Actually, you're right on the money about far too many fans taking legitimate criticism as a personal attack. I used to describe the phenomenon as "the Church of Saint Spock the Pointyeared", because it's almost identical to the response from a religious fanatic toward any criticism of his/her faith, whether or not it's justified. In the light stages, it's the whining of "Can't you just have fun with it?" when someone makes light of George Lucas's lack of storytelling ability; in extreme cases, well, you have the Cat Piss Men who attempt violence (and sometimes succeed) against a complete stranger who dared state an opinion other than what the Cat Piss Man wanted to hear.
By way of example, back in the early Eighties, Starlog magazine used to have a summer review issue, where various esteemed science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors would review the summer's genre films. Robert Bloch reviewing Gremlins, Theodore Sturgeon reviewing The Last Starfighter, and the like. The shrieking was long and loud from the CPM contingent when Norman Spinrad dared poke big holes in the plot and characterization of Return of the Jedi at the end of 1983, but you had no idea of the screaming a year later when Arthur C. Clarke dared note that Star Trek III wasn't a particularly good movie. I'm ashamed to say that I still know people in Dallas fandom (although I haven't associated with them in years) who still refuse to read anything by Spinrad or Clarke, not based on tastes in fiction, but because they dared blaspheme against the Church of Skiffy, where we have to endorse everything no matter how bad it may be because "we fans have to stick together."
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By way of example, back in the early Eighties, Starlog magazine used to have a summer review issue, where various esteemed science fiction, fantasy, and horror authors would review the summer's genre films. Robert Bloch reviewing Gremlins, Theodore Sturgeon reviewing The Last Starfighter, and the like. The shrieking was long and loud from the CPM contingent when Norman Spinrad dared poke big holes in the plot and characterization of Return of the Jedi at the end of 1983, but you had no idea of the screaming a year later when Arthur C. Clarke dared note that Star Trek III wasn't a particularly good movie. I'm ashamed to say that I still know people in Dallas fandom (although I haven't associated with them in years) who still refuse to read anything by Spinrad or Clarke, not based on tastes in fiction, but because they dared blaspheme against the Church of Skiffy, where we have to endorse everything no matter how bad it may be because "we fans have to stick together."