From a recent correspondence:QUOTE: "********* could have possibly recorded the
greatest prog track in history". UNQUOTE
As soon as I read that word 'greatest' used for a band, an album or a
track, my hackles slope up automatically. (Who said, "as soon as
I hear the word 'art' I reach for a shotgun" - the saying
parallels my sentiments). Such language suggests to me that writer has
not lived long enough to have heard enough music to make the
statement. Worse, (especially when the the following abbreviation is
use far more often elsewhere) not to qualify with something like
'IMHO', otherwise I feel the writer is trying to impose something on
me. Personally I find it impossible any piece of music to be the
'greatest' this or that, rather having a preferred and large
choice albums or tunes I want to hear as' favourites' - but when I'm
down, then I might switch over to the blues.
Similar thoughts arise with the considerable misuse of the word 'hate'
- surely 'dislike' conveys your feeling more precisely (or should that
be 'accurately'
).