Do you actively develop your taste or leave that to others?

I don't really understand the question. Taste evolves and changes naturally with time and experience. I'm not sure how one would actively guide taste. It's not really something you choose.

I can see me, as a teen/early adult, I loved fast food. Now as a more mature adult, I don't love it, I tolerate it. Why? Because I ate more not-fast food. I'm even wading into actual gourmet food. 

So the watch parallel is I expose myself to more & more better & high quality watches until my taste exceeds my budget & I'm left unhappy because I can't have that JLC or Patek I can't afford? 

OR I can be happy with what I like and just be happy. 

Kinda like this... The Fisherman & the Businessman

I can see why this question was a bit murky at first. I mean, there are many layers and factors that affect taste. For me, my watch journey began with watches being given to me as gifts. I liked them, though each was so different. But the bug was born... 

So I began learning about watches - types, brands, movements, etc. While my knowledge of watches grew fast, my taste and style is less affected. I like a look of certain watches and that is enough for me. Some styles that are so popular (tool, dive, minimalist) just don't speak to me, no matter the movement, heritage or hype. I have enjoyed learning about the differences between a $30 watch, a $300, a $3k, etc.  It helps inform my tastes, but doesnt necessarily change them. 

But like all things, this too may change. Age, lifestyle, experience, priorities, and yes - even marketing by brands will end up playing a role whether we like it or not. But it's hard to say what the biggest factors are in that change. I would Iike to think I consciously shaped those choices, but we can never be sure what the balance is can we?

But I chose "A". I think that's the correct one for my approach.

I pondered on "(tastes) actively shaping them".

As far as I am concerned, I have seen my tastes change quite a bit in the ten+ years I've been in this watch hobby, even if some parts have remained very stable (did not like the Genta style ten years ago, still don't like it today, loved the Sub 6536/38 then, still love it today).

I have read many Hodinkee, Fratello, Revolution articles, have checked thousands of watches on Instagram, listened to hundreds of watch podcats and consumed too much watch content on Youtube. I have bought and sold timepieces over the years, ranging from a €50 Seiko SNK805 to a €5000 Omega SeaMaster 300.

So you can feed your brain with certain content, but I don't think one can actively shape one's own taste. Same with people. You can learn several languages, proactively engage with more people but in the end, you don't control who you like and who you don't.

to I did select "I like cheese"

I have read the post several times and have some difficulties to come up with a proper answer. As many already stated my taste evolves over time. Refines in some areas and broadens up in others. I do try to examine why I drawn to certain watches, what makes one watch something I like and want and the watch next to it, not so different, makes me indifferent. Is it the indicis, the size, the case, the lugs or something else? I like vintage dresswatches, but not all vintage dresswatches. Within this cathegory my taste has not changed much.

I also read about watches, looking at Youtube videos and visit ADs to be able to experience new things. So in this case I try to explore my taste within new areas. I realised I like sportwatches, I also realised that for that cathegory I accept and also prefer larger sizes. So my taste has evolved within this area. I can also say I activily tried new things. Not because I want my taste to evolve, but that is the result of it.

So I chose C. Not because I’m unsure. It’s because both A and B are valid for me but within different areas.

My watch tastes have developed like my musical tastes. The more that I am exposed to something the more that I appreciate the thought and effort that went into creating it. This appreciation can turn into genuine enthusiasm over time.

It is important to me to be able to express why I like something in a vocabulary that is understood by the reader. My tastes have evolved somewhat, but it is more a process of accretion: I like more and varied styles, not that I have jettisoned any. I think that watch design's evolution took its most interesting path from 1945 to 1965. I have learned to appreciate other eras while maintaining this opinion.

I chose A because I seek to understand why I like what I like.  Guidance I don't need.

I put some effort into developing my watch taste by also buying watches outside my comfort zone. Some watch types I have always liked (field and pilot watches), some have grown on me (dress watches), others I remain uninterested in (divers, chronos). I feel I haven't given chronos a fair whack yet, so I just ordered one.

Along the journey I picked up some knowledge that influences what I appreciate in a watch, or check in a watch's spec. Not all of the details other people appreciate in a watch are of concern to me, but some are; I listen to their reasons, and I go from there. 

Social media plays very little part in this, as I like to stay anonymous on social medial. I am not even a member on the traditional big ones.

I agree with those who seek inspiration through the watches of others. In fact, that's what I'm looking for the most on Watchcrunch. ("Oh, that looks nice!")

A separate effort exists to figure out why I like a watch, and why might dislike a design. I have learned last year that I'm sensitive to dial size. 40mm case size in a diver is just fine, but 40mm in a dress watch is pushing my limits. But insights like that are more or less a constant recalibration.

I'm obviously influenced but othes like Instragram, WatchChruch and YouTube, but I don't run out and buy the newest hypewatch. I also like to have something different than the majority 😊

I'm drawn to dressy watches. I got into this hobby because it was one of the details of menswear I could delve into. I've since disovered I like very sporty watches too, but still prefer dressy pieces.

I do consume a lot of youtube/instagram contents for both menswear and watches, but I also like to explore why certain things work for me and some don't. I also like to discover why certain things attract other people.

So I like having those kind of conversations. Why did you pick this color? Why this fit? Is there a reason you prefer classic styles over modern fashion?

And for watches, why are you drawn to tool watches? Why do people hate Roman numerals? What draws people to divers over other sports watches? Etc.

One of the things that I enjoy most about the watch hobby is the personal introspection it brings. I try to understand why I collect watches, especially since I don't collect anything else, and can easily identify the "emperors new clothes" aspect of the hobby. I also try to truly understand why I like some watches, but not others. Some of that is on a conscious level, but there are other factors that I simply can't explain. The more time I spend with watches, the more points of comparison I have, and I suspect that comes into play in terms of shaping my tastes.

My tastes have evolved over the 4 years I've been collecting, with my most recent acquisition (a Cartier Pasha) being a watch that I detested the first time I saw it a couple of years ago. My feelings towards that watch took a complete 180° turn, and I found myself absolutely loving it, but I don't have a clue as to why that changed, and I still don't think that I can articulate what it is about the watch that appeals to me so much. 

I'd love to think that I'm immune from the pressures of social media, but I know that's not true.  I find it "easier" to like watches that seem to have a reasonably broad appeal than those that don't, and often find that the more exposure I have to a given watch, the more my opinion of that watch changes. 

I've also found that just like my tastes in music,  many of my long term favorites tend to be ones that I didn't necessarily appreciate upon first introduction, and which grew on me over time.

In any event, I didn't really understand the question, and since I like cheese, I opted for "C".

Great question, this has been on my mind for days. I answered A , I absolutely try to understand and guide my own personal tastes by using all the tools available to me. Youtubers trying to influence my taste certainly plays a role but I watch them more to educate myself and use their back catalogue as a research tool.