Respectfully, I think you have to be careful about assuming what other people are thinking. That's just as much of a pitfall as people pretending to hate something in order to fit some "jaded vet" archetype. How do you know whether someone really, truly likes that Caspian deep down in their heart, or whether they just plain don't like it? There's a natural human tendency to assume that if you or I love a particular song/show, that other Phish fans must too. It makes us feel better to assume that those who disagree with us are just being inauthentic, because it makes our own opinions seem less subjective.

But Phish is a diverse and eclectic band, and there are lots of aspects to love: songs, jamming, stage antics, overall energy, the community, etc. In other words, there are lots of things that might make someone a fan, so there's more room for legitimate disagreement among people that like the band.

This goes both ways though; just because someone loves 3.0 doesn't necessarily mean that they are being uncritical. or that they're purposefully shutting their brains off in order to like something that they normally wouldn't.

Point is, maybe people are just pretending to like/dislike something, or liking it because they are being uncritical listeners. But that shouldn't be our first assumption when dealing with people we disagree with. Too often around here, it is.

I don't disagree, and I didn't at all mean to say that because I like or dislike something about Phish that everyone should like or dislike the same things. I meant more like ... people stake out such a rigid stance on these things ("I hate Prince Caspian!" that they take the option of ever enjoying it completely off the table. I've had plenty of experiences at shows that completely changed my opinion of songs ("Taste" and "Roggae" come to mind), and I feel like some people don't allow themselves that chance.

I also didn't mean to imply that anyone is pretending in order to fit an archetype, or that I know what anyone is thinking. I was indeed generalizing, and I don't like to do that. Of course not everyone is the same. Not everyone who would consider themselves (or who I would consider) a Jaded Vet thinks or behaves the same way. But I do think it has become a kind of mob mentality for *some*. It sorta reminds me of the people I call Hippie Snobs on the lot. If you're not Wooked-out enough, if you haven't been to X number of shows, if you weren't around in '93, you're less-than. Those people absolutely exist and they remind me of snobby high-schoolers who shun the kid with the wrong brand of jeans. I'm not saying anyone who criticizes Phish is like the Hippie Snobs on the lot. Not at all. But I do think that sort of snob mentality exists (for *some!*) with regard to the music, not just the scene -- It's not cool to like Prince Caspian. Noobs like Prince Caspian. Therefore I cannot and will not like Prince Caspian, lest I ruin my (as I said before) Jaded Vet cred.

Anyway, I don't mean to pigeonhole anyone or say anyone doesn't have the right to enjoy or hate Phish in any way they please. I just think some people seem to sabotage their own capacity for joy, and it's not wrong, just sad.