Rant Alert! - WritingForums.com - Writing Forums, Writing Challenges, Critiques and Help for Writers

**Penelope** · 01-14-2004, 12:07 AM

I, for one, and I'm not alone am sick to death of writers who seem to take criticsm poorly. Who are so wrapped up in their sense of self they can't see past their navel.
I don't care how old you are. I don't care if you are male or female. I don't care if you love someone who does not love you back. If your writing is crap, it's still crap no matter what your feelings are.
Don't expect tolerance when you subject me (a reader) to entreaties and falderal that's irrelevant. Don't expect me to ignore or be wounded by petulance either. What ever you sling at me pales in comparison to what I've dealt with in my life.
I've known tons of young writers who exercise decorum in the forum. So don't use youth as an excuse.
I treat people as individuals and in a writing forum, guess what? Your writing is what matters. In time, through your writing, your personality will shine or be a wet hankie. It's all up to you.
Participating in the forums, commenting on other people's work and generally being honest goes miles further than resorting to name calling and temper tantrums.
If you want to be treated seriously, then think before you write.

Beatrice Boyle · 01-14-2004, 02:22 AM

Amen, Amen, Amen! As usual Pen, you dare to say in your own inimitable way, what the rest of us feel but are hesitant to put out there! =D>

Those who are truly talented will listen and be grateful down the line...the mediocre or just plain bad, will just rant!

**Penelope** · 01-14-2004, 09:24 AM

You know Bea, I felt bad about this later when I was at work. I know I don't help matters by being direct but it's not because I hate anyone. I just can't handle seeing people doing their writing a disservice. I don't regret writing this but I wondered what I'd written so I came to check it out. Rants have that impact on me.
Thanks Bea. Appreciate your support.

I'll try to get through the day without a melt down.

ClaireR · 01-14-2004, 11:40 AM

Ahhhh...my first forum post...and I swore I wouldn't. LOL!

Pen, I agree with you, and with Bea, guidance and criticism is the only way we learn in anything. In the literary, artistic, or music world, if you can't take it, you need to write, paint or sing for yourself only, and not put it out there.

If one wants to improve, he accepts criticism with grace and does not use it as "defeat" or take offense... and lets face it, there isn't a one of us that hasn't had it, given it, and learned (and continue to learn) from it....

There have been times when I have been more harsh than I should have, but there is a quote that I love...I think it was in a David Niven movie..."I will continue to yell Tripe! whenever Tripe! is served.

Claire

**Penelope** · 01-14-2004, 03:07 PM

Thanks Claire. I will say there were a number of writers who waded into the last outbreak of wounded feelings. I joined the forum in July and did some reading before I posted. I had doubts about my writing as we all do. I didn't appeal to others to comment. I didn't make a joke about my writing. I just waited with baited breath - like everyone else. Those who don't realize they aren't the only writer who worries about their work are too focused on self. A good writer is an observant and reflective one. As far as I'm concerned you can't write well if you don't look around you.

Spudley · 01-14-2004, 03:46 PM

Those who know me here will know that I try to be diplomatic. If I don't like a piece, I will say what I don't like, but I'll also try to find something positive to say. If I really didn't like it, I usually won't say anything - and the odds are in that case I won't have read it all the way through anyway.

But that said, I can perfectly understand the points made here. At the end of the day, by the act of posting on this site, you are inviting comments and criticism on your work. So if you then get comments, it seems somewhat gauche to start reacting badly to them. Far better to take the comments on board, and use them to improve your work.

**Penelope** · 01-14-2004, 11:38 PM

I think I am going to add to this. Another bitch I suppose. Instead of being thanked for commenting I now see *someone* is taking issue with me being the only one who does drop by. Never mind that I offered constructive help which was asked for. Oh no - that simply isn't acceptable. Solution? Well - I suppose I won't comment on their work again.

Guineapiggy · 01-15-2004, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penelope

I think I am going to add to this. Another bitch I suppose. Instead of being thanked for commenting I now see *someone* is taking issue with me being the only one who does drop by. Never mind that I offered constructive help which was asked for. Oh no - that simply isn't acceptable. Solution? Well - I suppose I won't comment on their work again.

I can't help but agree with you there, Pen. (Pen, Penelope, Peanut Loaf, Which do you prefer?) If people post looking for critique and someone gives it then why in gods name get defensive? I'm just glad I haven't encountered much of that myself, this place seems to attract some much more receptive writers than other places.

**Penelope** · 01-15-2004, 09:42 AM

I don't believe they were being defensive but more like complaining no one else was making comments on their writing. I would not have minded if they'd referred to the suggestion I'd made but they didn't. I prefer Pen if you're asking. And it's my real name. I've never been referred to as that other one you suggested.
This and LitOrg are very good places to post. A lot of generous writers here and next door. It's because of the high membership and the quality of the submissions. I am a moderator on another site but it's not as busy.
Anyways, I think my solution for dealing with this latest annoyance of mine is a viable one.

Guineapiggy · 01-15-2004, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penelope

I prefer Pen if you're asking.

Cool, gotcha

(This smiley is so warped...)

Farror · 02-17-2004, 04:34 PM

Euh, Pen, if you're talking about me in that post, I think you are taking it the wrong way. I wasn't trying to be a brat and suggest that it's your fault. I was trying to convince those elusive viewers to give me some sort of critique for my work. It was just a bit of a suggestion to the others, if you look again you'll probably notice a "hint hint" between brackets.

If you are talking about me, than I'm sorry that you took it that way, if not, then bah! I've wasted my time!

**Penelope** · 02-17-2004, 07:17 PM

Even though it is a month later, I am going to respond honestly. Yes, it was you. You can put all the 'hint hint' words you feel like. I stick by my point and will add this. It may have been in jest, but you made note of it. That means you actually had thoughts about it. In addition I will emphasize again, that I would not have added that if you'd actually made some reference to the comments made on your poem. You didn't do that either and focused on being 'ignored' by other writers. Am I still annoyed about it? Well, I suppose I could be but I've had so many other things going on in my life that I'd forgotten about this. Do I deserve an apology? No, not really.

Farror · 02-17-2004, 08:28 PM

Well you're getting one whether you deserve it or not!

Pen, I apologize if I have offended you by what I said while joking. I've heard that I sometimes let my mouth run off, so I guess it's the same way with my fingers eh?

**Penelope** · 02-17-2004, 09:02 PM

It's accepted with no reservations.

klaus · 02-27-2004, 02:06 AM

Although I am very lost in what's going on here, I kinda agree with what everyone says here. And that's not merely in line with my deep respect for all writing machines, but also with my making up a decision to look around and learn.