Pleasure. Something that makes you feel good or puts someone in a state of euphoria. Lots of things give us pleasure. To name a few; food, playing music and CrossFit all “rev my engine.”

What makes a pleasure guilty, you ask? I suppose a pleasure is guilty when the pleasure in question isn’t necessarily accepted by the rest of society in the eyes of an individual. Well, someone who uses the phrase “guilty pleasure” is usually excited by something that is stupid anyway, so they use it as a way for covering up their horrible taste in life. For example, someone may Tweet, “Listening to Avril Lavigne #guiltypleasure.”

If you have to feel guilty about listening to music, you have a problem. If it’s really that bad, and Avril Lavigne is that bad, don’t feel guilty you have bad taste in music. I would blame your parents, or your friends. Although, chances are it’s not your parents fault, since most of them were listening to cool music like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, but you got all angst-y and wanted to rebel, so you started listening to Ace of Base and the Spice Girls. I suppose it’s safe to say it was your fault.

Friend: “Hey, listen to this new group called the Spice Girls!”

You: “No, Thank You.”

Saved.

Some would consider my liking of mid-to-late ’90s alternative rock bands such as Third Eye Blind, Counting Crows and Eve 6 as a “guilty pleasure”. Yes, their chord progressions are predictable and their lyrics cliché. Well, I have news for you; there is no guilt here. I like ‘em. Suck on it.

If we like to use “guilty pleasure” as an actual concept, we have serious image issues. If you like to Dub Step and at the same time wear lingerie and pretend you are Dr. Frank-N-Furter, don’t feel guilty you’re a few fries short of happy meal. In many cases it’s not your fault your damaged goods. This you can blame on your parents.

So, cool it with the guilty pleasures. We have to embrace out crappy taste in things. For those of you who are into country music and mint-chocolate cookies, you know… I hope you reconsider. Hey, We can do better.