Outstanding and well thought out and presented responses everyone, thank you! It really is interesting to see the perspectives illustrated here, especially by many of you who have indeed been in the position to experience various levels of criticism in works you have completed. I must admit that personally, in the limited items I have published, I have found it disappointing that I received absolutely no criticism, either bad or good concerning them. It is true that an author anxiously awaits response when his work is presented, and truly is often prepared for the worst. Typically many authors/artists etc. are thier own worst critics, and ones own humility often dictates such expectations.
I honestly had hoped for corrections or additional information or data, or observations by more experienced or informed individuals from which I could learn. Aside from those circumstances concerning formally published material, in certain instances over the years in posting on the forums I did indeed receive some very harsh criticism quite unexpectedly which offered absolutely nothing constructive. By the same token, I have always been humbled and extremely grateful for kind words often received on my efforts to present data I had researched.
I have always found scholarly chest pounding or academic arrogance tiresome, boring and completely irrelevant to useful discussion. Too often individuals overly taken with themselves mistakenly think that degrading the work of an author, regardless if professional or amateur, makes them seem more scholarly. Too much time is wasted with such labeling, and personal animosity or misguided personality problems as well as sophomoric debates are the problems I referred to in my comments.
Perhaps I am too idealistic, but I think that valuing a work for what it is should be a personal matter. Clearly criticism serves its purpose, but should be presented with courtesy and respect. Harsh or detrimental comments questioning the integrity or knowledge of the author is unnecessary and ill placed. If an error is made, it should be noted in criticism with corrected data and support, presented as material to assist readers and accent the authors established work.
As always, remember two words, courtesy and respect. Give them to others and they will be returned to you in kind.
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