> I read that first section three times, and I can't pick up whether you're going to praise or trash Pirates. Personal opinion aside (which is that Pirates is very braindead but also very fun), that's good writing, not giving away stance before the actual review, so kudos to you.

Thanks! Full disclosure - a lot of that material was originally in the Pirates review, but it got too long on its own, and the college drinking story felt more appropriate for an intro section anyway.

Besides, once I realized where the word count was going I couldn't resist the 'keep you in suspense' nature of cutting off right before I got to it.