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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Oct 3, 2015 11:43:57 GMT -5
I tend to use the term underrated a lot, because I think it's a perfect description for something that doesn't get enough consideration or acknowledgment from the public or a fanbase. Maybe a thing was more influential than most people realize, or it has ideas that many haven't noticed initially.
But I can't think of a way to say something is "overrated" without sounding elitist or condescending. To me it sounds like the person using it is arguing that people are enjoying something too much, and IMO that's just an inherently unfair thing to claim. Either that or they're just bothered by the fact something they dislike happens to be popular.
And there's plenty of stuff the general public likes that I don't quite understand or care for, but I never say they're overrated because it still sounds like I'm passing judgment on others.
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Post by Red Impact on Oct 3, 2015 11:46:04 GMT -5
Underrated is a positive word, it's intended to give praise. Overrated is a negative word, it's intended to criticise something. So I don't think it's weird to like one and not the other. Someone saying something is underrated is akin to saying "Hey, check this out, you might like it."
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Bad Moon
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Post by Bad Moon on Oct 3, 2015 12:30:08 GMT -5
Underrated is a positive word, it's intended to give praise. Overrated is a negative word, it's intended to criticise something. So I don't think it's weird to like one and not the other. Someone saying something is underrated is akin to saying "Hey, check this out, you might like it." The weird thing is, neither descriptors really have anything to do with describing the quality of something, they're accusing everybody else who likes/dislikes the thing of bad judgement. |
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J is Justice
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Post by J is Justice on Oct 3, 2015 13:00:51 GMT -5
Both words suck.
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Post by "Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay on Oct 3, 2015 13:05:54 GMT -5
I find underrated to be quite an overrated word. *wiggles eyebrows* |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2015 13:07:38 GMT -5
Underrated is a positive word, it's intended to give praise. Overrated is a negative word, it's intended to criticise something. So I don't think it's weird to like one and not the other. Someone saying something is underrated is akin to saying "Hey, check this out, you might like it." The weird thing is, neither descriptors really have anything to do with describing the quality of something, they're accusing everybody else who likes/dislikes the thing of bad judgement. Agreed. I don't think anything is over or under rated. I think some stuff just isn't as popular as others because people have different taste. Also, who cares? If you like something it doesn't matter if other people do or not. And if something is popular that you don't like, you have no obligation to pay attention to it. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2015 13:10:03 GMT -5
"Overrated" is really a compliment when you think about it. It means that even if something does suck, people like it anyway, which indicates a boundless charisma.
And you can't teach that!
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Post by Kevin Hamilton on Oct 3, 2015 13:27:19 GMT -5
Overrated can be an objective term when it comes to say a sports team though wherein a team expected to be X is clearly outmatched and beaten.
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Reflecto
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Post by Reflecto on Oct 3, 2015 15:08:36 GMT -5
Overrated can be an objective term when it comes to say a sports team though wherein a team expected to be X is clearly outmatched and beaten. So, combined with the word beforehand- you'd also agree: Overrated is an underrated word and underrated is an overrated word? |
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Post by Kevin Hamilton on Oct 3, 2015 15:10:19 GMT -5
I know you can be overwhelmed, and underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed?
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Post by Clash, Never a Meter Maid on Oct 3, 2015 15:50:18 GMT -5
Overrated can be an objective term when it comes to say a sports team though wherein a team expected to be X is clearly outmatched and beaten. So, combined with the word beforehand- you'd also agree: Overrated is an underrated word and underrated is an overrated word? If so, that is completely and utterly false. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2015 22:05:28 GMT -5
I understand the thought, and I'm much, much more apt to say something is underrated than overrated. But I also see where Bad Moon is coming from, they're both sort of accusing others of being incorrect for their tastes. When it comes down to it though, underrated things are usually less known and that's why they're considered as such, where overrated things are usually widely known and talked about ad nauseum. There's a better way to phrase both sentiments, I guess. By the way, someone at work today said "writing is overrated", and boy did that sound dumb. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2015 23:40:49 GMT -5
I like the word underrated and threads about stuff being underrated. Because I'm like hmmmmm I never heard of this movie/band/album/etc, and I check them out and I'm like yay it truly is underrated.
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Mozenrath
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Post by Mozenrath on Oct 3, 2015 23:45:06 GMT -5
I prefer underrated, just since I think it's nicer to share overlooked or forgotten gems than it is to tear things down.
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Post by Danimal on Oct 4, 2015 0:42:49 GMT -5
I know you can be overwhelmed, and underwhelmed, but can you ever just be whelmed? I've wondered the exact same thing and nobody had a good answer for me. |
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Post by BJ Sturgeon on Oct 4, 2015 7:57:17 GMT -5
The word "overrated" is just overused, in when someone simply doesn't get the appeal but are unable to put critique into words they thoughtlessly (ab)use the term. As for the opposite, I prefer the word "underappreciated".
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Post by bigalbass86 AKA Smokin Vokoun on Oct 4, 2015 11:05:10 GMT -5
I to always found the term overrated elitist, and a really passive aggressive way of saying you don't like something. I'd rather you say you just plain hate it instead of saying its overrated. It's a weird feeling because it pretty much means the same thing, but I seem to get angrier when I see someone say something that I love is "overrated" than if they just simply said they hate it.
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ZERO
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Post by ZERO on Oct 4, 2015 11:21:32 GMT -5
I like the word underrated and threads about stuff being underrated. Because I'm like hmmmmm I never heard of this movie/band/album/etc, and I check them out and I'm like yay it truly is underrated. This is how I feel. I think a lot of us have or will at some point, discover a band, a film, a TV show or whatever, and really get into them, and want vocalise how you think about it because you believe it's been overlooked, and maybe, if someone else checked it out, they'll feel like you did. Also, overrated, while it does get thrown around A LOT, perhaps isn't so negative, because whatever it is, somehow it's connecting with a lot of people, so it has to be doing something right... |
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Post by Danimal on Oct 4, 2015 20:21:05 GMT -5
I think sometimes things are over or underrated because of trends/waves, folks wanting to like/dislike something, or because of what/who something is associated with. All these factors can and do affect perception/acceptance. So while I do hate when folks act like their opinion is the definitive one and over/underrated are overused terms I don't think either is essentially a bad term.
Plus as Kev pointed out earlier there are less subjective things that over/underrated can be used for.
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