> I think basically you're completely right. The
>thing I can't reconcile into the equation is how
>critics get blasted for *specific* reviews by
>those that aren't completely ignorant of critics
>even if they don't read reviews religiously every
>weekend. When Siskel and Ebert both gave thumbs
>down to Independence Day, there was a LOT of
>discussion amongst my friends and on the
>newsgroups about how critics are all elitist snobs
>that only like independent films, and they're
>completely out of touch with the public (which is
>not the point of a critic anyway, but that's a
>side issue). But then, once everybody caught up to
>them and realized, hey, this DOES suck*, somehow
>the prejudice against critics remains.

I think it's bascially for the same reason people, even highly trained medical personnel, still have the idea that more births take place during or "around" the time of a full moon. It's called selective memory, and all humans are prone to it.

-- Dave