I vehemently disagree that "art is what we like and trash is what we don't like". I greatly dislike the work of Lucien Freud, but that doesn't induce me to say anything disparaging about him as a painter. He is a great artist. I just happen not to like what he does.

About claims, I am reminded of a Monty Python sketch featuring a TV show called "Stake Your Claim!" in which people were invited to claim anything they liked. So the first guest claimed that he wrote all the plays of Shakespeare.

Presenter: So how do you explain the fact that these plays were being performed long before you were born?

Guest: Ah. Err. Well ... this is where my claim breaks down ...

Presenter: Go away. Get out of the studio.

Guest (defensive): Look, I didn't realise you were going to ask me to justify anything!