h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well I haven't read this thread (the one being referred to, not THIS thread) so I can only agree with Hypatia, I have frequently explained aspects of stuff I have written to various critics. Sometimes they understand when expained, sometimes they don't, but if I have ever snapped then I hope I apologised afterwards. Incidentally, I would have thought that if you intend something for an audience and the device you have used does not work on the audience then it hasn't worked and you might want to rethink what you were trying to achieve.

I think the nature of art is that it is very much open to interpretation, and that everybody will get an idea about it according to their personal experience. And sometimes they won't get it at all.

I would have understood the reaction if I had said: I don't understand this, so it is bad. But I didn't say that.

What it all boils down to, to me, is that no matter how "artistic" you are there's no excuse for behaving like a spoiled three-year-old. I've seen it being used as justification for all sorts of childish, petty and mean behaviour and I don't have the patience for it.

Neither do I, which is why I avoid it whenever I can.

I agree with various people who suggest that people behaving badly should be told to shut up, but I don't think it should be an obligation, it isn't really fair for people who aren't naturally combative to log on feeling they might have to get involved in a quarrel. I will endeavour to lurke in pr a bit more and slap people as required.

I don't think they should be told to "shut up" and I don't think (in fact I would be dead against) it being "combative". But I do think that a gentle nudge along the lines of "that's not nice" or "that's not how this place works" is fine. In fact it's what we shoud have been doing for years.

It is better to let people know, and preferably from the person who feels injured because otherwise how do we know that they don't give a stuff about reactions like that?

And if it's bad enough that you want to say "shut up" it could be enough to yikes it, surely?

Please don't 'slap' people in PR.

Some genuinely misconstrue what is being said to them. Eventually they calm down and complete their Entry.

Flaming in PR is never going to be a good thing and drags down the site


lil xx

Knowing benjamin I'm sure he wasn't serious.

hi

first of all let me say that i do not intend to offend anyone here
but
i cannot let this go unsaid

i cannot believe you all are still on about this
i saw it a couple of days ago in AW (is that what its called?)
its the workshop for stuff like poems
which is what was being reviewed or helpy workshopped
a poem

and what bel said in her first post
and the first post after it was started up
was that she found the reiteration of a word grating
it "grates"
and that grated on me

long before anyone else posted or the poet replied or you started this here

why did it grate on me?
because it is a POEM
and anything goes in a poem
and to reiterate a word is well within the most conservative rules for good poetry

it was a harsh remark with nothing postive said about the poem
it was not helpful

when art is put forward for review
one is careful
especially if one does not know much about the art
as you said about yourself
one is careful
and finds what one enjoys, first
later maybe
one can question certain stuff about the art
but not just barge right in and say something "grates"

anyway...
gathering together here
not giving a link to show the incident in question (in a POETRY workshop)
and then proceeding to spend a cupla days continually reaming the poet
because you didnt like the way she reacted to your harsh remark

just grates


and yes i know i wasnt invited in here
but
we all can see you
you know
the whole world is ha ha watching

I've recently written a pome
It grates to the very bone
Most people don't like it
They think that it's
Oh please leave my pome alone.

Oh wait just a minute
What should I do?
I did ask the public
My pome to review
Thank you for reading
Should be my reply
Or keep it in .docs
'Cause my pome it is shy.

If I want an opinion
I'll ask for review
If I just want to publish
My journal will do.

that's very clever and cute, fizzymouse
and i like it

but

there is a difference between opinion and rudeness

There certainly is. Bel was diffident and polite, and gave her opinion. Effers was rude, describing Bel's comment as "an utter joke" and unsubscribing.

I couldn't agree more about the difference between opinion and rudeness and there is no doubt that rudeness is very prevalent on site at the minute but I don't believe Bel's comment was rude, you do.

That is a difference of opinion.

I've had many reviews on site - some good, some bad. The only rude ones were the ones not placed directly with the offering in question - the ones that were placed on site but NOT directly to me. That's just rude.

If you offer something - anything up for review or opinion of others you have to accept their opinion. You don't have to act on it or even to respond to it but you have to accept you asked for it and you got it.

I wouldn't submit anything for review if I wasn't prepared to defend it, stand by it, change it, or withdraw it if it really was unsuitable. I believe that's the whole point of submitting for review. If I were feeling particularly precious about anything I'd written I'd keep it in a journal - and I've done that loads of times.

I could say a lot in reply to fkf, but I won't.

I will however thank Gnomon and Fizzy for their considerate replies and support. And I'd like to thank everybody here for their thoughts and comments. It is helpful when trying to get the whole picture with all shades.

Love your pome, Fizzy.

well, all i have left to say is that, if you know someone has a weakness
you do not come in and right off the bat challenge that weakness

ie if you know someone has a hard time resisting sweets... you dont come in with a tray of incredible whip creamy chocolaty french pastries

No, I don't because I am a decent person. I'm not sure what you are after, but then I don't actually need to know.

now what kind of remark is that?
i dont want to fight
i just felt
with all the opinions flying on this thread
that something for the 'other side' should be said

and you're welcome

and, just in case you missed it,
my last posting above
is an example of being nice but not really

Lots of people here said they could see the point of the author. That was not what this journal is about anyway. It is about why people who do not want criticism submit something to a review forum.
Maybe you can tell me?

If I am a wallflower
And I cannot stand the heat
I should keep out of kitchens
And keep cool beneath my feet
That way I will not perish
And I won't have cause to pout.
A wallflower in the garden
In the shade with nowt to shout!


I do like a appreciative audience - and I think I've found my level here.