So, in a nutshell then, people do it because it is human nature? I can't realy believe it is in all of us to be hurtful. I guess therefore it is just unthinking and possibly undiplomatic? I suppose I can accept that. Maybe in time people will start thinking before they dismiss something out of hand.

Perhaps we can start right here on mudcat! If we put in the mudcat rules of etiquette (is there such a thing?) that if anyone dislikes something enough to post a negative review or whatever they do so in a helpful manner. Rather than just saying 'It's shit' they could say 'I don't like it because...' It will help the people liking the item/person/cd/film/whatever to understand why others do not share their enthusiasm and it will help the people who don't like it to more possitive.

Then again I suppose it just me and pipe dream of a better world:-)

Cheers

Dave