Good points. I'll go along with being an injured party grants you certain rights to criticize. But then, you paid for that priviledge. Steve, for example, has the right to criticize any artwork that he (or through Tor) contracts. As far as the difference between a comment and criticism, I fall back on example: Comment: I like (or dislike) that piece of art work. I think it would look better with more lighter hues. Criticism: That sucks, and the artist should stick to cartoons. One is an opinion, and the other knocks down someone elses work. Yes, I know I didn't have to add the insult in there, but go read, oh....a book or movie review, and see the critic tear down the participants as well as the creator of the work. I do understand the difference between criticism and critical review, and perhaps I am just being jaded by the unnecessary personal attacks that seem to go hand in hand with such prevelent commentary. I *said* it was a rant. :) W > -----Original Message----- > From: John Klein [mailto:zarkon at ueno.bdi.com] > Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 10:43 AM > To: dragaera at dragaera.info > Subject: Re: Opinion vs. Criticism ( was: RE: book by its ) > > > On Thu, 9 Oct 2003, Warlord wrote: > > @> People should only criticize if they can do better. > > If my doctor removed my appendix and acidentally cut out half of my > intestine as well, I'd feel quite qualified to criticize him, despite the > fact that I would probably do it worse. > > @> There is a difference between having an opinion and commenting on > @> something, and CRITICIZING someones effort(s). > > I'm curious as to exactly what this difference is. Either you're saying > something positive about something, in which case you're complimenting it, > or you're saying something negative, in which case you're criticizing it. > The latter is as useful and necessary as the former is. > >