you a limited selection of interests you can put on your profile, and you can only pick so many. They are not always pop culture and are usually activities, but if you used one of your picks on anime, I know the two of us will not work out. As bad as it sounds, it’s not that I just don’t like anime, it’s that I probably won’t like the kind of person you are. Also, if you find a way to put your Harry Potter house in your profile, we are not meant to be. I can handle someone who likes these things, but there is a point where it goes too far.

What are some red flags you look for when it comes to tastes in pop culture?

References:

Sellnow, Deanna (2010). The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture: Considering Mediated Texts. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.