02/05/2004 Archived Entry: "More Venting"

Here are two things that really drive me insane when people express them, usually anonymously on some Internet message board.

Firstly, is the "why don't you wait until it comes out to form an opinion of it" statements that come out of those posters who think that they're better than anyone else because they're standing on higher moral ground. It is perfectly alright and reasonable to form an opinion of something without having ever seen it. I don't have to go to walk into a public bathroom before knowing that it’s going to stink. I don't have to play Starcraft 2 before knowing that it will rock the world, to read a Chuck Austen comic before knowing it will be terrible, or to watch a Paul W. S. Anderson movie before knowing that it'll be uninspired, soulless hacking. Past work is the ultimate indicator of future productions, and if someone's only made garbage their whole careers then it is neither stupid nor short-sighted to expect more garbage from them.

Secondly, when it is someone’s job to report on rumours, you’re not outsmarting anybody by creating some rumour and having it reported. It’s the nature of the game; when you report on rumours, some are going to be true and others aren’t. You are not any smarter than the reporter and he isn’t any more gullible for reporting what he’s being told. He’s just doing his job.

Replies: 6 comments

I have spent countless hours browsing the online journals of others. I have to say, of all the sites I have frequented, yours is the closest match to my way of thinking. I have often been jealous after reading an entry because I didn’t think of it first and post it myself. That being said, I do not like your treatment of opinions.

I realize we’re both standing on shaky ground, trying to argue the meaning of a word that by definition represents a personal point of view. I’m writing this because the way you just treated opinion in this post is one of my personal pet peeves.

I realize the definition of the word implies an opinion is not necessarily based on fact nor is it even a certainty. So technically you can say whatever you want about whatever you want. I’m okay with that. My difficulties arise when two contrasting opinions are compared and one must be selected as more valid.

When comparing one opinion to another, forgetting for the moment about matters of personal preference or taste, does not the better opinion have the most supporting evidence? Would you not choose the opinion that had the most backup? Wouldn’t then the higher moral ground be awarded to the person who has more knowledge of the subject, and therefore a more easily supported and better-informed opinion?

I don’t see how you could possibly have higher ground then someone who has visited that offending bathroom, or played that kickass game. Perhaps you can explain to me how it is possible to form an opinion without having seen or experienced a phenomenon, that has more validity then an opinion formed from first had knowledge or experience.

Finally to address matters of personal preference or taste, I don’t believe any opinion based on these things can have more validity then any other. These opinions have, and must always have equal weight so long as the parties involved share a difference in taste or preference.

Okay I took that personally, I didn’t mean for that to happen. Perhaps I totally misunderstood your post, or I’m way off my rocker due to exams. I just want you to know this was not a personal attack in any way shape or form. I merely disagreed and would be interested in a… rewording or perhaps further justification of your argument?
Some background info might help too, as the post was a little too general to judge its context.

Posted by Hyperion @ 02/06/2004 03:30 AM EST

There may be a misunderstanding here.

What I was trying to say is that its perfectly okay to think that something will be either good or bad , sight unseen, because you have previous experiences with whatever director/writer/developer.

What isn't okay is to THINK that you're better than others because you refuse to judge something before seeing it and telling others they should wait to judge also.

This happens on almost every thread announcing a new movie/comic, a bunch of people are going to say "wow this will suck, i've never liked anything by this guy" and someone else will come in all high and mighty and say "all you guys shouldn't be judging this project without seeing it first, even if you hated everything this guy's done maybe this time he'll surprise you, give 'em a chance". I hate that. When everything someone's ever done has sucked large, they haven't earned another chance to be given. With some people you can say "well, his last 3 movies were really bad but look at this one, it was awesome" and I can totally understand giving those people "another chance" but to ones with perfect track records of being talent-voids? Why tell everyone else that they should have a neutrality of opinion? There's no basis for it.

Posted by Rayne @ 02/06/2004 02:35 PM EST

Yeah okay, I see what you're saying and I can see your point now. As I mentioned previously, I may have been off my nut and might have totally missed the point you were trying to make.

Posted by Hyperion @ 02/06/2004 04:02 PM EST

That's it?!?!...the venting is over?!?!?...:P!!!

Posted by dAN @ 02/06/2004 10:24 PM EST

I have always have more to vent about, just saving it for a rainy day.

Posted by Rayne @ 02/07/2004 04:47 PM EST

*pitter* *patter* Is it raining?

Posted by Hyperion @ 02/09/2004 02:11 AM EST