Re: [Harp-L] Re: criticism

[Larry Marks <larry.marks@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am decidedly on the side of those who believe that criticism is useful 
for all of us on the list.

I agree that if you make a public performance, you have already decided 
by default that you are prepared for criticism. If you are an artist and 
you have confidence in what you are doing, then a negative critique 
shouldn't matter to you. If you don't have confidence in what you are 
doing, then please don't inflict your stuff on the rest of us.

For all the others, a detailed and specific criticism can both inform 
and stir our own feelings.

I further agree that Elizabeth's response, while it was friendly, is 
none the less a form of ad hominem attack; that is, it attacks the 
person or hir actions, not the validity of hir arguments.


Larry Marks, Really Senior Software Geek