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Lena McMurray's avatar

I’ve always felt strongly about people who criticise others for what they like or love. What's the saying? “Don’t yuck someone’s yum.” It’s a simple idea, but one that seems to get lost, especially in spaces like the arts or book communities. Just because someone enjoys romance novels instead of classic literature, or prefers a blockbuster film over an experimental indie performance, or if you rock up with a brilliant paper on a bedazzled pink flash drive, doesn’t make their taste inferior or them any less thoughtful or intelligent. Great write! x

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

Thank you!! And I agree, although I would question people who deem themselves 'avid readers' or 'bookworms' when they stick to comics or only one genre. Surely there's a different word for it, because there's nothing wrong in liking a genre (as we very well know! haha)

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Lena McMurray's avatar

Maybe they're more niche readers or a genre devotees or focused readers, rather than "avid readers".

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

yes, that's fair. I hope I didn't put myself on a pedestal in the article, as I do judge too. Maybe not on the colour of a USB or someone's yum, but definitions are important to set expectations.

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Lena McMurray's avatar

Not at all! As humans, we all make judgments - that's part of how we navigate the world. Our preferences, experiences, and expectations inevitably shape the way we perceive things, including books. What matters, though, is recognising the distinction between personal taste and objective value. Just because something doesn't align with our individual likes or standards doesn’t mean it lacks worth or merit for someone else, which I got from your article :)

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

pheww finally, some sense. could you go back in time and tell my professor please?

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Debbie Liu's avatar

Never heard that expression before but it's a great one! "don't yuck someones yum!"

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Tyagarajan S's avatar

What a shallow guy! I have seen this pattern where the people who judge others the hardest for lack of objective reality are one who themselves live in extreme subjective reality.

And pink is a topic that's come up quite a lot. N and I have made it a rebellion to give little boy kids we gift (friends, relatives) either books or something pink and girls something blue just as a tiny war against assuming pink is for 'just for girls' 😅

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

I love that!! You guys must be fun to be around ;) you clearly don't live in extreme subjective reality yourselves. We need more people like you

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Artemisia Writes's avatar

'so many missed sunsets' indeed; I love this thought and image - also just noticed the pink theme of your site here, it's great <3

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

:) very observant!! Thanks for noticing ;) Millennial pink was the best idea from Pantone

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Lauren Scott's avatar

I don't get why some people dismiss beauty or creative expression either. If anything, it makes me think they're jealous that they're not brave enough to create. Your pink USB sounds cute and the Silver Fox sounds more pretentious than he's worth!

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

Absolutely! It does take a certain personality and perhaps having lived a little too learn the creativity lesson. He was definitely too pretentious for that.

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Artemisia Writes's avatar

Thank you so much for referencing a quote from my post :) Coincidentally, I have a pink note today too!

https://substack.com/profile/294743046-artemisia-writes/note/c-115791140

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

Yes!! I love that! Imagine Silver Fox hating anything pink in nature haha so many missed sunsets

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Elaine R. Frieman's avatar

I love this super intellectual look at how dismissing your fancy USB is systemic of a larger patriarchal problem, Dr Barbs. ❤️🫶🏻 It is cute that you still have it and it functions. 😂🤩

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

Haha thanks! I'm very proud of how this article turned out :)

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Monica Nastase's avatar

Excuse me, what a narrow minded *professor*...!

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

Right? I simply had to share this. I've had enough of marinating in my feelings alone ~

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Debbie Liu's avatar

In the end what happened? did this prejudicial professor take the pink and peruse and ponder? If you'll excuse the poor alliteration. Funnily, pink was seen as a boys colour before WW2, as it was a pale version of red, the colour of bravery (and obs your professor would think bravery = boys - but we know different!!)

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Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

I didn't even know that pink was a pale red suitable for boys! That's ironic, isn't it?! Well, he did take it to peruse, eventually, but his ponderings and edits were always minimal.

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