There’s a funny thing about pop culture. It’s full of sub culture, and within those sub cultures are varying degrees of devotion. Either you love something too much or not enough, there never seems to be a middle road for liking something. That’s why a lot of times discussions about pop culture degenerate into pissing contests about who’s the bigger fan instead of a civilized conversation about the subject at hand. It’s because of this issue that I’m extremely careful about who I talk to and what comic book shops I frequent. I’m a fan and all, but I’m not throwing punches over whose cooler Spider-Man or Deadpool (especially when it’s obviously Spider-Man).

What really bugs me are the fans that seem to gravitate toward the obscure simply for the sake of obscurity, and then have the nerve to look down on those that enjoy the mainstream. Pick a genre and you’ll have a snob that swears that their tastes are more refined because you’ve never even heard of what their listening to, or reading, or watching. I think it’s safe to speculate that you know someone like this, or you are that guy. If you are a snob, then put on the crown, because today you’re the king.

Millions of people can’t be wrong.

Perhaps it’s my age, but my perspective on pop culture is just different from most. For one I recognize the sheer difficulty in attaining and maintaining success. I’m sick and tired of people who don’t like something so much that they can’t recognize that IP’s success. Yes yes, Britney Spears ‘sucks’, but the fact is she sells millions of records all over the world. No matter how many people I run into in my limited social circles who ‘hate’ her, we’re obviously in the minority as far as fanfare, because if she did suck then we likely wouldn’t be talking about her on any level.

What really bugs me is the idea that selling lots of records, or books, or gathering millions of viewers is somehow lame with a certain branch of pop culture. How idiotic it is to denounce something because it’s appealing to the people. Consider this: If you hate something because everyone else loves it, then you’re the one that might be different and strange.

Let me make something clear, not being a part of the norm isn’t wrong either. Being you is something that should be encouraged. But happening to like something that is hugely popular doesn’t make you a drone or a follower; it just makes you, you for lack of a better term. In the end I’m saying that you shouldn’t worry about what you like so much as simply enjoy what’s out there to be enjoyed.

But what about selling out?

Ah, the sell out… The pop cultural scapegoat that losers point to when their trying to defend their favorite obscure band you’ve never heard of because they think it makes them sound cool. Show me a band that doesn’t want to ‘sell out’ and I’ll show you a bunch of liars. Life is too hard for people to want to be broke all their lives. The fact is that more often than not success = rich or at least comfort. I’m sure there are bands out there that live for playing dive bars for 25 bucks plus booze but those guys are the minority and if you offered them a record deal it’s more than likely they would take it.

The same could be said for comics. Show me an artist who doesn’t want to work for Marvel and I’ll show you two types of dude: One that’s already worked for Marvel and doesn’t need them, or the guy who can’t get a job at Marvel in the first place.

The bottom line is only a fool looks the other way when opportunity knocks, and the world is full of missed opportunity. Show me a rapper who passes on a record deal because he wants to ‘keep it real’ and I’ll show you a guy that’s gonna die broke and unhappy.