Why Do Some Fans Declare Themselves the Arbiters of Taste?

Some readers get angry about writers they don’t like. Every time a writer accomplishes something, certain fans barge in to tell us that author “sucks.”

Some were upset about the big Leigh Bardugo deal (which I talked about in the aptly named Should We Celebrate the Blockbuster Leigh Bardugo Deal?) because they don’t like her writing. Uhm, OK? Plenty of people love her books. Do their opinions not matter as well?

People also dunk on popular contemporary romance author Ali Hazelwood — not by saying “I don’t like her books” but by declaring “All her books are terrible.” As if no other opinions existed. Many other similar (i.e., popular) authors are similarly trashed.

Reviewing a book and pointing out its flaws is one thing. Finding issues in a book and pointing them out is great. Declaring “That book sucks” or “That author’s writing sucks” or whatnot in a post is just being “edgy.” Especially when that “criticism” often extends to the fans.

If your argument amounts to “How dare people love an author I hate?!” then maybe it’s time for a Snickers.

Some readers were angry when Brandon Sanderson ran his record-breaking Kickstarter (which I talked about in the aptly named Fantasy Author Brandon Sanderson Breaks Kickstarter Records). Brandon Sanderson is not perfect, and many fantasy fans are sick of being told to read his books, especially when they realize they might not be a good fit for personal reasons. But the constant posts by people who hate him can get tiring as well.

Many of those same readers were upset about the criticism of the infamous Brandon Sanderson profile in WIRED (which I talked about in the aptly named What’s Up With That WIRED Brandon Sanderson Profile?). They don’t like Sanderson, so how dare someone be upset about a badly written profile? (Folks, everyone deserves good journalism. Yes, even that author you hate.)

There is a similar controversy with author Colleen Hoover. She’s extremely popular. She’s also disliked by many. The Mary Sue discusses it in the article Why Bestselling Romance Author Colleen Hoover Is Receiving Backlash. I’ll admit that I’m sick of seeing endless displays of Colleen Hoover in my favorite bookstores. But I stop short of dumping on her fans. Sheesh.

That’s not to say books can’t be bad. But I’m wondering why some people have to swing that “Eww, that book is trash” hammer so often. You don’t know why a fan likes that book, whether or not they recognize its flaws, or how much it helps them get through life.

But… But… What About Problematic Authors?

This is different from “I’m upset because a problematic author got a break.” Rightfully or wrongfully, some of the authors mentioned above have been labeled as problematic authors — for various reasons. Quite a few authors have been labeled that way. For reasons ranging from actual sexual assault and plagiarism and racist comments to … bad research in a book?! Huh?

Some of the lists of “problematic authors” that I’ve seen are filled with judgment calls and outright errors. Also, can any author live up to these standards?

It can be upsetting or annoying to see people go online and praise an author who has done dreadful things (cough David Eddings cough). But can we let fans learn that without being nagged or shamed? Without every thread about that author turning into chaos?

Back to Your Regularly Scheduled Rant

But I digress. This is not about “problematic authors.” This is about when people dump on an author — and worse, on the fans — because they don’t like the author’s writing.

How dare that author do well? How dare those fans defend the author? Oh, I get it! Maybe there’s something wrong with those readers for loving that author’s books?

Stop it. Is this about the author? Or is it about you trying to feel superior?

So you get angry when a writer you hate gets a good deal. Or sells a lot of books. Does it make you feel better because you think you have great taste? Because you know better than all those happy readers out there? That’s it! It must be the fault of the fans.

Those fans can’t have their own opinions, can they? They must be missing something.

Uhm, what?

Even if you don’t like that author’s books, they’re allowed to be successful. These days, too many people conflate “I don’t like those books” with “Those books are terrible.” Or worse, “Those books are trash.”

People, I’ve run out of fucks to give.

Let’s say you don’t like an author. Does that mean the author’s fans are lying or something? Does that mean they are lesser beings than you? Have you suddenly declared yourself the arbiter of taste? Or the judge of the entire genre?

Uhm, think that over, OK? Maybe go outside and take a walk.

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