Don't let my statement fool you. I still cringe inside when people talk about loving Journey, but after working in a mom and pop gas station all through high school and college I've learned not to show my disgust on the outside. People pick up on it and generally react badly. However, right after the cringe is the overwhelming desire to help that person.

Compassion. I need more of it.

This is generally true, but there are a lot of people who are very knowledgeable when it comes to a lot of things but still have horrible taste in music. For example, there is this political debate forum I visit once in a while, and while most of the visitors really know their stuff, their "what are you listening to now" thread makes me want to barf.

I never actually ask people what kind of music they listen to, because I hate being asked this (I don't have an answer for them that would take less than 5 minutes to tell).

So instead I ask them what some of their favorite artists are and what they are listening to currently. I will often keep that part of the conversation short if I don't like the answers.

Musical taste isn't the only defining characteristic in a person, not by a longshot. Many highly intelligent people I know are not particularly interested in exploring music beyond what I readily available. In most cases it is due to time constraints in other areas of interest or responsibility. At one point I was of a different opinion, but life teaches this pretty quickly.

I don't judge people based on music, although I sometimes do ask the question. If they like music I hate, I just change the subject, if they like music that I like, then I either go further into the topic right there, or continue talking about it later.

I will definitely be more interested in a person if I admire his or her taste in music, but indeed I think it is wise not to judge too quickly upon it. The problem is as well that if I start talking about music, I can quite go on about it and that's probably not always as appreciated.

Yeah, I'd agree with all that.

I find that it's rather shallow to judge people by their taste in music. I try not to do it, though human nature says you do internally sometimes go "yikes!!!" inside when someone says I like [fill in your most dreaded music here]. It's whether or not you can rise above that.

It's a good thing I generally like most forms of music and can find something in common with almost everyone.

I don't think I actually judge people by their music tastes except when what they like makes it obvious that they're simply a current-pop-culture junkie. Like, if someone really says they're crazy about Britney Speers or Beyonce, or if a teenage girl talks about how "sexy" John Meyer is rather than about his songs (which actually can be very good)...you know what I mean.

I used to be alot more of an elitist and snobbish but i've come to realize i hate people like that so i try my best not to be that way. I've found that music is more about mood than if its good or bad. There is a time and place for crappy pop music (partys are always funner when everyone sings along). But inside if someone says they like 3 doors down and stuff i cringe and change the subject. I like talking about music because more often than not people have something to share. Most of my close friends are into the same music so its always fun to gang up on people who has terrible tastes (one of my coworkers is still sore about a two hour bashing session where we went through his whole ipod artist by artist)