> I personally define a "Proper reason" for liking something or not liking something as "one's own reason". Not only does it not need to be articulated, it doesn't need to be articulatable, in my mind. But it does need to be one's one reason. I do believe that the reasons you stated for loving "Mary Poppins" are, indeed, your own, lest my statements be construed as meaning the opposite. Just stating what I believe to be proper.
>
> > S "a little more cynical and jaded now" am
>
> Nyper"Me too, perhaps"old

"You may have noticed that the books [movies, plays, for my purposes in quoting this, books is interchangable with any number of other things] you really love are bound together by a secret thread. You know very well what is the common quality that makes you love them, though you cannot put it into words: but most of your friends do not see it at all, and often wonder why, liking this, you should also like that." -C.S. Lewis

I was vaguely bothered by your original post, Sam, although at the time I couldn't put my finger on why. However, having read Wes and Nyperold's posts, and also listened to what Wes had to say about it in chat, I've figured my own thoughts out. To paraphrase Wes's comments, he's never quite comfortable contradicting to you, and always has a slight feeling that you'll be right and he'll be wrong - and honestly, I can easily say that I share the same feelings.

Two of my friends at school hate Jane Austen - books, movies, anything. They think it's dull and pointless, and they don't think anyone should waste their time reading it. I happen to rather like Jane Austen. I don't fault them for their dislike of it - I do, however, fault them for their insistence that it is bad literature, instead of just literature that doesn't suit their tastes.

I was talking to a friend recently who loves Oldies, a music style that I, in general, do not happen to enjoy. We had a jokingly upset conversation about it, but one thing which was said was that we don't have a problem with the other person liking their music.

In your posts, Sam, you have come out very strongly as saying that people who do not like musicals - and, specifically, Mary Poppins - are wrong. They're not. I like musicals, in general. Mary Poppins is not my favorite - I like it, but there are others that I prefer. However, I am not going to fault others for not enjoying musicals. I have friends who love horror movies. I don't. None of us have a problem with our different tastes.

You may have reviewed hundreds of movies for At A Glance Film Reviews, but never forget that they are the opinion of the reviewer. You aren't wrong in any of your opinions - they are, after all, opinions - but you have no right to dictate, or even degrade, the tastes of others.

If this is another "city safety" occurence and you were overexagerating, please correct me, but I don't believe it is. I realize that this site is one for your personal amusement - but what amusement is there in a bunch of people who are afraid to express their opinions for fear of offending someone they respect? If this is becoming a site where we can't like Labyrinth and dislike Mary Poppins without your obvious derision, then I don't quite see what the point is anymore.

Kiki