Not everything is made for you, and that’s okay

Yeah, this is partly inspired by the hundredth Helluva Boss/Hazbin Hotel rant, but also by the obnoxious amount of adults who throw fits when children's media doesn't get as dark as they want it too (I'm looking at you, Steven Universe fans).

I'm so sick of 'criticism' that's just people getting upset that a piece of media isn't personally pandering to them. They choose a genre they don't like and get upset at being what the genre is. I know people really hate the 'it isn't made for you' argument but sometimes it's true. Sometimes you won't enjoy a story, not because it's poorly written but because it wasn't written for you. I'm not saying you shouldn't explore genres, just understand that you might not enjoy something that wasn't written with you in mind.

For example, I recently found out I don't like shonen. I watch MHA, Mob Pycho, and Trigun, and didn't like any of them. I know at least Trigun and Mob were very well written and a lot of people love MHA. But it's not a genre I personally enjoy. And that's fine. It's made for teenage Japanese boys, and I'm an adult woman in America. I don't think Trigun is a bad show just because I didn't enjoy it, because I recognize it wasn't made for me.

Helluva Boss was written for theater kids who shop at hot topic and post yaoi on their tumblr account. Steven Universe was a magical girl show made for children that redeems the villains instead of killing them because that's what magical girl shows made for children do. Ecchi anime will have a guy falling on girl and getting his head stuck in her boobs because that's the point of the show. If you're criticism of something boils down to: 'It didn't pander to me personally' then that's not criticism. That's getting angry that the world doesn't revolve around you.

I also noticed this is especially bad when it comes for stuff for teenage girls or young women. Bridgeton gets an insane amount of hate despite basically being the female equivalent to Fast and Furious: dumb fun that's meant to be shallow but enjoyable. I've literally seen people say Bridgerton is proof women are dumb. Funny how no one says men liking generic action movies proves they're inherently stupid. So many people seem to lose their minds at the idea of media pandering to someone who isn't them. I'm not saying stuff like Twilight or 50 shades are masterpieces, but I don't think they have to be. They're written for an audience that enjoyed them. People outside that audience don't matter.

Tldr; not everything is going to going to be made with your demographic in mind. Exploring genres is fine, but don't criticize something for not pandering to you. Kid media probably won't have the protagonist kill off the villains, anime made for hormonal teenagers will probably have pointless fanservice, and trashy romance will probably be shallow and stupid. And that's okay. Don't be the vegan ordering a burger and getting pissed it has meat in it