Hi, my name is Beth. I’m 20 years old and I like One Direction. I don’t hide it, and I’m certainly not ashamed of it. Their music makes me happy, and they’re all insanely attractive (don’t deny it). A simple enough concept, right? Apparently for a lot of people, it’s incomprehensible. “Oh, you like them? Now I can’t trust your taste in anything.” I cannot begin to tell you how many times I’ve been cut off in conversation because my opinion was dismissed or completely disregarded.

I have a revolutionary concept for those of you who think you’re superior because you discount popular music: You aren’t. I don’t care if you only listen to 1970s German death metal and Beethoven, your opinions are just as valid and worthy to be heard as someone who loves Top-40 artists. Nobody has any right to judge what makes others happy.

Though music is the form of media most susceptible to judgment, there are other applications. If someone’s favorite books are the “50 Shades of Grey” series or they love low-budget monster movies, this doesn’t make them any less worthy of your time. To assume so is pretentious and, frankly, a bit dehumanizing. If something makes you happy, you should be allowed to pursue that without having your friends make fun of you. (“But what if killing people makes me happy?” That’s not what I’m talking about, and you have a problem. Seek medical help.)

Lately society has been breeding a sort of hipster culture in which you aren’t allowed to enjoy popular media, and if you do, it has to be “ironically.” I say screw irony. There is no reason why you shouldn’t listen to artists like Justin Bieber or Lady Gaga and absolutely love them. You should be able to watch teen dramas and not be judged. If something makes you happy and keeps you from hurting yourself or becoming depressed, I think we should celebrate that.

Don’t let music, movie or TV snobs tell you what you should or shouldn’t enjoy, and don’t hold yourself back from the pure, unadulterated joy that comes from not being ashamed of your interests. Like what you like because you like it, and don’t let anyone take that away from you.

Beth Lindly is a junior majoring in journalism. Her column runs biweekly on Tuesdays.