@RUTGERS.ARPA:SEILER@MIT-XX.ARPA (04/11/85)
From: Larry Seiler <Seiler@MIT-XX.ARPA> Harking back a few issues, a statement like "XXX is the best YYY" is not a subjective judgement. If the writer means "I feel this way" or "most people would agree that" or "Left-handed gorillas all think that", then the writer should say that. Obviously, anything that anyone says is their opinion, but with no qualifications, you are claiming that the statement is universally true. For example: the single worst problem with Dune is the silly comments that people make to themselves, especially when they talk about their emotional reactions instead of acting the emotions. Enjoy, Larry Seiler (Seiler@MIT-XX) PS - Unqualified statements are stronger than qualified ones because claims for universal truth are more interesting (and controversial) than any purely subjective claim. -------