Do you post unpopular opinions on book discussion threads?

[Rob]

STAR WARS IS AWFUL.

Short answer: yes.

[Valerie]

Rob wrote: "STAR WARS IS AWFUL.

Short answer: yes."

Ok, those are fighting words. **Pulls out light saber**

[Tessa]

Yeah, but then there's Star Trek. **Pulls out communicator, aka cell phone.**

[Papaphilly]

Sarah Anne wrote: "A discussion on this topic was partially happening on another thread and I'm interested in what people think.

In particular, Nicki mentioned that she loved The Magicians. I read that in my in pers..."

I do not believe in group think. I have had more than one terse conversation on various threads. Mostly it is along the lines of "you suck because you don't /do believe this". I state my case and defend my position. I do not start an attack, but defend. I have found that most truly do not think things through. It does not mean that they have to believe what I believe. It usually means if you believe something then state it with logic or why you believe "X". If someone says they like/hate something, I am good with it because it is their opinion. However, if suddenly it becomes personal and comments like "you are a bigot" or the insults fly, then it is game on. It is almost like they have to "win" when there is nothing to win over.

[Peggy]

I used to -- not because I was trolling or anything, just because sometimes it's fun to really unpack the sarcasm and let loose. I was especially hard on movies, and even became known for my humorous reviews in another forum. Then one day, I lit up a modern day western that had one too many instance of shenanigans, only to find that several of the other members thought it was really good and my review was kind of hurtful. I'm not suggesting we should award participation five star reviews to everyone, and it's certainly good to agree to disagree, but taking a dump on someone's favorite movie or author doesn't really accomplish anything.

I have a friend who takes pleasure in being contrary, so much so that I hesitate to post some things on Facebook, just because I know he's going to be snotty. (Right now, he's dripping all over the new Captain America movie, which he hasn't even seen). We agree to disagree on a lot of things. He's a DC guy, and I can rant at length about the giant fail that was Man of Steel. For some reason, I don't feel all that bad about snotting on his favs.

[V.W.]

I think the cartoon posted by Ada sums it up very well.

In too many cases, what was a statement of opinion or personal taste is taken as a challenge by others who feel compelled to change your point of view or to prove you wrong.

[Adam]

that sounds like a solid maybe

[Trike]

Peggy wrote: "Right now, he's dripping all over the new Captain America movie, which he hasn't even seen)."

There's a difference between being unpopular and being an asshole. Your friend is clearly an asshole.

I hate Empire Strikes Back, but I actually saw the thing first. You can be skeptical that something will be bad -- see my comments about anything JJ Abrams makes -- but you never know when someone will surprise you. I hated everything David Fincher made until I saw Fight Club. Then I was surprised by how good it was, which is not something I would have expected given all the terrible movies he made before that.

[Stevie]

I agree, Trike. And also, there are plenty of people who make crap, but then suddenly they make something great. If I had given up on Jim Carrey after all the Ace Ventura movies, I would have missed out on The Truman Show, one of my favorite movies. I hate just about everything Will Ferrell has produced, but I loved Stranger Than Fiction, and he was brilliant in Spoils of Babylon. And who would have thought the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air would turn out to be a fine actor? Point is, people change and grow, so dismissing them out of hand is rarely a good idea.

[Papaphilly]

Trike wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Right now, he's dripping all over the new Captain America movie, which he hasn't even seen)."

There's a difference between being unpopular and being an asshole. Your friend is clearl..."

I actually liked the Empire Strikes Back. I am not a Star Wars fan, but that one movie worked for me in in ways I cannot explain.

[Papaphilly]

Trike wrote: "Peggy wrote: "Right now, he's dripping all over the new Captain America movie, which he hasn't even seen)."

There's a difference between being unpopular and being an asshole. Your friend is clearl..."

Did you see his films in order form oldest to newest? I ask because I actually liked his older films, but not so much the newest.

[Sarah]

I just saw this and it seemed appropriate:

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Sarah Anne wrote: "I just saw this and it seemed appropriate:

"

YES!

Because everyone knows there are Trekkies and then others. ;-)

[Mary]

Sarah Anne wrote: "I just saw this and it seemed appropriate:

"

Absurd. Everyone knows there are Whovians and then everyone else. . . .

[Sarah]

Mary wrote: "Absurd. Everyone knows there are Whovians and then everyone else. . . ."

Lol! I love it. I was firmly on the Star Trek side until you said that.

[E.G.]

Firefly/Serenity? Just saying...

[Valerie]

E.G. wrote: "Firefly/Serenity? Just saying..."

This. And Star Wars.

[Kateb]

Trike wrote: "Sarah Anne wrote: "That is pretty funny :)"

No it's not. And you don't think so, either."

good one

just catching up after being away , I love your sense of humour.

I feel that all of us have different points of view but it is still interesting to hear/read someone else's since sometimes, just sometimes , I might see a different point that I hadn't considered.

[Kateb]

ps I love firefly, because it is light and no deep meaningful themes. Sometimes you just have to chill with a wine and laugh

[Esther]

I have been both a fan of Dr Who and Star Trek for as long as I can remember.
I have some other favourites too.
Star Wars is great but not a Top 5 favourite.

Kateb wrote: "ps I love firefly, because it is light and no deep meaningful themes. Sometimes you just have to chill with a wine and laugh"

"This landing is gonna get pretty interesting.
Define "interesting."
[deadpan] Oh God, oh God, we're all going to die?"

"It's worse than you know.
It usually is"

Joss Whedon has the best quotes and Fifefly/Serenity has Nathan Fillion too.

[Neal]

Yes, I post negative criticism here, on Amazon, on my own website, etc. That what expressing opinions is all about.

I'm not an apologist when it comes to my opinions, which are based on taste...and no one should be an apologist unless it turns nasty. There are plenty of books that are well written, well respected that I've found to be pretty average (or worse). And vice versa. I don't begrudge anyone (dis)liking a book/author. Sometimes I don't understand it, but I never begrudge it. When people do, that's when problems arise.