It's sort of like trying to tart up rock and roll with classical suites

Ooh, I'ma tell Matt Bellamy you called him a tart.

I don't know why my argument is even controversial. I can't imagine anybody who watched one episode of Project Runway would have a problem with the notion that you can judge things by making qualitative distinctions.

That's not the controversial idea. The problem is the idea that someone who likes crappy [foo] cannot, therefore, be trusted as able to assess/appreciate "quality" [foo]. One does not follow from the other.

Obviously it's a judgment that one CAN make, but if, for instance, one were to see my bro eating Spam and decide they'd never trust his culinary knowledge, they'd have made that decision without all the info and it would be an incorrect decision.

One does not follow from the other. That's the only thing that seems to be implied, and it's that implication which is, for me at least, controversial.

I asked how much cred needs to be established in order for a phrase like "the good stuff" to be understood as microbrew or Bud Light.

That depends entirely on who is having the conversation and how well they know each other.

I will note that just about everyone on the "there's no such thing as cred" side of the argument has made sure to establish their own as quickly as possible before arguing fervently that it doesn't matter.

My main point is that taste levels DO EXIST, and are useful markers in determining how informed (and therefore how useful) a person's opinion on any given subject is going to be.

I just got an approval to write a very cool paper (economical-anthropological analysis of the music trade on the internet, which pretty much is based on this: [link] in a very raw, very basic notion of the future paper), and an extremely important informant to another anthropological work (that: [link] ).

I'm very excited.

Okay, so I'm back from Austin. Did I miss anything important?

::tongue planted firmly in cheek::

javachik, you were absolutely brilliant in filming the Polar Bear moments-- I'm sure all of the Austin airport is remembering the crazy woman chuckling and exclaiming, "Heh. Take that, Polar Bears!" as I watched the video.

Erin's married! Yay!

Fay, vibing hard for you, dear.

Shir, you, too.

Anything else I missed, please catch me up, for I am Skimmy McSkimmerson.

Also, I have a question for my liquor savvy folks:

When we moved, we had to give away all of our hard liquor, because of that whole pesky transporting across state lines thing, so I need to replenish now and I'd like to do it with some really quality stuff, rather than what we've been given over the years and allowed to accumulate dust. Specifically, I need a good Scotch rec and a good gin rec. Vodka, too, if anyone has a particular favorite, because I'm not particularly picky about it, as long as it's not cheap.

And, in Worth Another Post:

Fay, honey, ~ma. Just pure, strong vibe of ~ma.

I will note that just about everyone on the "there's no such thing as cred" side of the argument has made sure to establish their own as quickly as possible before arguing fervently that it doesn't matter.

I *have* been defensively trying to throw out cred, mostly about my bro, because I was waiting for someone to say "Your example doesn't work, because how do WE know he cooks anything other than Spam? Maybe it's an all-Spam restaurant!"

Actually, I don't think I ever said there was no such thing as cred; my feeling was just that one can't assume knowledge (or lack thereof) of quality based on one expression of liking something of inferior quality.

Also, I have a question for my liquor savvy folks:

Ahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Clearly *I* will not recommend a goddamned thing.

one can't assume knowledge (or lack thereof) of quality based on one expression of liking something of inferior quality.

And I disagree. Like I said over an hour ago, just because such an assumption could be wrong doesn't mean it's not a valid starting point.

Clearly *I* will not recommend a goddamned thing.

::SNORT::

Oh, dear. My timing is impeccable, as usual. (See: Skimmy McSkimmerson)

Oy vey, y'all. I totally waded into the shit, didn't I?