but I am unable to decipher the connotation, though I feel pretty sure there is one.

That saying "reading Freud is a waste of time" is perfectly fine because reading Freud really is a waste of time (except for signalling affiliations). It isn't required that a further statement also be made about which psychologist should be read instead. That is a separate piece of information that may also be communicated.

If you happen to disagree that reading Freud is a waste of time that still doesn't make the claim not communication. It is communicating something that you disagree with and to say that it is "not communication" is just false.

Another analogy: If I said repeatedly "don't ever bother listening to Obama", and after requests for clarification I explained that I did not mean to express any political argument whatsoever, only completely neutrally and rationally suggested that "doing what you want, including nothing, will bring you more utilons that listening to Obama", would you say that this manner of speach is acceptable by LW social norms?

People prefer talking about psychology than talking about politics here. If you chose an example that wasn't so loaded then yes, I would say the general form was perfectly acceptable.