The majority of humans feel the need to try to rationalize ''everything''. This holds especially true for one's favored book/TV series/film. But what if there are parts to it that are not very popular or socially acceptable? Well, you ''could'' stand alone against the world and declare your love for the [[GuiltyPleasure series]] -- if you're willing to be [[FanHaters ridiculed for it]]. There has to be a better way...

IReadItForTheArticles is the practice of Tai Chi-ing away any flak over liking a particular media product, while still allowing you to watch or read it -- after all, you don't actually ''like'' it, you know. You're just reading it for that ''[[EnsembleDarkhorse one]]'' [[EnsembleDarkhorse character]], or that particular writing style or the special effects, or maybe because of the [[SceneryPorn beautiful scenery]]... right? Some have actually said "I watch it ironically" unironically.

This is a very common phrase, one of the more common uses -- now more parodied than actually used straight -- being the {{Playboy}} magazine, which an incredible number of people only read for the articles, of course.

Note that this is ''not'' a [[FreudWasRight Freudian excuse]] for liking a media product -- after all, to do that would be to admit that you actually like it. This is completely redirecting attention from or trivializing an unfavored aspect of the series (or in extreme cases, the series itself). Often played straight, and just as often PlayedForLaughs.

Compare JustHereForGodzilla, WatchItForTheMeme, ComeForTheXStayForTheY, OrSoIHeard.
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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime ]]

* ''SpiceAndWolf'': Due to the fact that the first episode prominently features the female lead stark naked. She's not human, but that can lead people to the wrong conclusions easily enough. Ironically after that you don't really ''need'' an excuse to enjoy ''SpiceAndWolf'' as it's an extremely well-written and well-animated series, although YourMileageMayVary if you find it a bit too talky.
** In fact, the original name of this trope was IWatchItForTheEconomics.
* People who say they watch ''{{Ikkitousen}}'' for the characters. There are some pretty good characters and an intriguing story, to the point that some people get [[ErectionRejection annoyed]] by all of the {{Panty Shot}}s and {{Fanservice}}.
* Watching ''{{Naruto}}'', ''{{Bleach}}'', and almost every, if not ''all'' other popular shounen series almost require this. When they come up in discussion in larger IRC channels, there's so much flak-deflection going on that it's like watching one of those 200-participant Tai Chi exercise movements.
** Or if you're from /a/ so you can rage about it.
* Watching ''{{Kamen No Maid Guy}}'' for [[BattleButler Kogarashi]] and his [[RuleofFunny 37 senses]].
* Despite the large {{Lolicon}} fandom, a good number of people watch ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' for the characters, story, battles, and HumongousMecha anime references and try to distance themselves from the loli-lovers as much as possible.
** Given the third season de-lolifies the leads, one might suspect the creators of the show wanted some distance too.
*''AxisPowersHetalia'' is about international relations. IfYouKnowWhatIMean.
* KodomoNoJikan: Watch it to understand RealLife issues that often gets sweeped under the carpet. Situations may be flanderized, but this troper honestly felt a chill as he reads through the issues the kids face (and let's not even begin with the ''adults'').
** This needs much more emphasis: we are talking about a deeply sociological and psychological work, with romance so tender it makes you forget how incredibly sad everything else is. It's also filled with disturbingly explicit {{lolicon}} {{fanservice}}.
** And all that {{lolicon}} {{fanservice}} takes a distinctly dark turn when you realize just how psychologically fucked up some of the children are. When this trooper [[spoiler:reached the point where one of the kids was avoiding gym class because her guardian gave her hickeys on her neck]] it left him with feelings of dread to even continue.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* For a surprising number of people, the ''HarryPotter'' novels seem to require some rationalization for reading (let alone ''enjoying'') them.
* The non-fan ''{{Twilight}}'' readers who do it for either A.) Jacob, B.) all the [[{{Narm}} unintentional comedy]] or C.) BileFascination.
**D.) So that they can point out all of it's negative aspects to its rabid fans; from Bella the MarySue to love means emotional abuse. Oh, and Sparkle Vampires. [[http://www.myfconline.com/character_avatars/214199_128468.jpg Sparkle, sparkle!]]
*** This troper read it for E.) To see what the god damn hype was for.
* People read ''[=~Kushiel's Legacy~=]'' novels for the politics, religion and epic questing, not the numerous extended BDSM sex scenes.
* This troper read ''TheBrothersKaramazov'' only to find out what the Xanatos Gambit was (I found out there was one from TVTropes).

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* Many ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' fans declare that the only reason they give the series the time of day is because of a character or two whom they like.
** Considering the show's cast range from the lovable to the loathsome, that's perfectly believable.
* ''{{Smallville}}'' has this as well. Either you watch it for the comicbook references, or perhaps [[EnsembleDarkhorse Chloe]], or for the [[PortmanteauCoupleName Clex]] HoYay.
* ''{{Mythbusters}}'': "I watch it for the science."
** The Discovery Channel also used this trope to market the show ''SmashLab'' when it premiered.
--->''"If anyone asks, you watch it for the science. But we know the real reason."''
** Considering the treatment that show gets from fans of the former maybe they do.
* ''{{Friends}}'':
--> Is that ''Baywatch''?\\
I only watch it for the articles.
**Also a bit of an inversion in the episode where Playboy prints a joke which Ross (or Chandler) made, and Joey says, "You know they have naked chicks in there, right?"

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* Come on, who hasn't watched some piece of crap because an actor you liked was in it? Although the poor, tortured Kate Hudson fans have to take the cake on this one. Sympathy hugs, you little troopers.
** On that note, it's perfectly acceptable to watch the [[StarWars prequel trilogy]] for [[MagnificentBastard Ian]] "[[EvilChancellor Palpatine]]" [[LargeHam McDiarmid]], and you ''damn well know it.''
** As this troper puts it, "Ian [=McKellan=] is in ''TheDaVinciCode''? Crap, now I have to watch ''TheDaVinciCode''."
** [[{{Be}} I]] had to sit through the third X-Men film simply for the few minutes Ellen Page was on screen. It was a labour of love.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Every {{eroge}} ever. You play it for gameplay or the [[PlotWithPorn story]], but never the porn.
** Though actually true for a depressing number of them, which obviously started off as plain visual novels before the [[ExecutiveMeddling money men]] threw in some [[SexSells random sex to widen the demographic.]]
* Most ''{{Disgaea}}'' fans will claim to play it for the gameplay and [[WidgetSeries cracky storyline]]. They, of course, [[http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b46/Graywolf162005/disgaea.jpg are totally lying]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

*In ''JusticeLeague'', when Flash says that he knows who the Hugh Hefner {{expy}} is, Wonder Woman asks "So you're familiar with his work?" To which Flash responds "I just read it for the articles." As always, this bit of GettingCrapPastTheRadar brought to you by ''JusticeLeague''.
*Homer tries to use this excuse on Marge in an episode of ''TheSimpsons'', so she calls his bluff and cuts out all of the naked women. Homer sadly throws the Playboy in the garbage where Bart finds it, and apparently not realizing that something is missing, assumes the articles are what the big deal is about.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* No doubt you've heard this a thousand times: "I read ''{{Playboy}}'' for the articles."
** And many of those people have openly switched to more socially acceptable (read: can read it in public) "Lad Mags" like Maxim and FHM.
** Amusingly, for a long time ''Playboy'' paid better per word than almost any other magazine, and so it attracted some serious writing talent. ThatOtherWiki points out that along with interviews with all sorts of famous people, ''Playboy'' has featured short stories by ArthurCClarke, [[JamesBond Ian Fleming]], and Margaret Atwood. One issue even has article written by Elliott Gould - look it up - in it he tells of his recent trip to Disneyland... on acid.
** [[http://www.izetit.de/index_projekte.php?page=projekte/2/p2 I.Z.E.T.I.T.]] once analyzed the contents of a Playboy. Vehicles: 12 g and 0,2115 m^2, Girls 36 g and 0,415 m^2, Articles and other interesting content (the entire rest?): 274 g
* "I only go to Hooters because the wings are so good."
** [[IsThatWhatTheyreCallingItNow Is that what they call them now?]]
* This troper and his dad each have [[http://www.mentalfloss.com/store/product.php?productid=16301&cat=103&page=1 a shirt]] that says ''[[AmericanPoliticalSystem The Constitution]]: I Read It for the Articles.''
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