I (kind of) judge you when you listen to bad music
As a librarian, I’m generally not judgy about what people borrow in terms of movies or audiobooks. Hell, I’ve bought quite a bit of it for the collection of it so clearly I accept that there is an audience for these things. However, the hardest part of my job is when I have to sign out CDs for people – sometimes I have to repress a response when someone hands me a card for Michael Bolton or Kenny G or Britney Spears with a look of rapture on their face. I want to ask them, “Really? Is this really what you consider [air quotes] music [/air quotes] ?”
Not everyone is irredeemable. Now and then, someone will ask me for a recommendation, and based on questions I ask the person about their musical tastes, where they will be listening to their music, if there is a particular occasion, etc, I can make a calculated suggestion based on their answers [1]. Blue Rodeo is one of my top suggestions, along with a classical music compilation that’s pretty awesome. I’ll pitch Canadian Indie bands, modern torch singers like Duffy and Adele, and bluegrass music for those weary of new country. For those who inquire about our lack of Tori Amos, I point them to Regina Spektor or Royal Wood; for those wondering what ever happened to the B-52′s, I tell them I still haven’t been able to find their latest release and give them The Scissor Sisters to tide them over.
Sometimes I feel a little like an evangelist when someone asks what I think about a particular movie or book or CD. If I don’t like it, I don’t come right out and say “I hated it!” – I’d probably just say that it wasn’t to my taste and suggest something similar. It’s such a great feeling to have someone come back later on and say, “Wow – I really enjoyed your suggestion!”
[1] Also, depending on what we have in the collection. I’m not above pointing to the suggestion box and telling them to leave me a note about something I want to give them but we don’t have.