Re: Fearful of being seen as (i)_________, the Bieber Appreciation Society
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22 Apr 2023, 04:00
OE
Toadies, critical. The Bieber Appreciation Society clearly exists to appreciate all things Bieber, but it seems that the society has become “fearful” of being seen in a certain way. What way? Keep reading—they “took pains” to include a certain kind of voice. Tantamount (equivalent) doesn't make sense in the second blank, and conciliatory would be positive towards Bieber (so why would the Bieber Appreciation Society have trouble finding such voices?). Only critical, which in this context means "involving careful evaluation and judgment,” works. If the societies is struggling to include critical voices, it seems that they fear being seen as not having balanced views—that is, they fear being seen as toadies', making them nothing but a group of servile flatterers. There is very little danger of an appreciation society (or fan club, booster organization, or any similar group) being seen as detractors of their namesake. Enthusiasts and “Appreciation” agree in degree of positivity, so that's not something the group would fear, either.