Green Room - Week 11 - Day 2

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

Is it morning yet?

Really?

Are you SURE?

***
The new topic thread is at http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/292164.html

for those of you not currently in the lineup, but want to submit (or read) Home Game entries: http://community.livejournal.com/therealljidol/292544.html
***

Comments

[stormkitty.livejournal.com]

*stares blearily into green room*

Yeah, it's morning. I need another cup of coffee, though.

Still trying to decide between two options for my entry. Neighbor's pool STILL isn't done, so I'm also listening to (and feeling) digging from next door. Can we jump ahead to Friday, please?

[kittenboo.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about this alot and wondered if people want to talk about constructive criticism? I mean I have seen:

-people complain that they wish they received more of it
-people complain that they left constructive criticism and the other person did not respond to it.
-people complain that they left it and the other person didn't agree/or follow it
-people disagree over what is constructive criticism versus what is just plain negativity.

But maybe instead of just complaining about these things, we could talk about them. I understand everyone has different opinions, me for example, I don't like criticism in my journal especially from people I don't know. I am fine with receiving it off journal, although I don't seek it out in ljidol. When i want the opinion of someone who's writing/editing skills I respect I simply ask them. But that's me. We all have our own way.

How do you feel about constructive criticism? Do you think it has a place in idol? What do you think that place is?

[cacophonesque.livejournal.com]

Yes, apparently it is morning. At least, it is here. Although, I understand that in other parts of the globe it's evening.

Did not accomplish as much as I wanted to last night when I went home. But I did make a list of things to do, which makes me feel a bit more focused. Forgot to put "Write my Idol post" on it, though. Whoopsie.

And back to overtime tonight. Ugh.

Been listening to Maine Public Radio while I'm at work, which is pretty awesome, because I like news and classical music and all that--but everytime they do the weather forecast I get confused. Although I wish that shows like "Thistle and Shamrock," "A Prairie Home Companion," "Car Talk," and "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" were weekday shows!

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Almost done with inking my entry, which is FABULOUS considering how long it is. I am very excited about this one.

I am pretty sure it is morning because I am still hald asleep! I mean, half asleep! You see? I can't even type yet!

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

It's mid-morning here, whee. Need coffee... *yawn*

Haven't written my post yet, but I do have an idea of what to write about, and that's half (okay, maybe a third) of the battle, right? =)

[pricelessone.livejournal.com]

Looking for an amazing, thought-provoking read? Check out worldofcharlie's Home Game entry:

http://worldofcharlie.livejournal.com/366214.html

Seriously. I loved it. Wish he was still in the running...

[beautyofgrey.livejournal.com]

I appreciate constructive criticism and usually include a sentence at the bottom of my post along the lines of "constructive criticism and feedback are welcomed."

Part of my reasons for participating include attempting to become a stronger writer. I don't think that I can do that on my own, without feedback. So, please, feel free to tell me what you love and/or hate about my pieces - I want to know what works for you and what falls flat (and why).

On the "why"... constructive criticism is not intended to belittle, tear down, or completely lambast a piece of writing simply because the reader doesn't like it - the word "constructive" would indicate that advice is offered, or that an explanation is given for the weaknesses of the piece. When I offer constructive criticism, I almost always try to include positive attributes/strengths of the post, as well.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I don't mind constructive criticism, as long as it isn't cruel. I don't mind it on my Idol entries, since I know I'm not the strongest writer here and am always seeking to improve. If it is in-depth, I'd prefer it off-list; if it is something minor then leaving it in a comment to the post is ok.

Basically, I'll take it if it offered in a helpful manner, especially if it is from someone that I respect as a writer or as a friend.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

Morning? Bah.

Having just had my arm ripped off (for all intents and purposes, that is what today's PT felt like) I am fairly certain morning has come and gone for me.

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

I see you took the offered icon and made it your own - lovely! :)

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

You've always been disarming, Sis. =)

[beautyofgrey.livejournal.com]

I couldn't help it... it matched my journal so well. :)

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Good topic for discussion!

I am not really looking for constructive criticism-- I am looking to complete a personal challenge! But that doesn't mean I dislike constructive criticism; I'm just not actively seeking it out and I don't expect to get it.

Here is how I feel.

--If you WANT constructive criticism, you MUST ask for it.
--If you ask for it, you do NOT need to follow it, but you should be respectful and thank the person who gave it to you, even if you don't like it.
--Negative constructive criticism is still constructive criticism. The old adage about not having anything nice to say doesn't hold if you've ASKED them to say it anyway. If they don't have anything nice to say, you shouldn't expect them to sugarcoat it.
--That being said, if constructive criticism stops being criticism of the piece and starts being criticism of the writer, it is time to use that handy-dandy backspace key.
--If you're leaving criticism, you must remember that the person accepting the criticism is under no obligation to agree or to incorporate it. It may be their loss, but it's their choice, too.
--Arguing with constructive criticism is for babies. Take, internalize, and then respond. You can say "I don't think that really works for me, but thank you," but arguing when someone has gone to the trouble to leave their opinion and think about your work more than the cursory LJI read is pretty snotty.
--If you want criticism about a specific part of your writing, or have a specific question, make sure to ask it. Your readers are journal-readers, not mind-readers.
--If you don't want constructive criticism, you have to say that, too. As soon as you put your work out publicly for the world to see, you are inviting criticism and you have to be able to accept that. If you are having a bad day and don't want to hear anything negative, or just don't like criticism in general, you need to let your audience know, because they will think that they are helping you out and not realize it's not what you want.
--But if you leave constructive criticism for someone who DIDN'T ask for it, don't expect them to be happy. They should be respectful, but not happy.
--If you don't want the criticism on that specific entry, you need to say that, too, since that is the most intuitive place to leave it for most people.

On your specific description, I MUCH, MUCH, MUCH prefer my criticism in my journal, as a comment, attached to the specific post being criticized. That way I can read everything in tandem and know what the source material that the criticism is citing was without having to think about it.

[agirlnamedluna.livejournal.com]

It's (late) afternoon and I still haven't fully woken up >.<

I'm also supposed to be working. I'm guessing nobody feels like glancing over a translation to tell me what exactly is not working with the (*&^&^%R% text, now do they? haha

[tigrkittn.livejournal.com]

Morning. Yes. Bleh. Hopefully I'll be a little less sluggish by the time afternoon gets here, but I wouldn't bet money on it. It's been a week. Yes, already. :p

NO idea what to write about this week. Hopefully I'll come up with something.

[xo-kizzy-xo.livejournal.com]

:stumbles in yawning:

I think I'm back in the land of the living. Today marks the end of my seven-days-straight work schedule :thunk: I've got the next two days to recover, then it starts all over again :thunk:

Oh hey, did anyone make any coffee?

[callistahogan.livejournal.com]

I have the day off school today. There's nothing better than waking up to find your school on the cancellation list. :)

I still haven't figured out what I am going to write for my entry, but I have quite a few days left. I am a little (okay, a lot) worried that I have no more byes left. But I'm sure I'll come up with something.

[marjory.livejournal.com]

This concerns me!

Are you sure you're visiting a *physio* and not some sort of career sadist? Physios aren't meant to hurt you (although sessions are/can be exhausting) so you should really holler hard and loud if that starts to happen.

I know everything, me.

[marjory.livejournal.com]

Unsolicited criticism can make me snarl if I'm caught on a bad day. That's me.

Negative, non-constructive criticism always does make me at the very least want to raise my middle finger and blow a raspberry. It's rude and a waste of breath/pixels as well as being something too much indulged in. Being told I'm crap but not why is pure &$*§ and that's my final word!

It's spectacularly easy to be purely negative, too easy to cross the line in that regard and far more difficult to come up with a helpful and positive alternative. The latter exists too.

I'll open myself up for some, basically agreeing with zia_narratora and roina_arwen's points.

[cacophonesque.livejournal.com]

You have been getting so much snow up in Maine! I've been listening to the weather on Maine Public Radio. It's insane. And I got to experience the Monday storm, myself (was worried that I might not get back to the city that day, which would have put me in big trouble at work).

Congrats on the snow day! I could use a snow cancellation at work, but that's unlikely to happen.

[thndrstd.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure. It's rainy and gloomy here. My bed seems to have a very strong magnetic pull.

Perhaps I'm dreaming . . .

I wish I could dream something better than work, though.

[cacophonesque.livejournal.com]

This is a pretty good position on the matter. So I'll tag onto it since I have no focus to make my own list.

[spydielives.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we talked at great length about it, and even made some major changes to the routine.

My muscles are so tight in the shoulder that even the simple stretching we need to do before I can do my strength work is really painful. Now muscles in the neck want to get in on the act so we have added different home work for me, and put back some restrictions that were lifted last week.

I refuse to take any anti-inflammatory/pain meds before a session, which helps my progress overall, but there are consequences. I also have to keep reminding myself that I am only five weeks out, and this is a long process.

[teaberryblue.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it can make a lot of people snarly. But it's another one of those cases where I feel like you sort of have to take a step back and realize that the person who didn't it was trying to be helpful, not hurtful, and probably left criticism because they're the kind of person who enjoys it. That's why I feel like people who don't want it should say so, but people who leave it for someone who didn't say they want it shouldn't expect someone to be kissing their cheeks for it.

And yeah, I consider constructive criticism to be criticism with a constructive component, as in, "I didn't like x; I think it would have worked better if you y," as opposed to JUST "I didn't like x."

[cacophonesque.livejournal.com]

It's also one of those cases, where when someone actually goes through the trouble of offering genuine constructive criticism, it means they give a shit about your writing--they actually want for you to do better and are taking the time to think about what could be helpful.