Quote:
Originally Posted by Julie in the rv mirror
Now, I think, of course, that part of the "job" of being a fan (of anyone/ anything) is to be a bit of a cheerleader, and that just comes naturally. But, I don't think it makes me any less of a fan if I express a negative opinion now and then. Think of a Randy Jackson-on-Idol-type, "Dude, that wasn't your best performance..." It doesn't mean I love them any less.  |
Agreed, and saying Dude that wasn't your best performance certainly doesn't mean someone cares any less .. in fact it demonstrates quite a senstive level of care imo .. and paves the way for what is to come .. as long as that isn't a long list of failings delivered abrasively without any useful suggestions for what would improve it of course
I guess for me being a fan means you care for the whole enchilada .. so includes both the performance and the person who gives it, and that means caring about their feelings (and even when we don't care for people, if we want what we say to do anything more than put them on the defensive, or have them simply dismiss what we say, then we need to find a way of telling them why something wasn't acceptable or up to the standard we expected so that it doesn't immediately evoke that kind of response).
To say for eg that a video doesn't really appeal to you although you can see the audience it's aiming at, but that you'd have preferred something more this or that is expressing your view in a way that is reasonable and unlikely to result in a negative reaction .. describing how the person looks in colourful or ridiculing terms that amuse you isn't helpful imo. It's criticism, but there's nothing very constructive about it
And if someone has invested time, effort and money in producing something, to suggest they throw it away and start again because you don't like it would be thoughtless, bordering on the arrogant or daft imo. For constructive feedback (or even criticism) to be any use at all it must offer something that is feasibly actionable, as well as delivered in words that are chosen with care so as not to hurt the person's feelings. And many fans simply don't have the performance skills to be able to offer the constructing end of the sandwich. I'm one of those, so I don't attempt to offer "constructive criticism". Doesn't mean I'm as "ass-kisser" or "sucking up" .. I can't offer credible advice to someone who has so much more more experience and expertise than I, but I can say what I enjoyed and why.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayd
I know he knows he is going to face criticism with anything he does , but he has feelings too, and he works damn hard to try and please not just his fans, not just his label, his family or friends, but also himself.  |
So true. Sometimes the things I see written seem to me much more about the disappointed feelings of the person delivering them. Such criticism is rarely, if ever, constructive. And bottom line, for me being a fan of someone means I would not want to hurt that person, and if I was angry or disappointed by something they did I would keep my fingers off a keyboard until I could be constructive.
Caryl