JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Lack of critique in the mp3 Feedback Forum

Ian,

The problem that I have with ideas like "some are here just for a fan base" and "don't want constructive criticism" is that they are not humanistic ideas to me, and more...digital...on or off, propositions...like there is a hidden assumption that you are either here FOR constructive constructive criticism or you're not, and if you ARE, you cannot want a fan base too.

Aren't people, in "real life" a little more complex than that? Don't we want (our music) to be liked, and get constructive criticism? Why, in your mind, does the idea of wanting to be liked (fan base) negate the possibility, in your mind, that such a person can't also want to learn and grow? IMHO, every single one of us, to one degree or another, want both of these things.

The hidden fallacy in your assumption is this: Just because some people react defensively to criticism does not mean that they do not want it. People react defensively for a million reasons, most saliently among them that they have one idea in their head of the way "things are", and the more one clutches to one idea of reality, the harder it is to "hear" another! But, that doesn't mean people do not want to hear it, or do not want the criticism. Again, I think you over simplify the human experience. People have varying degrees of thick and thin skin, but Edith stays with Archie Bunker because she knows, deep down, he's a good guy. She sees Archie growing, through the years, in spite of what any single "snapshot" might indicate. We ALL of us want to grow, and the rest of us grow, in spite of ourselves.

Jean is a little pessimistic in her outlook of human nature, too, thinking we'll "all revert back to the way things were" and yet we are all here and partake of this place and must get something out of it, or we wouldn't be here.

I'm okay with the way things are, even when we are less than perfect. Again, I see a purpose and find meaning in the way things are, just as they are. Sure I have ideals and would love things to run a little more like "a machine", but we aren't machines. We are humans, and model our system on a Democracy, and that's a beautiful thing.

Best wishes,

Mike