Posted by Neil at 205.163.142.140 on April 27, 2000 at 13:21:58:
In Reply to: Apology for my letter to Kevin Smith posted by Kermez on April 27, 2000 at 12:03:27:
: I would like to apologize for my "Letter to Kevin Smith," specifically to thx3188, Golgothan, and Neil.
: I was only voicing my particular opinions on the subject of his future projects. I was apparently mistaken. Quite obviously, only you three, and not I, am allowed a personal opinion on things Kevin Smith. How proud you must be to have such an elegantarian position, one I apparently can only envy, but not emulate.
I find the trend of people who receive dissenting opinions to their public posts as somehow harming their right to express their opinions disturbing. It is much like the people who feel the need to evoke their first amendment right when another private citizen tells them to shut up.
Yes, of course, you have the right to your opinion. Likewise, I have the right to mine. If you publically express an opinion that differs from mine, you had better expect that I will rebut with mine. It is so simple, it's almost logical.
: Also, I would like to apologize for my lack of colorful vocabulary, such as you yourselves have demonstrated. I feel all empty inside for my apparent lack of fluent "sailor-slang."
: Finally, unless a film maker wants to stay independant all his life, he'd better care what to general public wants to see. He can ask, "Is this what my fan-base wants to see?" If that question is not asked when undertaking projects, before too long, he could be asking, "Would you like to upsize that for only $0.39?"
You make a reasonable point here -- certainly it's a thousand times better than the "New Coke" argument, which I stated in my earlier was simply pathetic -- however, I still think my Cheech & Chong analogy fits here. There is something to be said for listening to a respecting the opinions of your core fanbase, but they aren't the only people paying the bills and if you don't respect the people who enjoy your films but aren't hanging out on your webboard and writing fan mail, etc. then your core fanbase simply won't end up being nearly enough to continue a successful career. That's just basic.