Permission to quote (Sridala)

Permission to quote (Sridala)


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Interesting essay, Sridala. True of all forums I have been in (since my dinosaur Usenet era days).

In my experience though, feedback does not change the person's idea of self, but only modifies their behavior on that forum, as they begin to perceive what the rules of the game on the forum are, and begin to play accordingly.

More often than the critic realizes, feedback is silently discounted by the receiver (though outwardly there are the usual thank-yous) because the feedback giver is a comparative stranger.

Most people only pay attention to feedback from people that they know well, and this makes sense, because then feedback can be put into context. Feedback from someone whose writing skills we know to be good is worth more than feedback from someone we don't think much of. But with a stranger, there is no context.

In most forums the democratic approach makes it impossible to select who we receive feedback from, and conventions demand that we treat all feedback equally. Some will say feedback should be taken on its own weight, regardless of who is giving it, but this is one of those nice thoughts which ignores reality.

Aparna

Sridala, I agree about freedom changing a person even if feedback doesn't.

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Mukesh, I thought I had set my preferences to receive messages from anyone, if not, I need to change that.

Are writers really different? Yes, but I think everyone is different, so I assume no special status for writers in particular. No more different from non-writers than dancers from non-dancers, smokers from non-smokers, rotarians from non-rotarians.

I don't argue your preference to be open to response from anyone. If you are, more power to you. I'm speaking merely of my experience.

Re your posts, I have read them, but haven't had any comments to make, yet. I will definitely, when I do have something to say.

Aparna