I try my best not to let it affect my opinion, but the group that swings the other way (avoiding the hype) tends to ruin things for me. Let's take Linkin Park for example. I am very good at ignoring flaws and just enjoying the things I like about something. So I was content when I was a middle school kid with no money or internet access and three Linkin Park CDs. Then when I had regular internet access and had other methods of finding music, my taste in music expanded. In this time I would read all of the usual negative things about Linkin Park and eventually I just couldn't ignore the flaws anymore! I listen to it now, and it's kinda "ehh....I'll skip it this time..." I finally deleted all of them from my iPod a few weeks ago because I can't listen anymore!