Thursday, July 10, 2003
Sometimes I'm too critical.
I mean, yeah, I fancy myself a critic, and want to make my living at that, but that doesn't mean I have to voice my opinions/criticisms of everything. There's a time and place for such statements. A friend recently asked my opinion of something he really liked, and I savaged it, and wasn't particularly nice about it. He seemed hurt after my brief diatribe, and that got me to thinking: what's the point? If someone is passionate about something, and it's ultimately not that big a deal, why not just say "oh, that's not really my cup of tea" or some such? Expressing fiercely held opinions regarding media, especially, isn't always necessary. There's a difference between being a critic and being a cunt.
I need to think more before I speak.
When I don't, I'm very good, as it were, at saying things which I mean to be lighthearted and funny, but come off nasty. I don't mean to do that, but am absolutely ace at sticking my feet in my mouth - and at 13EEE, they're big feet - and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. That's why, believe it or not, I'm trying to talk less (especially in group settings). Really. Sometimes observing is just as important as talking; that's something I'm actually just starting to learn.
These aren't promises, per sé, more goals/public feel-free-to-call-me-on-it proclamations.
As one of my favorite song lyrics of all time says...
"I don't make promises that I can't keep."
- Def Leppard, "Promises" (Euphoria, Island Def Jam, 1999)
I mean, yeah, I fancy myself a critic, and want to make my living at that, but that doesn't mean I have to voice my opinions/criticisms of everything. There's a time and place for such statements. A friend recently asked my opinion of something he really liked, and I savaged it, and wasn't particularly nice about it. He seemed hurt after my brief diatribe, and that got me to thinking: what's the point? If someone is passionate about something, and it's ultimately not that big a deal, why not just say "oh, that's not really my cup of tea" or some such? Expressing fiercely held opinions regarding media, especially, isn't always necessary. There's a difference between being a critic and being a cunt.
I need to think more before I speak.
When I don't, I'm very good, as it were, at saying things which I mean to be lighthearted and funny, but come off nasty. I don't mean to do that, but am absolutely ace at sticking my feet in my mouth - and at 13EEE, they're big feet - and saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. That's why, believe it or not, I'm trying to talk less (especially in group settings). Really. Sometimes observing is just as important as talking; that's something I'm actually just starting to learn.
These aren't promises, per sé, more goals/public feel-free-to-call-me-on-it proclamations.
As one of my favorite song lyrics of all time says...
"I don't make promises that I can't keep."
- Def Leppard, "Promises" (Euphoria, Island Def Jam, 1999)
# posted by Thomas : 12:19 PM
