[casca]

People tend to feel more strongly about things they dislike than things they like. When things work, they tend to drift past without being noticed. Think about the things that provoke reliable positive comment - they often are in scenarios where a negative experience is expected.

Consider Apple. Why do people love the brand and products so much and are so willing to discuss it? Perhaps because their expectation of those fields is so low and Apple surpasses it. Compare a normal retail stores with an Apple store. Compare a pre-iPhone with an iPhone. Compare a Mac with a PC. Apple have consciously taken negative customer experiences and made them positive. And as such they get extensive positive comment.

[osuburger]

That's a really interesting point. So maybe we're likely to comment on something positive that far exceeds the normal experience, but not say anything where "good" is already expected. I'd never thought of it like that.

[shanelja]

In my job, my boss expects everything to be fantstic, for him 'good' simply won't do and he tells me so every day, but occasionally you have to push something which is merely 'good'.

It can be a downer, but when I do 'fantastic' I know I've deserved the praise which is a massive moral boost.