Why is it that people assume you like a certain kind of music just by looking at you?

Question

They assume you like a certain type of music and get sooo surprised when you say what you really like!

Answer 1

Because of the media. I dress like an average girl but I like Rise Against, Less than Jake, reel big fish, and a bunch of other rock/ska. Shocking, right?
Not really.
People assume that all girls like Britney spears and Christina aguilera and the pussycat dolls
and all boys like eminem and 50 cent
its a f***ed up world ;)

Answer 2

This is very politically incorrect to say, but human beings need to categorize things (experiences, items, and yes...people) to make life easier. By putting things which make you fearful into a category (tigers, bears, vicious dogs, creepy basements) you can avoid danger by avoiding those things. Can a lion in a zoo hurt you? No. But, the hairs on your neck may go up if you see a lion lazing in the sun in a zoo habitat. Are all dogs vicious? No. But, you reduce the risk of getting attacked by one if you avoid dogs in general. More specifically, the dogs which look the one which bit you.
This tendency carries over to our reaction to human beings. If you get mugged by someone wearing a red jacket with a hood, the next time you see someone wearing a hooded red jacket, you can't help but be alarmed. This person, or the individual wearing the red, hooded jacket has become the "symbolic assailant" which stirs the memory you had from an horrific experience, and may actually help you if it is the same person who attacked you in the first place.
Now, if you go to a concert and everyone there has a Mohawk haircut, and are wearing ripped jeans, and have tattoos all over their bodies. The next time you see someone who looks like that outside the concert arena, you can't help but assume that that person may actually be partial to the music played at the concert where everyone was dressed with Mohawks, tattoos, and ripped jeans.
Partially, people assume things about others from ignorance. Partially, they do so from experience, and partially because it is human nature to categorize people and things for convenience. We all have to learn, and when someone is surprised that you don't like a type of music, don't get insulted, just teach the person. Your experiences will meld into theirs and life will go on.

Answer 3

That happens all the time. People think since I am white (one of the only at my school) that I music like punk and rock. It gets annoying at times, but its fun to see their reactions. TV shows are funny too.

Answer 4

I think people assume that about people b/c for example people who ususally dress punkish, they like rock. B/c most of the other people who dress punkish, they really do like rock. Most of the time they do like what other people assume..

Answer 5

tipically it's the way you dress if you dress in dark colors they might think you're goth,emo, or metalhead; but if you dress really colorful then they'll probably think you're a prep; and if you dress with baggy clothes and that type of stuff then they think you like hip hop

Answer 6

peoples perceptions suck. everyone will always be subject to first impressions. if u dress the part then dont be surprised

Answer 7

ok my pants are big black and baggy, and have chains all over them, my nails are painted black and God didn't make the color hair i have, what music do i listin to? First thought is metal and your right, my friend wear lil pants and colorful shirts and purses, guess what? she listins to pop and rap.and everybody who wears babyphat and roca wear listin to rap, its just the way it is.