tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post4313988104123410925..comments2023-11-03T07:24:19.298+00:00Comments on Film Intel: On Opinions, Transformers 3 and TwitterSam Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05696602364349746693noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-77466048545657909162011-08-17T10:28:29.677+01:002011-08-17T10:28:29.677+01:00That's a good point Edwin and considering the ...That's a good point Edwin and considering the nature of online communication is a notable omission from my original article. Not only is tone difficult/impossible to judge but, as you say, people - on both sides of the writer/commenter divide - speak conversationally and informally to people they have never met.<br /><br />Places where good writing lives seem to attract at least their fair share of bile, if not more. Then again, good writing can often be an effective smokescreen from which to throw out writing designed to deliberately provoke reactionary comment. I'm thinking in particular here of writers like Jeff Wells, who writes very well but seems to do so constantly with an agenda of provoking a distasteful, often vicious, argument.Sam Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05696602364349746693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-40709967472253149242011-08-13T10:22:33.241+01:002011-08-13T10:22:33.241+01:00Only just seen this, courtesy of your repost (effe...Only just seen this, courtesy of your repost (effectively) on Twitter. I had always taken the "and it stinks" element of the opinions/assholes quotation as read - that asshole was used not primarily for its coarseness, but for the implication that one's opinion, like an asshole, is renowned for its unsavoury elements. But I digress....<br /><br />The first - and most vicious - place I've seen this is on www.theavclub.com which is generally a superb, well-informed, well-written media review website written by talented and intelligent reviewers. Until you get to the comments sections, which are full of vitriol and abuse.<br /><br />I think the trouble lies in the nature of online communication: in comments, everybody writes chummily, informally. Arguably, it's just banter to say "Krull is awesome, and you're just wrong for disagreeing." But online, you have no way of judging the tone in which these statements are made, and people get uppity, and feel that with an attack on the films they like comes an attack on the validity of their opinions, and therefore themselves. And if it's badly worded (and God knows, there are plenty of inarticulates online), the response will be just as violent, and then there's nothing for it but the plastic shields and the water cannon.<br /><br />Incidentally, Transformers 3 may have been the thing that made you realise it (And to the "What the hell were you expecting?" commenter: Really, sir? Were they maybe expecting to file a professional piece of journalism, collect a paycheque, go home and watch something they actually enjoy, perhaps?), but I don't think it was the tipping point. I think we passed that wen writing on fora became commonplace. Ultimately, I blame Simon Pegg for setting the tone of the debate in the late 90s, when he shouted "Babylon 5 is a big pile of shit!" on national telly.Edwin Flayhttp://www.mrflay.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-34461496274028720472011-07-06T16:54:44.961+01:002011-07-06T16:54:44.961+01:00Glad to hear you enjoyed the effects Steve!Glad to hear you enjoyed the effects Steve!Sam Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05696602364349746693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-84443607983212256472011-07-06T16:52:44.987+01:002011-07-06T16:52:44.987+01:00Today I saw the film in 3D. Incredible effects ......Today I saw the film in 3D. Incredible effects ...Steve Daniel Lionelhttp://london-freeads.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-27342465998416687132011-07-04T10:47:39.980+01:002011-07-04T10:47:39.980+01:00Examples like that are particularly sad to hear. H...Examples like that are particularly sad to hear. Here's a great writer, making a well-reasoned argument about a film you haven't seen and what's the first thing you've thought to do? Leave a disparaging comment. Some people... I tell you... *shakes fist at nearest group of youngsters*.Sam Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05696602364349746693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-77932406463831826502011-07-01T16:41:24.507+01:002011-07-01T16:41:24.507+01:00Very well reasoned and thoughtful post. A lot to c...Very well reasoned and thoughtful post. A lot to chew on. <br /><br />Dana Stevens of Slate is a critic who I admired greatly for her writing style, even if we don't always share the same opinion. It's interesting, though, how often commenters after her reviews, most especially it seems after her reviews of big budget summer blockbusters, go on the attack. I swear those people don't even read most of she says. They just want a place to whine.Nicholashttp://cinemaromantico.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-23820583891495463672011-07-01T10:27:24.774+01:002011-07-01T10:27:24.774+01:00Chris - Kind words, thank you very much. And yes, ...Chris - Kind words, thank you very much. And yes, YouTube commenters seem to have their very own vicious circle of dislike and bile going although, to be fair, every so often I've come across an hilarious YouTube reaction.<br /><br />Brent - It's very disappointing to see things like that. Take solace in the fact that you are not the only one. I know of a number of sites where they have had to remove comments (despite this being absolutely what they don't want to do) because of the level of attack being made against the writer or another contributor. Very sad to see.Sam Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05696602364349746693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-25426527482909876092011-07-01T02:21:21.371+01:002011-07-01T02:21:21.371+01:00I've heard of a variation being 'excuses a...I've heard of a variation being 'excuses are like arseholes, everyone has one'. But it equates to pretty much the same thing doesn't it?<br /> This is a good point and yet some people out there can't take it on board. I have had two reeeeeealllllyyyyyyyyyy personal attacks on my fiction blog. I mean just because my opinions didn't match theirs they felt I was the lowest form of life form! I was horrified at how personal they got. I don't mind critisim and people dis-agreeing with my comments and reviews but to get personal isn't really acceptable. Suffice to say 'delete post?' got a workout!!BRENThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15953231992674091002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-39465141293305684702011-06-30T17:16:01.630+01:002011-06-30T17:16:01.630+01:00I suppose differing opinons are the only thing tha...I suppose differing opinons are the only thing that makes reviewing more than free publicity for films. We're here to debate art. Now that the internet has made everyone a critic, we can see why it was only left to the reasoned professionals before.<br /><br />We need more blogs like this one and less YouTube commenters. They really hate each other.Chris David Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042114431864864898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-46911485854459748202011-06-30T14:29:38.700+01:002011-06-30T14:29:38.700+01:00That could well be the case (and I suspect it is -...That could well be the case (and I suspect it is - it certainly makes more sense and would have made much of my opening paragraph unnecessary!) although I must admit to only having heard it in its clipped form. Another saying that the derivation of the English language has ruined for the masses!Sam Turnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05696602364349746693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4685634083080876125.post-75794367507818187662011-06-30T14:09:38.987+01:002011-06-30T14:09:38.987+01:00I thought the expression (coined no doubt by someo...I thought the expression (coined no doubt by someone like Gary Bushel) was 'Opinions are like arseholes. Everyone's got one and they all stink'. Unpleasant and coarse, but at least it makes sense. Without the last bit, it's a just another misquote, like saying 'the proof is in the pudding' when tasting something. Completely meaningless. Whereas 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating' actually means something.William Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05203119571671734375noreply@blogger.com