...And for positive vs. negative criticism... -A couple of fragmented thoughts...
People tend to get hyper-critical lately, and I think that's mainly due to the fact that they want to get the word out there as soon as possible. They want to be the first one to post. They don't take the time to edit themselves. They don't want to take the time to edit themselves - they want to present their feelings(!) and opinions in the moment. And this works for both positive and negative critiques.
As for "enjoying" being negative, well... There just seems to be more creative ways to say something is bad than there are to say something is good. And those metaphors and similes for "bad" also seem to be a bit more memorable.
As for what is said on chat boards - or even places like Amazon and the IMDB... Speaking for myself, I hardly ever read the comments that others have made. I know there are musicals, pieces of music, interpretations, etc., that I have loved that others have not liked at all, and vice versa. I also know that sometimes I require more than one initial listen or viewing to fully get - or not get - the piece and to fully form my own opinion. -Yes, there have been a few things I've seen or read that I went back to again to make sure I really did not like - rather than just not understand. I am not a regular reader of the chat boards - I only tend to look at them if something particularly juicy - positive or negative - was reported elsewhere. All of us, to a certain extent, want to find out what all the fuss is about. *That's also the reason I don't post my own reviews on Amazon and the like - I will like or dislike something for my own reasons, not yours/theirs.
On the flipside, I do tend to read the mainstream reviewers almost religiously - well, at least the ones in the New York Times and The Washington Post. I'm always interested in what a Critic likes or dislikes, and, hopefully, I will get an insight as to why he or she feels that way. And I'm familiar enough with the predilections and styles of most of the writers, that I'm able to disregard any comments that may end up coloring my own opinions.