Roleplayer's Message Board

[Geco]

It took me long enough to get there ^_^ That's what you get for a 4 month hiatus.

I'm tempted to say, "lets drop it all together," and just move on, but I figure that's what most people would do, and I'm actually have much more fun discussing something that might cause a bit of friction rather than simply agreeing to disagree.

even going as far to compare me to the ignorant

Not sure how I did that exactly. If you're referring to the American quip, that was just a joke, or if you'd prefer psych 101 on it, my way of releasing my frustrations with the American political system and news media (which I should really prefix with entertainment, because that's what it has become). But, I bear my brothers and to the sisters to the south no true ill will and have found each one I've met very nice and normal.

These are the same responses I'd hear architecture students using to comfort one another after someone critiques their projects

Are you referring to public critiquing? I have no issue with harsh feedback, and indeed there are great lessons to be learned from it, and many great professors who do it. However, I believe there is a time and place. Perhaps you know a student well enough that you feel it appropriate to call them out in public, but I compare the feedback you and Ren gave much to someone who's walked into for a new group for the first time, tried to do whatever the group was doing, yes failed miserably, being asked by the group leader to leave, then having some of the group members list all his faults for him as he walks away.

In the context of the situation, I don't understand how posting your feedback in a public forum was needed. It could have been sent in private, he still would have got the message, so I'm back to asking why it was done?

I'm also a big believer that our experiences tend to shape who we are and what we believe, so maybe if public critique has been the norm for you for the past 4-6 years during your studies, it makes sense that it'd be perfectly acceptable. You've seen it, and probably seen it work well. That's a big assumption, but it's the only thing I have to work with at the moment.

brings it full circle to the very point I've made in each of my posts: it's a tool for learning and discussion. Yes, it's a smidge harsh, but should we be coddled? Let's revisit my comments and I'd like to see just what you take issue with.

a) I'm not refuting that it's a tool for learning and discussion, but as I said, it's a byproduct of our community, not the reason we're here. That is a big differentiator to me. If the sticky posts read, come RP with other members, learn to write better, and receive feedback on your skills, then that would make sense. I believe our purpose is to have fun first.

b) Actually during my posts I've mostly been referring to Ren's comments - I meant to state that explicitly but forgot to.

I think you've hit on my point/question of: was it appropriate? I don't think your own comments were out of line, the eye bleeding thing maybe a bit harsh ya, but otherwise was good feedback.

What I struggle with is why you needed to post it at all. Which brings us back to:

#2 is a selfish one. What do I (or Rensha) have to gain by being <somewhat> harsh on the forums? Wishfully thinking - either inspiring the guy to buck up and produce something legible. More rationally - bluntly encouraging him to come back after addressing aforementioned issues of basic writing. We've all been there, enduring 3 full IC threads of awkwardness. You gave him multiple chances to steer his first few IC posts towards "hey, that's decent." Time for us to discuss the problem.

And so I ask, why'd you have to post it publicly, and it's back to that inappropriate thing.

Honestly, still, I just don't really get what made you guys do it, so to speak. It's one thing if he kept posting not respecting my request for him to stop, or if he'd asked for the feedback, but in my eyes he graciously bowed out, said he'd tried to get better, but even after that you guys still posted.

I think my mind is going crazy trying to think about this too much, and this is all probably a symptom of me not having had a good argument with someone in a long time (damn being unemployed!).

I know everyone is probably like, f*** get it over with already Marc.

IN CONCLUSION

I guess I just felt it was inappropriate. If you really felt so strongly about giving him feedback, in my mind it wasn't justified doing so in the forums and you could have used a private message. Given proper context, I think it would be fine, but this wasn't one of those situations. And, obviously, I have trouble figuring out exactly what's bothering me about something and being concise about it.

I apologize to everyone, sorry =(

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to explain my quip. At the end of the last post, I said it brought my point back to, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should." I actually was referring to myself and how I chose to write that comment about Americans, but I didn't really need to ^_-