Hi! This is my first post on this subreddit. I am 17 years old and I collect Vinyl Records and CDs. For some reason, people my age call me "weird" because I collect records and CDs. I kind of get where they are going and why they call me a "weirdo" but to be honest, I am not big of a fan of streaming (as a listening experience) and I probably only stream music when I study, workout, take a walk, or if there isn't any electricity. The reason why I collect Records and CDs is because I feel like having a physical copy of an album makes you more connected to the music and the music that is being produced, invites you to a listening experience. Whether it is an 8-track, Cassette, CD, or Vinyl, as long as you have this amazing physical copy of an album, damn, it's showtime. Many of the people that I know around my aged haven't even held a CD in their life. We are talking about teenagers here and I was in shock that they haven't held one. So who's weird now?
I have been different with my peers all my life and pretty much an "outsider" with my company because I am really into music. None of the people I know have interest in music at all. Yes, they do listen to music but I don't think they have quite the passion as I am. That feeling when everyone of them is really into sports and then there's me, sitting in the corner, playing my guitar and writing a list of albums I want to buy on Vinyl or CD. People always kind of laugh at me and make fun of me just because I am different from them but also, I also laugh at them because they are all the same. No matter what whether it is clothes, music, and attitude, they are very similar with each other and that's why I kind of think I have this sense to push my passion and love music because I am different, I have my own character, and I am unique in my own way. But I have been collecting records since I was 11 years old. I started pretty much when the vinyl resurgence was happening and I didn't even know that it was happening. One day, I just got bored of listening to music through YouTube or Spotify and I told myself "I want to buy records". So I hoped on our car and my parents drove me from this local record store they found online because my parents actually thought that no one sells records anymore at that point and then for some reason they searched the local record store that is near to us and they only found one. I was so pumped to buy my first record with the money I saved from school. The first record I bought with my own money was John Lennon's Mind Games album and when I dropped that needle on the grooves, as a 11 year old, it blew my mind away and I was so amazed on how music is being produced by that big black thing (that's what she said". Anyway, the day after that, I got to school and told my classmates that I bought a record and guess what, everyone called me names and made fun of me. I didn't expect that kind of reaction and I thought they cool about it but I was kind of disappointed too.
Honestly, I am sick and tired of being bullied for the wrong reason. Yes I kind of understand why they do that but is it I buy records and I show my love for music I am already a "weirdo"? Hell, some people even think I am a "psycho" because of the reason that I love listening to metal and I am quite quiet all the time. It really does hurt sometimes when people kind of make these assumptions especially with teenagers and I'm pretty sure that a lot of teenagers can relate to this. Its always that varsity basketball dude that makes these assumptions on people who are being different music wise. I love sports as well don't get me wrong I play basketball every weekend before COVID happened but you know, there is always that pressure where you have to do things you are not interested just because you are different and I think that is one of the problems in our society nowadays is that the people who listen to music, doesn't appreciate the people who appreciate music d'you know what I mean? Its just really annoying to see that. I am also opening this up because I know there some teenagers my age who have experienced being like this as well and I feel them when they tell something like this.
So, that will be the end of my discussion "ish" I know it's quite long but I just kind of want to let it out because as I said, there are lots of teenagers who experience this and I want them to feel that they are not alone. I also want to make friends in this community because I love talking about music as well and this is probably the only place where I can express my musical side. I hope you guys are having a great day! God Bless you all!
