No, I am not talking about the whole sub vs dub debate. If you like watching your anime dubbed, that’s completely fine by me, as that is simply a matter of personal preference. I’m talking about people who will literally refuse to watch any movie or show (more often that not foreign) simply because there’s no dubbed version available.
I get it, if its your first time watching a subtitled movie, the first ten minutes or so might be mildy annoying, however, afterwards you completely forget they even are there. I can’t simply concieve why someone would just refuse to watch a movie if it is not dubbed in their language. To me, it is striaght up malicious ignorance and laziness. You are quite literally choosing to deprive yourself of any foreign media (and thus, exposure to other cultures) simply because you do not want to be mildly inconvenienced.
And look, I don’t want to go into “america bad” territory, however, I’ve noticed that most people who can’t seem to enjoy subtitled films are americans. I can’t really blame them; america produces most of the world’s films and TV shows, so your average american is going to have the advantage of almost all of their media being in their native language, and is almost never going to get exposed to foreign media.
However, for the rest of the world, especially if your first language was one with less than 20 million speakers, you are pretty much forced to learn to watch subtitled content, for your other options are either to either simply not watch any media foreign to your country of origin, or hope to get lucky enough to find a really bad quality dub.
This whole idea came to me because the other day I was having a movie night with a friend and he staunchly refused to watch one of my all time favorite mexican movies just because he could not be bothered to read subtitles. Not because it didn’t interest him (for when I told him the premise he was hooked). Not because he didn’t want to watch a movie that day. No, it was simply because the movie wasn’t in english.
I mean, come on, I just cannot believe you really can’t read well enough to watch a subtitled movie, especially when most of the non-english speaking world watches their movies that way! How much foreign media are you not even bothering to consume due to your ignorance!
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Malicious: having or showing a desire to cause harm to someone.
I don’t think you used that word right.
If it is a high-quality production, I’d much rather hear the original actors and read subtitles. Dubbing always comes off as being fake.
That said, I rarely give media my full attention so it is difficult to watch foreign films at all. The time feels unproductive to me because I can’t do anything else at the same time.
Only time I won’t watch something in another language with subtitles is if I’m trying to do something at the same time. Eg if I’m cooking in the kitchen and family is watching something subbed, or if I’m eating something messy while at the coffee table. Can’t read subs and operate a knife at the same time, really.
Other than that, pretty much agree. Subtitles are great even for languages I do speak – especially with how badly a lot of movies have their audio balanced
I turn on the captions when I’m watching tv. Sometimes you just can’t understand what someone said and the captions help. Also, one of my favorite movies is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon so yeah, I like captions but I do agree, some don’t.
I’m gonna throw this out there for you to chew on….
The speed of the subtitles and movie together is overload for my ADHD brain. I have an incredibly high reading comprehension level. I can’t do two things at once, and in the case of a subtitled movie – I can’t watch the movie and read the text at the same time. 🤷🏻
Malicious? Who’s getting hurt?
This depends on the purpose behind watching the movie. Sometimes people just want a break from having to use their brains, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If that’s the mood you’re in then you won’t want subtitles. Or sometimes I want to be somewhat multitasking only paying about 80-90% attention to the movie. Again, this doesn’t work with subtitles
For me it completely depends on the voice actors. There are some dubs I just can’t stand purely because I think their delivery is trash and I’m tired of hearing their voice in everything.
I actually like the concept of subtitles, but in practice, I tend to focus too much on the bottom half of the screen when they’re on
Nah they just can’t read well. *and don’t wanna admit it.
“Lazy” lmfao
Dog you’re watching tv. It’s lazy by default.
If I want read…I open a book.
If I am watching something for the first time I think it is better WITHOUT the subtitles.
But if I am rewatching I will turn them on to see if I missed anything hidden in the dialogue.
It’s a very silly thing to be adamantly against films / shows etc with subs; eliminating infinite amounts of content. I’ve watched subbed anime since I was 13 so that takes a part in it but at this point I barely recognize im reading. If im binging anime I’ll use dubs unless it gets to a kino hype moment and will switch subs, in most cases always better. Cowboy Bepop and others I see no point in using subs / not sure if any films have a better dub than subs; alas.
I wouldn’t say unpopular though, by definition I would say lazy; that is if their sole reason is based on subs.
I’ve tried watching undubbed shows and in most shows/movies, I read the subtitles most of the time anyways. But anime in any non English language is awful, not because it’s in a different language, but because there’s literally so much odd moaning noises in the anime. I don’t get why it’s filled with that, every anime I’ve seen. The English versions don’t have it and I highly doubt it’s common to moan out noises randomly in Japan. Just can’t get into a show with random and awful noises.
Some people are disabled and can’t keep up with the subtitles.
I guess it’s Americans and they’re conditioned for it. I myself while understanding perfect English think subtitles help and have them on even if I don’t look at them necessarily. Need the crutch. Cause I was raised with subtitles. Then again, I don’t mind watching media not in English. Watching in the domestic languages, of course I don’t need subs, but for example they started dubbing some turkish series and the dub is so bad, I’d rather watch the original with subtitles.
I have really bad vision, and it’s nice to hear people speak.
do you understand what that word means, or did you hear it on TV and think it sounds smart?
I know where you’re coming from, but keep in mind there are subtleties. I’m blind and can’t consume subtitled content because the audio description will trip over itself both trying to read dialogue and describe the scene, and at that point I might as well just read a book instead
Though I know I’m in the minority, both being disabled and not really caring for movies/shows in general (I prefer books and video essays)
English is my wife’s second language, I only watch stuff subtitled. Even when she’s not around. I will say, it seems they are using AI for it, because some of it is horribly wrong.
I agree and disagree. I tried to get my mother to watch the “Little Women” KDrama, but she refused because of subtitles. However, I understand that reading to understand something in a different language is somewhat mentally taxing. I primarily watch East Asian media, and have taken a break because you have to be 100% focused so you don’t miss anything. I’m thinking about learning Korean and Japanese so I don’t have to rely on reading so much.
Yeah, well if the movie is boring, I ain’t fuckin’ watchin’ it, darlin’.
Maliciously! Bro.
I can’t even watch movies in English without subtitles. Subtitles for life.
I mean there are just so many good movies in english that I haven’t watched yet i don’t really have the need – I would have no o jections if a group wanted to watch a foreign movie without dubs
thankfully never met anyone who is completely against them. i admittedly do get lazy sometimes though but i’ve still watched a decent amount of foreign content
I like having subtitles on even when I understand the spoken language.
While I do watch content with subtitles, it requires an undivided attention and focus. I am dyslexic, so reading the subtitles is enough for me to understand what is going on, but I will still miss a lot. Like if I am watching an anime that is meant to have comedic moments, I will totally miss the joke. So while my friend will be laughing or chuckling along, I am zoned in on trying to read what is being said that follows.
But I guess when I want to watch them on my own or on my side screen while I game, I am really doing so with the intent to hurt or harm others. My bad.
Filing this under “reasonable takes given in the most unreasonable way”
Lazy, yes. But malicious? I fear you have clue what that word means. So, you are also being lazy by bot making sure you know what words mean before you use them.