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No More Secrets?

Tue, 11 July 2000, 11:27 pm
Grant Malcolm23 posts in thread
Maybe it's because I've managed to personally avoid the wrath of the bewhiskered one, but i've not been entirely unappreciative of the commentaries posted under the pseudonym "Secret Squirrel".

I'm not sure whether i find his/her nasty remarks any more or less pleasing, illuminating or fulfilling than some of the occasionally fatuous "the show was fantastic. i loved it" comments that pepper this message board.

Certainly the first couple of commentaries on Butterflies Are Free and Bumpy Angels appeared to be at least partly considered and thought out. The most recent message really seemed to be plumbing the depths of bile though.

I'd like to encourage Squirrel to keep writing critiques - under your real name. You don't need to own up to who you are, that's not my point. I just can't help feeling that if you posted under your own name, you would take a little bit more time rephrasing some of the hasty, nastier things you have said. Not that you should cut out the critical comments, but that you might give them at least a light dusting of icing sugar to help them go down. It would be much harder for people to dismiss you out of hand if you weren't so dismissive yourself. People would still hear your criticisms, but would take them on board more readily if they sense that you have made an effort to understand their difficulties and you share their passion.

Finally, if you really can't find anything positive to say, perhaps it's better to say nothing at all?

Cheers
Grant

RE: No More Secrets?

Wed, 12 July 2000, 04:01 pm
Walter Plinge
I'm with Leah on this one Gary ...

All a review ever is, is an individuals personal opinion, whether that opinion is informed or not. If it is informed opinion then we might take more notice of what the reviewer has to say. If it is not informed opinion - as in the case of SS - then we should take less notice of what is said. Even ignore it.

I will admit that I haven't been the subject of one of SS's harsh opinions (in which case I would perhaps find it harder to take my own advice), but it seems to me that many who have been in that unfortunate position, have a lot of trouble ignoring what is, according to you, myself, and many others, overly harsh, if not uninformed opinion.

We have no way to determine whether it is informed opinion or not, except from our judgement of the opinion itself ... but to say that we should attempt to sensor what SS has to say ('discourage' to use your words) simply demonstrates a lack of ability to ignore their comments, and flys in the face of the concept of free speech.

What SS has said are not facts .... but one persons opinion. We definitely DO need thicker skins ...

The opinion is worth little .... so ignore it.

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