Sadly, it seems to be making its way into our Eastern part of Europe as well. For me, one of the major pros of being in Romania (when I'm here) is that people still speak their mind, and criticism isn't as taboo as it is elsewhere. Not for long, though, since we're becoming ever more Westernized through social apps and mainstream media.
Note the phrasing in the Tweet you cited - "becoming less cruel". As if literary critics are being harsh for their own personal perverted enjoyment.
Its effect will definitely be negative. Not wanting to seem mean is a brilliant engineering of self-censorship. Way more effective than telling me I can't say this or that. Now, I'm censoring myself and seemingly for a noble cause (not being an a-hole).
Great post (but is that me being genuine or me thinking I'm genuine but actually just walking on eggshells? :D)
Thanks for your refreshing comment. I feel less lonely :)
Usually when interacting with fellow Romanians, when they think I'm "catching butterflies" they do not skip a beat in telling me so! And in a perhaps uncommon way, it feels good: they knoy I'm not gonna get mad and break our friendship or anything