Peter: Your post from the Pipe world is relevant, however, for me it reads so pompously
my pea brain can barely understand it. Then again I'm not an intellectual pipe smoker. LOL!
Joe P: You point out that we ought to comment as if we would in person.
Well said. However.... how hard is it to come up to a known (or unknown) maker at a show and
without their prompting tell them what you don't like about their work and how it might be improved. Ugghh. Me, I place the work back on the table, look them in the eye and say thank you as I move on.
I've been handled a million knives. I know what works and what doesn't for me, and even in the closest of confidence it's overbearing to broach this in person, unless asked.
Peter: you are on target. THIS is the place to learn and educate. A show is the culmination of many other things, and social graces are paramount.
So it can be here. As much as I can and need to be an 'attaboy' player, I see the need for constructive criticism.
I really don't buy that ANYTIME a piece of work is shown it's an open market for critical dialog. That's internet at it's worst, and I'm participating in this community as internet at it's BEST.
There are threads on Pg1 of this forum today about the fall and decline of collectors of certain styles of knives, and how to attract new interest and members. We need growth, not alarms ringing.
I've said this before and it bears repeating: Unless a critique is asked for or "comments welcome", that's a roadblock for CC dialog. The kind of dialog
that poster wants is the casual comments they'd get at a show or in person. Many will disagree and this will spark another debate, but that's how I view it.
Truth is it is hard to stand up to critique however well-meaning or educated. If you are really ready you'll mention this first. Some might simply be ambivalent and forgot to add this qualifier.
Karda, a suggestion for this forum: When a new post is opened there are a few canned subject lines:
Review, Photos, Off Topic, How to, CONTEST!!!, and Recommendation.
Lose the 'Off Topic' and 'CONTEST!!!' and add in:
'Comments welcome'. (I know this ought to be handled in S&S, but we're talking here now.) A small change that might open doors otherwise left closed.
Observers: If you really want to say something that you find needs improving, our opening words are the
key to that toolbox. It takes MORE thoughtful work from the critic to set the verbal tone. It's patently easier to just get right into it. (
That's when the trouble started...
)
There is a wide divide between Kumbaya and Brash. However that's the 'Yin and Yang' of education and constructive criticism. Neither works well alone.
Coop
