Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mit-eddie.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxj!mhuxn!ihnp4!mit-eddie!nessus From: nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (Doug Alan) Newsgroups: net.music Subject: When is it okay to make personal attacks in a review? Message-ID: <5013@mit-eddie.UUCP> Date: Sat, 17-Aug-85 18:12:15 EDT Article-I.D.: mit-eddi.5013 Posted: Sat Aug 17 18:12:15 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Aug-85 20:19:50 EDT References: <4991@mit-eddie.UUCP> <3493@dartvax.UUCP> Distribution: net.music Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA Lines: 45 Keywords: Madonna, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchel > From: merchant@dartvax.UUCP (Peter Merchant) >> [Me:] Do you have to be able to make vile, vicious and >> unsubstantiated personal attacks at honest and sincere artists, just >> because you don't like their music? How could anyone with a human >> soul say such things about about someone who makes an honest and >> sincere artistic effort, even if they did have no talent? > However, I have seen many personal attacks on Madonna and their like > in this newsgroup. People who say all sorts of nasty things about a > performer just because she shows off her belly-button, has a high > voice, or has "sold-out". Madonna isn't an artist, and is neither honest nor sincere nor nice. She doesn't care about art. She's in it for the money and the fame. She degrades and commercializes art and presents a harmful manipulative image of sex that rubs off on and affects people. She deserves the abuse she gets (though certainly not for her voice -- who give a shit about her voice?). Maybe I'm being vicious, but at least I supported my reasons. What did Kate Bush ever do to hurt anyone? She's incredibly nice person, and does not deserve any kind of personal attack. She doesn't care much about money and fame -- she just wants to be able to continue her art -- she puts most of her profits into being able to make more music and videos, etc. If you're a reviewer and don't like her music, wouldn't a review saying you don't like her music be most appropriate? The Melody Maker reviewer thought her music was dated and dull, and because of this and the fact that others like her a lot, that she should be burned at the stake! And her nipples must be phony! Someone should be burned at the stake for making music you don't like?!? There are lots of artists that I consider honest and sincere, but whom I don't like, who maybe I find dated and dull. Joni Mitchel, for example. Lots of people like her. That's fine with me. I'd be just as upset if someone went on a tirade about how Joni Mitchel should be burned at the stake, and how her nipples must be phony, etc. I don't like Joni Mitchel's music, and don't think she's all that inspired, but that's just my opinion. She is an honest and sincere artist, and deserves respect. "Is there so much hate for the ones we love?" Doug Alan nessus@mit-eddie.UUCP (or ARPA)