Carnivac: I second Mathias there, that's really interesting...specially because I suck at tiling so it all still looks like magic to me, totally mystified. de-mistify away! damn...I feel nostalgic using that word =)
Seiseki: really interesting! yeah I think we all have some of everything...I'm a bit surprised you didnt comment on Hulk's format :p forgot to mention that he writes IN ALL CAPS. and uses HULK instead of I.
I try to keep myself vulnerable too, I find that I often cry in movies. The weird thing is that I can cry and then realize I was manipulated, I E I can tell the thematic intention in the work was dishonest yet I still am affected emotionally. Which makes me that much more angry about dishonest pieces of art because they still get to me.
But when I am critical of something I stay away from people who dont have that critical eye of things. The article made me think about how isolated I am by that sometimes, trying to hear only from people who have almost the same point of view as I.
Funny that you mention Infinite, havent played it but extra credits ( game critics that have a similar perspective to Hulk ) have a good recent episode on that very topic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU_AG5MXohsI wonder if it applies to you :p