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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Xamnam" data-source="post: 8938782" data-attributes="member: 7037765">I wrote out a big long point by point response, pretty much just reiterating what I said before, and I realized I was coming at it from a very unhelpful front, so I'll try and respond simply and shortly.I agree with your statement here. Or to rephrase it slightly, I do think you can criticize cultural/artistic productions without inherently judging those who like them. In addition, I'm not against comparing things, or saying that something serves a specific purpose better than another.However, I think, when dealing with humans, even when we're trying to elevate dialogue intentionally and everyone is on board, it is easy to respond to emotionally to things. If the goal is better communication, then taking the steps we can to mitigate that (especially if they are low cost and don't muddy the point being made) is a worthwhile and noble goal.Even if you personally don't hear a criticism of your choices, and by extension you, in someone saying "This thing [you like/are advocating for/are defending] is bad," (and hey, good on you for that) it is a common reaction, and one that has a sensible, understandable reasoning behind it.So, if we know that people can and will have negative reactions to that sort of comment, let's avoid it. That's my point. Because, fundamentally, is just saying something is "bad" ever important (as opposed to saying something is bad at X, or I don't like what it's trying to do)? There are two uses where that shorthand seems to have some specific extra intrinsic value. 1. The person using it actively wants to be emotionally dismissive of something. It's lack of value is so obvious and apparent it's not worth detailing why it is. 2. The people in discussion all share largely the same opinion, and this is well-trod ground that doesn't need to go over again. Neither of those seem productive in light of what this thread is about.I like things that have flaws. I can acknowledge their flaws. I know other people won't like them for those reasons, and probably for other reasons that I hadn't previously considered. But if I like something, it's because I think it has at least some facet of value. If we're talking about it, I want to have a conversation about the reasons why you don't like it and why I do. Something simply being described as bad doesn't lead to that nearly as directly, and is more likely to get someone's hackles up.So much for being short.</blockquote>

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