What point is the cartoonist making about his memories of hating the band Journey?

How does the cartoon suggest that individual dislikes shape identity? Can they be more powerful than likes? What do individual and shared tastes have to do with identity and social relationships?

The cartoon’s main character recounts a fond memory of bucking a popular fad or trend (in this case, a popular band). Do you find this attitude appealing? Why or why not? Is this a particularly American attitude?

One underlying message of this cartoon is that our likes and dislikes say something about who we are and directly affect our social relationships. In the cartoon, the main character’s friendship is grounded in making fun of people who like something he hates. Based on this cartoon, what observations can you make about what keeps friends together?