01-21-2013, 05:18 PM
I've just come over all unnecessary...and suddenly feel the need to be evangelical about this forum. I didn't join in the "why do you love" discussion, so this is a sort of combined post.
The thing that I've noticed happening recently is a lack of respect and deference for the art and towards those who have walked the walk and earned the title. When I first joined, the serious critique section was a "dragons be here area" and I accidentally strayed into it and got burnt by the experience...not because the comments were rude or unjustified but because I was not ready to work at that level. Not only am I a grumpy, (nearly) old woman, but I’m also a wuss and have more insecurities that you can shake a stick at.... But (and it is a large BUT!), I was never made to feel put down, inadequate or equally to feel that my efforts were shit (even when they probably were) by the Mods. The most incredible aspect of this site is the fine line that is taken between encouragement and honest evaluation. In my opinion (and this is my sycophantic why I love bit), this line is walked with skill, humility and commitment by the mods and offers anyone who would choose to partake to join an apprentice type environment in which to learn and to expand...but here is the really great bit...the intake system allows participants to join at whatever level they have already achieved. Compared to others I have looked at, this forum is really well thought out and overseen. If you signed on for a course you might have two, perhaps three teachers and you would be subject to their individual quirks and failings of skill in isolation from any other comments. Quiet likely without realising the process you would be forced into a box of thought and style.
So here is my comment to this thread:-
The above all said, the site will only work if we can encourage and be honest in threads like this one so that everyone stays on the same page.
To those of you who think you should not be in the serious critique threads I would encourage you to spend as much time as possible reading the crits of the senior members and mods. There is so much to learn from doing this. This, and the fact that you think you are disqualified from the threads, proves that you might be nearly ready to take the plunge and post a few crits yourself.
To a minor few I would say - Show some respect.
Sorry for the length of my grumpy rant.
The thing that I've noticed happening recently is a lack of respect and deference for the art and towards those who have walked the walk and earned the title. When I first joined, the serious critique section was a "dragons be here area" and I accidentally strayed into it and got burnt by the experience...not because the comments were rude or unjustified but because I was not ready to work at that level. Not only am I a grumpy, (nearly) old woman, but I’m also a wuss and have more insecurities that you can shake a stick at.... But (and it is a large BUT!), I was never made to feel put down, inadequate or equally to feel that my efforts were shit (even when they probably were) by the Mods. The most incredible aspect of this site is the fine line that is taken between encouragement and honest evaluation. In my opinion (and this is my sycophantic why I love bit), this line is walked with skill, humility and commitment by the mods and offers anyone who would choose to partake to join an apprentice type environment in which to learn and to expand...but here is the really great bit...the intake system allows participants to join at whatever level they have already achieved. Compared to others I have looked at, this forum is really well thought out and overseen. If you signed on for a course you might have two, perhaps three teachers and you would be subject to their individual quirks and failings of skill in isolation from any other comments. Quiet likely without realising the process you would be forced into a box of thought and style.
So here is my comment to this thread:-
The above all said, the site will only work if we can encourage and be honest in threads like this one so that everyone stays on the same page.
To those of you who think you should not be in the serious critique threads I would encourage you to spend as much time as possible reading the crits of the senior members and mods. There is so much to learn from doing this. This, and the fact that you think you are disqualified from the threads, proves that you might be nearly ready to take the plunge and post a few crits yourself.
To a minor few I would say - Show some respect.
Sorry for the length of my grumpy rant.