Chilling depicted HERE
Sorry, but I don't see how your cartoon is helpful.
And what's really funny is that I've posted on about a dozen writing sites since I found it and everybody gets a kick out of it and relates it to nutty debates about passive voice back when it was the huge no-no Iin between adverbs and "head-hopping".
This is the only place I've run into opprobrium. And nit-picking.
Want me to delete it or something?
[This message has been edited by LintonRobinson (edited December 06, 2008).]
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It's funny.
Yeah, a real hoot.
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And what's really funny is that I've posted on about a dozen writing sites since I found it and everybody gets a kick out of it and relates it to nutty debates about passive voice back when it was the huge no-no Iin between adverbs and "head-hopping".
Were we having a nutty debate about passive voices? I worry about the audience that found it so hilarious. While I am a fan of slapstick and metaphoric comedy, I found that comic to be too silly to be amusing. Not only that, that little bit was overwritten. Why write in the throat? Wouldn't Alas, I am slain be a POV violation? Why use diction? Wouldn't prose be more fitting? Wouldn't the comic work better if the characters spoke passively? How about...
Character one: Jeepers, Ninja! Why were you stabbing the professor?
Character two: None will be questioning my prose! I will be using my voice passively.
quote:
This is the only place I've run into opprobrium. And nit-picking.
Who was doing that? Kathleen only pointed out how it wasn't helpful to the discussion forum on writing. If she felt it was out of line she would have deleted it. I think you assume too much, LR. Only one person commented on your cartoon.
quote:
Want me to delete it or something?
And miss your extraordinary wit? Not a chance. Unless you mean the cartoon itself. Nah, but you may want to move it out of the humor section of your site.
But you certainly straightened me out om my illusion that there are some humor-challenged folks around this thread.
You don't have to worry about THEM. They are published professional writers. And grownups.
I think who should worry about is obvious from your bizarre post.
What I can't get over here is that I get all this sort of nastiness from people telling me that I'M prickly.
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What I can't get over here is that I get all this sort of nastiness from people telling me that I'M prickly.
Well maybe you got that way from rubbing up too close to them cactus's down there.
[This message has been edited by annepin (edited December 07, 2008).]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)
If Linton has an opinion that you disagree with, then disagree with it. He doesn't need to be censored. If you don't wish to be drawn into an emotive discussion then ignore posts that evoke such a response in you. Move onto the next post, to one you feel is less inflammatory, and respond to that.
Fires tend to draw larger crowds the bigger they are--and you can make them bigger by pouring fuel on them. Starve a fire of oxygen and it goes out.
A fact is a fact--the truth regarding a fact can be quickly established. But an opinion is an opinion; it can't be right or wrong. An opinion can't hurt you, unless you let it.
You can only be trolled if you let someone troll you.
[This message has been edited by skadder (edited December 07, 2008).]
[This message has been edited by skadder (edited December 07, 2008).]
KDW said,
quote:
"Destructive (as in only negative so as to tear down) criticism is not encouraged on the Hatrack River Writers Workshop forum," SHE built up."
Every time you put writers' forums down, Hatrack and some or all of its denizens are implicitly included. It's destrctive, not essential to the point you're trying to make, so why do you do it, if not to bait for your further amusement?
Every time you call someone a school kid, a clown, kibitzer, knucklehead or yclept, you're destructive. The professionals I have worked with know better than to criticize the person, and limit themselves to critiqueing the work itself or discussing the point at hand. They do it with respect and self discipline--can you find those qualities in yourself, Linton?
You complain of the long posts regarding your behaviour and wonder why you attract such stuff. (BTW they're long because it takes time to write something short, time better spent on stories.) If you read them, and--instead of scanning them for the odd phrase to futher attack--thought about what was being said, you might figure it out. (I noticed the apology for hurting people's feelings. It was meaningless in an otherwise negative post which demonstrated neither understanding nor respect.)
If you were a newbie, you might get more tolerance. But you're claiming to be a professional writer, and you've contributed to many writers' groups, so you know full well the power of your words.
Please consider KDW's words and figure out how, with your preeminent wisdom and experience, you can make Hatrack--as it was before you arrived--a place of positive criticism.
@skadder,
Yes, you're right. I can ignore him, and will, until he learns how to behave. But he's contributing to most if not all the threads I'm interested in, and not everyone recognizes a troll when they see one, and they respond, and the place feels negative, threatening, combative--which means I would need to ignore Hatrack. I'd rather not do that. And Hatrack will not achieve its objective of helping writers learn.
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@skadder,Yes, you're right. I can ignore him, and will, until he learns how to behave. But he's contributing to most if not all the threads I'm interested in, and not everyone recognizes a troll when they see one, and they respond, and the place feels negative, threatening, combative--which means I would need to ignore Hatrack. I'd rather not do that. And Hatrack will not achieve its objective of helping writers learn.
It was just a suggestion. If you don't feel able to ignore him, then send in the ninjas.
Actually, I'm thinking of running another contest--to see who can win the most inappropriate epithet from our new, um, friend. Currently, it's not me because I do talk crap sometimes; snapper and I have scored a "school kid" each; but I think the leader right now might be IB with yclept (which I had to look up, I'm ashamed to say and I still can't decide if it's an insult) and clown--which he might well be, but not when he's talking about writing.
Pat
[This message has been edited by TaleSpinner (edited December 07, 2008).]
*attaches ‘KICK ME’ sign on while giving a friendly tap on back*
This board certainly needs to loosen up a bit and chill. This is an open section of the forum for debate and discussion about writing, period. I guess with maturity comes the wisdom regarding selective engagement and complete refrain. Opinions are like a-holes -- everyone has one and they all stink. I really don't think Linton's activity here has caused anyone to become any more withdrawn than they would have been prior to his participation.
Live writing groups, at least the ones I have participated in, are usually a little more inclusive (and productive) than what I've found here. Don't kid yourselves there are plenty of Legends in their own minds lurking these boards. Hey that's cool! But then again, whoever said writers (and wannabes) weren't egotistical, intellectual masturbaters (apologies in advance to those that find that too blue)? Honesty and comfort in one's own skin (comes with maturity) is a trait of many writers I have met and known. Too many here are firmly entrenched in the posture of attack (armed with the knowledge of the last writer support book bolstering their remarks) making me question this site's utility with every thread that passes.
I guess writing for deliberate publication and monetary rewards is the "all guiding" principle here. Hey, that's cool. I suppose the legion of books that will be pulped this year is pretty nifty too.
[This message has been edited by dinoroxxx (edited December 07, 2008).]
But that's just me...
Oh, and his emails to me tried to inform me that I'm not a writer and he is. And that he is the only one qualified to give advice.
Some of us tried to point out that Orson Scott Card has articles called Uncle Orson's Writing Class (on this very site) that expressly cover Point of View--which this all began over. Most of us here respect OSC, and will take his word over Linton Robinson's (who actually hasn't published anything other than short stories, poems, and a dictionary of Mexican slang). When he dismisses OSC (which he did when I advised him to read Characters and Viewpoint) that's another thing that rubs many of us the wrong way.
[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited December 07, 2008).]
I was on the verge of responding to the carnage all weekend, but just when my dudgeon would reach an apex, a fellow hatracker would weigh in with an attack that while defensive was indefensible.
Tale Spinner has suggested that LR is/was trolling Hatrack and kindly gave us a wiki link that explained the etymology. I'm sure he is right to a degree; LR's every sentence dripped with double edged sarcasm, but then if he was "Trolling for suckers" he certainly succeeded.
To all- If another LR shows up here please give them the attention they deserve--none.