(no subject)

[aprilstarchild]

I just threw a minor hissy fit in the facebook comments of a friend I don't even know very well. Hopefully this doesn't bite me in the ass.

Said friend is going on a long bike tour and asked for recommendations of novels to bring with her. There were many suggestions offered, both by myself and others.

To which a woman (I'll call her K) responded: "Ugh, this thread is making me depressed about people's taste. De gustibus non est disputandum, I suppose."

Me: "K...that's a little insulting, don't you think?"

K: "Eh, I just call em like I see em."

Me: "I'm a lot less depressed about people's choice of books (reading any kind of novel puts people ahead of the majority of Americans who don't read for pleasure) than I am about people who are snobs and hide behind "I'm just being honest," as if that's an excuse for insulting people."

Am I totally out of line here? But that whole, "Hey, it's okay for me to be insulting, because I'm just being honest!" bullshit really pisses me off. How is her comment any better than going up to someone and saying, "Oh wow, you're really ugly!" and then when said person is hurt, responding, "I just call em like I see em!"

Comments

[glowing-fish.livejournal.com]

Wait...is this a livejournal thread about a facebook thread?
Lets see how recursive the drama can get!

:)

[taiba.livejournal.com]

One can be honest while still displaying tact. So no, you're not being out of line.

[browse.livejournal.com]

No, I don't find your response out of line at all. "K" sounds like a real jerk. Or someone having a really bad day.

[jenhowell.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't know. I don't think I would have worried too much about that one. I reserve my hissy fits for bigots mainly. But it isn't a serious crime either, I guess?

I don't know. Don't worry about it, but I'd also suggest not worrying about snobby people either. They are their own worst enemies.

[melody-rossiter.livejournal.com]

I would have responded like you. Out of line? No idea, but I know that when people come together, in public, on the internet, to share their opinions (ESPECIALLY if they are simply insulting everyone else), they deserve to hear the honest opinions of everyone else.

[5minutelimit.livejournal.com]

People who use cliches like "nothing personal" , I'm just being honest" or "don't take this the wrong way" to criticize people, really piss me off.
But to use those popular cliches to criticize one's literary choices truly shows one's ignorance. Hey, pick up another book, since you aren't learning anything new from what you're reading!

[encapsulate.livejournal.com]

That sounds like when I see someone say "I'm not here to make friends." which is what people say when they really mean "I'm an unrepentant asshole."

[seams-unusual.livejournal.com]

damnit..now I wanna go read that thread!
um... what books were suggested, BTW?

[5minutelimit.livejournal.com]

I haven't been able to get into those novels, but I certainly don't think other people have bad taste just because they like something that I don't.
But I think some people with poor social skills need to feel it is because they are "too intelligent."
Someone asked for reading suggestions on Jacqueline Carey's FB and a hundred people posted, mostly the same authors. I posted "I can't believe nobody suggested Ursula K Leguin!" Jacqueline posted "Now you have."
Then someone posted "Ugh, don't get me started on LeGuin". I wasn't sure whether it was an insult or a statement of support. Way to be ambiguous..