The Mephistophelean Manifesto

I think it's utterly ridiculous to say that something is terrible without having read it.

I completely agree with you. There are lots of people who are literary snobs and just don't understand that there are different types of literature for different people. Just because something is not studied in college does not mean it doesn't have people who enjoy it. Just to be up front, I have no idea what Twilight is.

Oh, Virgil, not only are there literary snobs, but theater (especially concerning musicals ) and TV & film snobs. It is so ridiculous. I admit to avoiding a lot of forums (and even having left one) because of that. What bothers me more than someone giving their opinion without having read/watched something, is when they attack someone for liking something that they didn't. Having said that, yes, the thought will go through my mind "oh, you're just crazy" when I see that something I abhor was liked, but I keep the thought to myself. But there is the one thing that I can't understand. If someone has not read a particular book/watched a particular film, why do they find it necessary to make a comment at all? I have never read Twilight. I don't know if I ever will. But I won't even bother commenting on it because, well, frankly, that doesn't make much sense, to me, to do so. I have an idea of what it is about, but I never read it. Therefore, I don't know it. So why would I comment on something that I basically know nothing about?

Matt you are a legend. I admit freely to being a big fan of Twilight and I got more than a little annoyed with the turn the thread was taking. I said in one of my posts if people don't want to read it that is fine. Like LadyW said the story will not appeal to everyone. Just say that and move on. I loved the books and I make no apology for that what I resent is being told that because I like those books I can not enjoy so call Literature.

I let myself get carried away in that thread trying to prove a point but you know what there is no way to prove your point because people do not want to listen.

Thanks for being reasonable and don't let that keep you away from the thread.

I took a glance in the thread and it didn't surprise me.

I am trying to get it back on track but it seems to be getting worse. Maybe it is time to cut and run?

that is one phenomena i never understood. I would never bother discussing a book if i've never read it. I would also never discuss it if i heard stuff about it second hand because that persons opinion is biased. Also reading the first few pages (2-3) of a book does not give you a feel for what is about. they are merely only introductory and dont really have much significance... well with teen and kids books anyway.
It is a different type of literature, and should be approached differently, not in the same way as Dante or Voltaire or Marlowe or Austen.

I think I shall have to investigate this 'books by osmosis' phenomena. I mean, it could save a lot of time, right?

1).Pick up a book,
2).Place one hand on the back cover and one hand on the front cover.
3).Hold the book vertically in front of the heart.
4). Invoke the rotating vortices of the chakra by softly humming a tune of your choice (I use 'Stayin' Alive' by the Bee Gees).
5). Become one with said tome.
6). Ingest all material while instantly cross referencing all subtle allusions, characterizations and plot references.
7). Go to forum and make it widely known that while you haven't actually read the book it's safe to say that you have a deep understanding of the material presented within through the power of magical absorption.

Anyone who can't get a grasp on that is quite obviously idiotic.



OH! Anna Karenina, here I finally come my darling!

That thread is funny and I agree that one should not express a view on such thing as a book until they've read it.

But about Dickens, i'm not a big fan of Dickens, I have read two of his novels and I did use the words .. er.. dry

and boring - on a thread relating to Dickens

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poor choice of words I guess. I did sort of regret the way I expressed my view.

Matt you crack me up. Really aren't we being a little bit Elitist by asking people to have read a book before they call us stupied for reading it

limajean, having read the work (Dickens) you absolve yourself from the gentle criticism I offer here. If you read it and THEN find it not to your liking, then you have carte blanche to say whatever you wish about it. If you attempt to read a work but can't finish it for whatever reason then I think that would make one qualified to say that the work in question is not to his/her liking and that's about it.

Hope you didn't think I was pointing at you with the Dickens comment. It was purely an example and I hadn't even seen that you'd written that. I think you're the bees knees!

Jojo, dear, your nose is angled slightly downward this morning! I do so prefer you with your typical nose-in-the-air haughty expression. Please arrange yourself immediately.

Oh, good! haha - phew.

Matt you are right you always are. Nose it in correct position now