The Gray Area with Sean Illing

The value of being a "hater"

Feb 13, 2023

In this engaging conversation, Justin Charity, a senior writer at The Ringer and cultural critic, discusses the complex nature of being labeled a "hater" online. He and guest host Rebecca Jennings delve into the blurred lines between criticism and negativity in the age of social media. They unpack the implications of backlash against critics, the rise of performative positivity, and how the phrase "let people enjoy things" has morphed into a shield against dissent. Charity advocates for a space where constructive criticism and diverse perspectives can thrive.

55:05

Episode guests

Justin Charity

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Culture of Critique: Navigating Hating in Modern Media

6min

Navigating Criticism in a Polarized World

19min

The Language of Critique

6min

The Paradox of Hate in Online Cultures

12min

The Perils of Performative Discourse in Online Interactions

3min

Navigating Social Media: The Challenge of Personal Expression

6min

Guest host Rebecca Jennings talks with Justin Charity, cultural critic and senior staff writer at The Ringer, about what it means to be dubbed a "hater" on the internet. Rebecca and Justin talk about the role of criticism and the evolving ways in which critics and fans clash online. They discuss how a bad review (or a review seen as bad) can spark a far-ranging backlash, how the meme-ified cry of "let people enjoy things" has been taken from its original context, and what — if anything — might change the dynamics between fans and critics.

Host: Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxxa), senior correspondent, Vox

Guest: Justin Charity, senior staff writer, The Ringer; co-host of the Sound Only podcast

References:

"'Hater' doesn't have to be a dirty word" by Rebecca Jennings (Vox; Jan. 18)
"2022 Was the Year of the Metaverse — Until It Wasn't" by Justin Charity (The Ringer; Dec. 29, 2022)
"Why Did Everyone Claim to Enjoy Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly'?" by Justin Charity (Complex; Nov. 3, 2015)
"Jake Paul Exposed as $2.2M Serial Crypto Scammer" by Robert D. Knight & Levy Prata (Beincrypto; Mar. 8, 2022)
"Taylor Swift Super Fans Are Furious About a Good Review" by Gita Jackson (Vice; July 31, 2020)
"The YouTubers are not okay" by Rebecca Jennings (Vox; May 10, 2022)
"How 'let people enjoy things' became a fight against criticism" by Constance Grady (Vox; May 16, 2019)
The original "let people enjoy things" webcomic, by Adam Ellis (Feb. 3, 2016)
"Like This or Die" by Christian Lorenzen (Harpers; Apr. 2019)
@talialichtstein on TikTok
"Meet the most obsessive Bill Simmons fans online" by Luke Winkie (The Outline; Jan. 2, 2020)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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