I was talking with someone today and realized I did something I do quite often that might be a trait that gets me into trouble: I boldly state my preference for (or against) something.
In this case, it was being tired of classic rock from a lifetime of overexposure. I think I offended the person, but saved it by clarifying that I'm mostly tired that there is a play list of seemingly 100-songs that have been in continual rotation for 50 years.
Anyway, it occurs to me that I'm just stating my preferences and I personally thing that's fine and normal, but that people get personally offended if you don't like what they like; which makes no sense to me. It's like if you don't like bland food, I'm not going to get offended because I can't handle anything hotter than black pepper. It doesn't ultimately mean anything significant.
Thoughts, ideas, suggestions?
It really can be as simple as not stating your opinion as fact. I'm not saying that you do, you're not that specific about how you phrase things. But a lot of people will say about a particular movie, "It's bad", when what they should really say is "I don't like it". When you say that something other people like is bad, you're not just criticizing the material, you're insulting their judgment. But if you simply say that you don't like something, well, that's your opinion, and you don't have to defend that at all.
I have found, for reasons I can't explain, people respond differently to "I don't like it" and "I don't enjoy it"
I'm hoping to learn why this has one day, as alas yesterday and everyday before it was not the day