The Absolute Worst Ways to Recommend Something to Somebody

[skykiii]

I'm sure we all have annoying friends (assuming you have any friends) who recommend things in the worst ways or for the dumbest possible reasons.

For me, it often takes the form of people not understanding particulars. Like I have an aunt who saw I had an interest in Tokusatsu for awhile, and somehow this translated to her as "Oh I bet he'll love Marvel movies," as if those are exactly the same thing.

In literary circles I'm sure people often get "Oh, you like Tolkien? Then you'll love [insert no-name crap by some irrelevant author here]."

Another bizarre one I often run into is the person who has to basically summarize the story to you. Admittedly I do this myself, but usually its because I'm convinced that the person isn't gonna read/watch the thing anyway, or by the time they do they'll have forgotten what I told them. It's a bit different when you're telling people about the epic plot twist then saying "this is why you should totally watch it," its like why would I bother now?

Do you guys ever get this?

Do you guys ever have people try to sell you on movies/books/games but always do it in really bizarre, self-defeating ways?

 

[Basic Blond Boy]

Personally, I think the best way to recommend something is to say that the person is a bigot if they don’t watch it. I picked up this strategy from the marketing geniuses at Disney.

When I want someone to watch my favorite movie, Snow White (2025), I just tell them that if they don’t, they hate Latinas, Jews, Palestinians, Israel, women, probably lesbians (IDK, I didn’t watch it).

 

[Drag-on Knight 91873]

"This [media] is incredible/groundbreaking/classic!"

At the very least, it lacks elaboration. More often than not, the media in question is so overhyped that seeing it for yourself becomes a disappointment because it really wasn't the best thing ever. Nolan films tend to fall into this category for me as they aren't really good Batman movies; they're grim-dark action movies to make normies not be embarrassed to be watching Batman movies. Literature is worse because a lot of classic literature is required reading and you are not allowed to criticize it on a structural level.

As snooty as critics can get, they do understand discernment. They just need a little bit of empathy and be able to recommend things outside of their biases. Non-connoisseurs don't have discernment, so they can recommend absolute slop and don't understand why you don't like it.

 

[Niggolash]

1.) Sometimes people will suggest things that are only tangentially related because it's a convenient way to make a recommendation that they were probably going to make anyway. In your aunt's case, she's probably just an out-of-touch but well-meaning boomer.

2.) You can still enjoy something even if you know what's going to happen.

 

[Core Theorist]

I thought this was going to be more about the worst shit of what you literally say to recommend something and I was thinking about it while the page was loading.

"Oh, yeah, the author found out they were transgender while writing it and they changed the plot midway through, it's very enlightening!"
"This video game makes you actually FEEL gay! I could feel myself getting more and more aroused to depictions of homosexuality every level!"
"This crime-drama is about this pedophile ring, right? So they got actual CP for reference during filming!"

 

[Popper Whiting]

For me it, it is persistent insistence. Where somebody cannot drop the subject and is absolutely determined to make sure you see, read or experience the thing they are keen on. I usually get around to checking out things people recommend, but I do it on my time, when I feel like it and I am pretty sure most people are the same.

 

[Mmemes]

I remember in University I was at this film club showing and this total autistic starting recommending Rifftrax to us. Bear in mind we were watching standard Criterion films so yeah I found it autistic and annoying. Worse is his description of it was completely underwhelming and he didn't mention that it was being made by the MST3K guys, maybe he didn't know them or he was a tard whatever? The fact he was bothering a girl I was interested in (she ended up becoming my girlfriend) also didn't help either. Now if I based my views on Rifftrax on this guy I never would've become a fan but after I bingewatched MST3K years later and found Rifftrax on my own yeah yeah I love Rifftrax but no thanks to that other guy. I seriously wonder how many autistics chase off potential fans from lot's of media though?

 

[FlawlessCowboy]

"It's like..."

That doesn't make it sound good. I remember people telling Republic Commando was like Halo and then being let down when it was a mediocre shooter with okay squad mechanics.

 

[LifeAlert]

shoving it in people's faces whenever possible and basing your identity on it are great ways to get people to immediately and instinctively avoid it (see: tranime)

 

[DefinitelyNotMe]

"it gets good after XX ammount of hours"
fuck you

 

[Cardinal Cardinal]

Yeah, one time this sperg started a thread asking for worst ways to recommend something and he trashed his well meaning aunt and made the whole thing about himself.

 

[Mmemes]

shoving it in people's faces whenever possible and basing your identity on it are great ways to get people to immediately and instinctively avoid it (see: tranime)

I'm glad things like Marvel and Star Wars and Disney movies are doing shit now because there was always that retard at social gatherings who'd be like "have you guys seen Avengers Endgame yet? Let me describe the movie to you you gotta see it" etc etc.

 

[Fascist Frederick]

The absolute worst way to recommend something to someone is during a rape.

 

[Tanuki Mixed Nuts]

"Hey dude check this out"
*Pulls out phone and takes a minute to pull up a video. An ad plays first. The video plays and you can't really see anything because the phone screen is not bright and there is a glare. The ambient noise around you is too loud to hear half of what is being said. The guy holding the phone laughs but you don't see what was funny and he glances at you to see if you are enjoying it. This goes on on repeat until either the video ends or you try and get away by saying you gotta do something.*

 

[Valstrax]

Show them a Reddit post about it.

 

[Tablet County]

>be me
>huge fan of the Shit Fuckalo series
>watched Shit Fuckalo since I was in middle school
>buddy notices
>"Man, Shit Fuckalo is gay."
>recommends another series called Faggotoli. "It does everything Shit Fuckalo does but better."
>watch Faggotoli
>it's nothing like Shit Fuckalo
>mfw

 

[LinkinParkxNaruto[AMV]]

when they both spoil it but also trivialize the premise completely

"bro, you gotta check antichrist, the dude gets his dick broken in there, its the broken dick movie! you won't believe it"

Reddit loves this shit and take it to the extreme, for example Baldur's gate is the "bear sex game" , you can have bear sex bro, its amazing, 10/10

 

[clara red bottoms]

I like to pitch very good movies(the fucking worst movies I can find literally excreted by the industry) to recommend to people. Like China Salesman.

 

[Historical Strelkov]

When you go to a doctor with a specific issue and they throw generic pharmaceuticals at you without any passion or interest. 0 confidence.

 

[The Rat KIng]

The absolute worst way to recommend something to someone is during a rape.

counterpoint: lube, plan b, and /or therapy.