Not Bad

[andrewducker]

Very few things strike more fear into me than the statement that something's "Not Bad".

"You should give this a listen, it's not bad."
"You should go see this film, it's not bad."
"You should waste 2 hours of your time on this, it's not bad."

I don't want things that are 'not bad', not bad isn't a compliment, it's a statement of dull mediocrity. I want great things, exciting things, things that take me to strange far-away places and show me sights that I haven't seen before. If the most that something is able to inspire you to in recommendation is "not bad" then I really have better things to do with my time. I demand that something be at least 'good' before I spend my time on it. On the other hand, if you find something of indescribable awfulness, then I may well be tempted. But it'd better be pretty bloody awful.

Comments

[kpollock.livejournal.com]

Maybe people are just conservative in their estimates. You know, the famous British understatement? I'd never say something was brilliant because with every single thing that I have thought was fantastic at the time and shortly afterwards, I have found faults etc. and liked it less as time goes on and my brain gets to digesting it.

Very few people can come up with stuff that I'd think fits your desire above. In fact I can think of absolutely none - short of getting a seat on something leaving this planet.

When most things are crap, 'not bad' is often worth the time (or you do nothing).

[wordofblake.livejournal.com]

I definitely mean it as a compliment, although "not too bad" is better