Semi-OT: My thoughts on the debate (for what it's worth) Archived Message
Posted by Rachel in IN on January 7, 2012, 6:09 pm, in reply to "Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet"
I feel compelled less to comment on Crown Princess Mary, her changes to the Ruby tiara, etc., and more to comment on some of the reactions and attitudes in relation to MY experience. My specific education is in the study of and writing of English literature. Like many student, a lot of my undergraduate work was done within peer groups where peer criticism was practiced to help us refine our style/voice and to help keep us on normative track relative to structure. In addition, we had the criticism of our instructors. Until you were in those relationships, you didn't know who your allies were and who 'the crocodiles' were. But even then, I was faced with the choice of honoring the critique of someone I suspected was criticizing more out of jealousy or allowing my feelings to be hurt. I did not go into writing, I eventually ended up in graphic design. I routinely have faced clients who loathe the concepts I've come up with. Sometimes it's a miscommunication in intention, sometimes it's a differential in taste or sophistication level, sometimes it's just what it is with no real reason behind it. But usually the opinion is immediate and bracing like a slap in the face. Now I'm back to writing in addition to my graphic work, and dealing with editors, etc. It's not an easy process to have someone suggest to rewrite a section here, or change a minor storyline there. I have a creative investment. I have an emotional investment. I have a time investment. But at some point in this process, there are decisions to be made. For ME, this boils down to "Do I want to be better?" Do I want to be a better storyteller? Do I want to be a better researcher? Do I want to be a better collaborator? Do I want to keep pushing my talent forward so that each thing I do is an improvement upon the last? And my answer is yes. I am willing to sacrifice my ego to be a better writer and continue to learn. There is a gift and a punishment to the internet and boards like these. Not only is there the opportunity for sharing and collaboration, but there is also the opportunity to feel the bite of the 'crocodiles.' As we have seen in the last few years, it can be the professionals/lurkers taking information from serious but non-professional enthusiasts and publishing under their own bylines; it can be professionals wishing to share their work with us as enthusiasts and suddenly finding it turn up in other locations; and I have no doubt that the professionals that visit this board are often surprised by debate or criticism of their books and projects. As if that wasn't all opinion enough, here is my opinion: 1. Participants of this board: By and large, I think we are all well-behaved people who have come to this board community to share in our mutual interest. We care enough to take time out of our disparate lives to post pictures, citations from books, links to articles or photos we may have found. Until we shared "a little" about ourselves recently, most of us did NOT know that much about each other unless we had privately communicated or formed live friendships, and we must also acknowledge that there is still a vast level of WHAT we know and WHO we know that remains undisclosed. 2. Professionals who visit this board: By and large, I think the authors/historians that POST on this board are all generous with their time, their research/knowledge, and their resources. It does take a level of bravery to deal directly with the target audience of your work, and I'm sure that sometimes it is rewarding and a pleasure and sometimes it is the bracing slap in the face. I would encourage any professional (particularly in regard to the lurkers) to keep a few things in mind. 1) Please reflect on the difference in criticism to make your work better and an attack on your ego. 2) Please keep in mind that while we know what your research capabilities are relative to access to jewels, documents, and people, you do NOT know the extent of WHAT we know or WHO we know or what our experience is. 3. To all of us: If you are disappointed or have your ego bruised, don't air your dirty laundry on another board, your own blog, or in the comments of someone else's blog. I have to say I've seen more of this than I would like in the last few years, and it has really changed my opinion of some people of whom I've been internet acquainted with for many years. I would encourage all of us, regardless of our profession, to act like the adults we are. We don't have to agree with one another's opinion, research sources, etc. but we also shouldn't be using these various outlets as bully pulpits for professional grievances, professional vs. commenter grievances, commenter vs. professional grievances, and for heaven's sake, commenter vs. commenter. I'm not innocent, but in recent years, I've tried to weigh my feelings before I hit the post button. Is it furthering the conversation in a positive, constructive way? Or is it just making me feel better? But is it really going to make me feel better? How invested am I in this? Should I really BE this invested in this? So, ultimately, no answers. I'm bringing this up as food for thought to people on both sides of the publishing divide. This is by no means a fully formed opinion on the topic, but a thumbnail of issues that have been playing on my mind for a while and have broken loose again because of this thread. This is of a community concern because of this specific thread, but in no way singling out any of the associated commenters. As I always say to my graphic clients, it's just an opinion, take it or leave it, but if I've gotten you to think, then I've done my job!
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- Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Ayvee January 1, 2012, 2:12 pm
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Tamara January 1, 2012, 2:17 pm
- Crown Princess Mary looks absolutely gorgeous today!!! n/t - Joy-Ann January 1, 2012, 3:41 pm
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Rachel-O January 1, 2012, 11:11 pm
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Photos close-up - Gert-Jan January 2, 2012, 9:40 am
- Princess Elisabeth at the New Year's Court Banquet - Torkel January 2, 2012, 10:44 am
- Close up - Lorenzo January 2, 2012, 11:51 am
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Bjarne January 3, 2012, 10:52 am
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - jinja January 4, 2012, 10:20 am
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Cristina January 4, 2012, 9:45 am
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Maridje January 3, 2012, 11:06 am
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Gert-Jan January 3, 2012, 11:08 am
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Juscha January 3, 2012, 11:36 am
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Nellie January 3, 2012, 4:50 pm
- Finally Bjarne!!!! Thank you very much!!!! - Joy-Ann January 3, 2012, 5:41 pm
- Re: Princess Mary at the New Year's Court Banquet - Royal Enthusiast January 4, 2012, 4:18 am
- to Bjarne - Tamara January 4, 2012, 8:58 am
- Semi-OT: My thoughts on the debate (for what it's worth) - Rachel in IN January 7, 2012, 6:09 pm
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