I absolutely loveee this take and completely agree!

Howeverrr, I think it’s more than anti-intellectualism. I think people fear criticizing things they love because they feel as though it defines them. Through their insecure lenses, someone saying “I hate this” translates to “I hate you” or perhaps they are reminded of a moment where they felt bullied for their interests. Definitely another viewpoint to explore on this topic.