Explain What "Overrated" Is

[Shadowstar38]

This is one of the most overused words on the internet. It's been said about Half Life, Mario, and Doctor Who. Thing is, I dont think anyone uses it right.

As far as I can grasp, a piece of media is overrated if it's really popular, but the person talking about it didnt personally get into it. Though I'm fairly sure things get popular because they're well done, so overrated would be a weird way of putting it.

So what do you think overrated means? And use a game, show, or movie as an example.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

People tend to think popularity = overrated, which is nonsense.

People tend to use it as replacement for not actually having anything constructive to say.

'Halo is overrated.'

'Oh really, why do you think that?'

'Too many people play it and it's not even that great.'


Like I said, nonsense

 

[Scrustle]

Most people seem to use it like you say. Usually it means "I don't like this thing that a lot of other people like", but it doesn't always mean that.

I guess what it's supposed to mean is when something gets a lot of praise for doing something that it's not, or fails at badly. Like, for example, some people say that the stories in Final Fantasy games are over rated because they don't make sense or have bad pacing or such, when others hold them up as brilliant examples of narrative in games and sweeping character focused epics. I can't really say since I've never been able to get in to any Final Fantasy games, but Spoony makes a pretty good case. [http://spoonyexperiment.com/category/game-reviews/final-fantasy-x/]

 

[DugMachine]

Kind of the like the hipster "Oh it has gotten so mainstream meeeeeeh". Or something like that... I'm tired.

 

[ChildishLegacy]

People sometimes feel a bit singled out when a lot of people enjoy something when they don't, they try to justify this by using the word overrated.

Simply put: People who use this term mean that the thing in question is getting more praise than it deserves, in their opinion.

As we all know, opinions differ. So what is overrated to one person, may not be to someone else.

I just woke up and your avatar mesmerized me for a solid 2 minutes.

 

[SomeLameStuff]

Though I'm fairly sure things get popular because they're well done, so overrated would be a weird way of putting it.

How I would LOVE it if this statement was true.

See: Twilight, 50 Shades of Grey, Call of Duty (past the fourth anyway)... need I go on?

OT: Overrated is from the person's viewpoint. One person might think Half Life is overrated, another might not.

 

[DoPo]

OT: Overrated is from the person's viewpoint. One person might think Half Life is overrated, another might not.

If it was just one person...

but yeah, the answer is already in the thread, I need not harp it on. TobazFusion said it best, I think.

 

[evilneko]

See also: Neon Genesis Evangelion.

 

[Raven's Nest]

What pisses me off when people try to say that something, for example The Dark Knight, is over rated as if it was the film's fault.

No you dim witted, half brained, thick glasses wearing, mac welding, hipster dipshit... people are responsible for over rating something!!

But other than that, yeah what Topaz Fusion said.

 

[Nazulu]

Everything is overused on the net because everyone is allowed to have an opinion. Most cases it will be used just to diss or show they don't understand why it's popular.

Of course these don't hold up on their own, it's the argument that follows you should focus on (if there is one). Just be glad they say that instead of "this is shit".

 

[hermes]

Simply put: People who use this term mean that the thing in question is getting more praise than it deserves, in their opinion.

As we all know, opinions differ. So what is overrated to one person, may not be to someone else.

I think we can close the thread here...

 

[Zhukov]

It's what you say when you encounter enough people saying nice things about something you don't like that it starts to make you feel insecure in your preferences.

 

[Dr. Cakey]

Or, another way to put it: Something is "overrated" when it's generally "rated over" what it ought to be rated. Rated here meaning, like, what rating they would give it or whatever.

So it could refer to something that is bad but popular, like 50 Shades of Grey (I'm taking the reasonably safe gamble that nobody here is a fan of 50 Shades).

Or it could refer to something that is perfectly good but inordinately popular, like Dragon Ball Z, Bleach, or Naruto. They're decent (honestly, the latter two are solidly above average), but Naruto has been the #2 best-selling manga for something like a decade now (Bleach has dropped to #8), and DBZ has still moved more units than any other manga. And for what? Who knows?

It could even refer to something that's brilliant, amazing, fantastic (at least at the time), but is somehow still even more highly rated than it deserves. These are the things that get #1 on various Top 10's, and are very rare. In all the world, there are only a handful of these in any medium. Final Fantasy VII and Ocarina of Time are the only games I can think of. Movies would include The Dark Knight and Inception. And anime (because that's all I talk about), includes the completely archetypal example of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Has more problems than One Piece has episodes, and yet brilliant. Never has something so good had such room to improve.

And there you have it. Now I've taught you everything you need to know.

 

[Bertylicious]

It means rated more highly than it should be in spite of superior alternatives, usually due to pomp, hype or razzamatazz but sometimes because of more subtle variables. Such as:

"Most workers in the industry make use of Weissman brand oil because of it's temperature efficency in reducing wear and tear on the flange, however it is not widely known that the alkaline level will result in discolouration when used over an extended period. Not only is this unsightly, but it will also mask blemishes in the texture which could, and have in limited circumstances, resulted in a significant health and safety hazard.

Bateman brand oil is not only pH neutral but is also cheaper than Wessiman's, which continues to be overrated due to a combination of fear over perceptions from the client (most clients are wholly ignorant about the variety of oils on the market) and unjustified terror of a worn flange."
- Of Mice & Lubricants by JR Hartley - Roll Former magazine, '92

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

Kind of the like the hipster "Oh it has gotten so mainstream meeeeeeh". Or something like that... I'm tired.

It usually is really code for this. 'Oh, the common plebs like it, it must be shite'.

 

[C. Cain]

SNIP

So, I guess the term 'overrated' is... *puts on sunglasses* overrated?

 

[yuval152]

Something that is popular but dosen't deserve it's popularity.(perspectively)

 

[Rip Van Rabbit]

See also: Neon Genesis Evangelion.

^This is a perfect example of the following:

Simply put: People who use this term mean that the thing in question is getting more praise than it deserves, in their opinion.

As we all know, opinions differ. So what is overrated to one person, may not be to someone else.

As TopazFusion neatly put it. (Nice avatar by the way, it's mesmerizing)

 

[Alexi089]

Mate. It's overused because it's FUN TO CRITISISE THINGS!

To me, something is overrated when a lot of people claim it does something that it doesn't. I think the reason a lot of popular things are crowned 'overrated' is because most popular things are very easily accessible or familiar, so some people with a strong interest in the topic (like games) see this new thing as a re-hash of what's come before, and may even believe it is inferior to the previous version.

Example with music: Lots of people think Lostprophets are one of the best rock bands around. Even Total Guitar has described them as 'versatile' and I totally disagree. I've only ever heard Lostprophets play numetal, pop or pop punk style music. Carl Verheyen or Guthrie Govan (especially him) are examples of versatile musicians in my eyes. When I hear or see Lostprophets I hear pandering lyrics, well-trodden rhythm arrangements, forgettable vocal melodies, fashion before sound and a singer who rarely sings well live. Hence my belief that they're overrated, since I've heard so many more lesser known bands who sound better live and attempt more adventurous music with some personal identity. If I couldn't recognise the singer's voice, I wouldn't know the difference between a new Lostprophets song and most of the other bands on Kerrang or Scuzz; and given every singer has a voice unique to them, that's not accomplishing much. I do like 'Burn Burn's' main riff though.

 

[Souplex]

Pretty basic; a piece of media is overrated when people act like it is better than it is.
Notable examples include Metal Gear Solid, Half Life 2, WoW, and Pokeymanns.