> I never understand why people are embarrassed about the things they enjoy.
> I've always enjoyed film music and was never embarrassed to admit it to my
> friends, my peer group, or anyone else who was curious about my tastes.
> Interestingly, this reminds me of a moment back in my old high school
> cafeteria.

> I was eating lunch, listening to some film music, as I regularly did
> during lunch hour, when a friend of a friend approached me and asked what
> I was listening to. I confidently said, 'THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.' With a
> perplexed expression, he expected me to mention Pearl Jam or something
> similar, of whom I was also a big fan. He then asked, 'Really? Can I
> listen?' I handed him my headphones and he proceeded to listen for a solid
> five minutes before handing the headphones back to me with one simple
> word, 'Cool!' Perhaps because he knew I was in the school band, which
> frequently performed film music (Jurassic Park, Robin Hood, Prince of
> Thieves, and so on) that he just moved on without put me down or whatever,
> but I was proud of my cinematic and musical choices no matter what anyone
> else thought.

> Now, I may have had more confidence than the average teenager, but that is
> not true because I suffered from debilitating anxiety and still do. Having
> said that, I do well in social environments even though I absolutely dread
> them.

> -Erik-

That's an awesome story! I really wish I could have had experiences like this in high school, or any friends that enjoyed what I enjoyed in film music. This site was a godsend in that regard, as well as family. Because of various unpleasant factors I (almost) always hid my affinity for film music and classical in general. It had such an effect on me that I still sometimes instinctually try to hide my love of this type of music behind other genres when I am with friends.

But I am obviously much better these days and have surrounded myself with people who are much less judgmental.

EDIT: The closest thing I have to an experience like this was in college when my roommate (not a film music fan) heard me playing some LOTR music (I believe it was The Breaking of the Fellowship), turned around and said "OH THAT'S LORD OF THE RINGS RIGHT?! Those movies have the most beautiful music I've ever heard." It was a nice feeling.