Disturbing Trend
Has anyone else noticed the sudden appearance lately of what seems to be very negative threads regarding entries and comments left by people? It seems like in the last leg of the game, much of the mood of support and community has been replaced by squabbling and shots worthy of the worst reality show.
This bothers me. A lot. I’ve found myself surprised and dismayed by this change. What the heck is going on here? Any thoughts on the sudden shift?
Many good points by the way, but I don't mean critique. Making an honest judgment about the quality of a person’s entry is fine, resorting to comments that are the equivalent of “You smell and your momma dresses you funny” isn’t. At least that’s what one librarian thinks.
delicious
diggThank heaven for criticism. NPR listeners seem to be nice people for the most part, unfortunately the natural tendency of most participants to look on the bright side has hampered honest critiques that might actually help people become better hosts. Looking forward to some more cold, hard truth in the future.
Excellent point, but thats not what I'm talking about. One can critique without taking personal shots, mocking, or tearing someone else down. The best of teachers do that, and do it well. Good Critique is honest, but is also helpful.
Love comics? Anime? Sci fi? Gaming? Firefly? Star Wars? All the above? Then get Geek on NPR! Vote for Red Shirts Rising! http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1202
When we face it, we should judge the quality of negativism, not simply turn off because we hear a negative comment. How else to sustain a dialectic here, eh? We must judge good and bad. That's imperative with any kind of contest.
But in this case, we also need to do that with respect for authenticity and subject authority, for invention and originality, and excellence of radio practice. Otherwise the contest succumbs to mediocrity or popularity. If enough people want to be petty, good or bad, then we'll get petty results. You always wake up with the critical ecology you go to bed with.
I suspect our media culture needs to revisit (refresh ourselves and audiences with) the idea that constructive criticism can be negative and positive, and not unduly so either way. As it is, we're probably all so adapted to present-day politics that we assume the same rules apply to us. We can do better, or at least we ought to give that a try.
respect to all -
- Kurt Heintz
There are many limits to the benefits of inauthentic niceties and "polite" behaviour. Sometimes I'd much perfer honesty.
Elizabeth
My entry at Public Radio Quest:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/7572
My College Radio Myspace (feel free to friend me!):
http://www.myspace.com/girlsongprimerradio
I have this notion (romantic? naive?) that public radio reflects and transmits what is best in the world. If this forum is degenerating into The Bachelor then the participants are not worthy of this contest.
If this is a strategy to sabotage the "popularity contest" aspect of this contest, it is misguided, at best. I find the public vote to be the least compelling of the whole endeavour. Don't get me wrong, I have relished all the good feedback but I want to progress to the next level because the Judges believe I have the talent, not because a barista from Minneapolis thinks I have a good "radio voice."
If you are basing your hopes on convincing as many people as possible to vote for you, than I don't think you have what it takes to be the next public radio talent. Although this contest can be seen as a stunt, I am sure all involved take it very seriously and truly hope they can find the next Ira Glass or Jay Allison. This person will not emerge from a stuffed ballot box.
We have our own little petri dish of humanity right here on this PRTQ site. Dare to be different and rise above the frey! There are great mentors who believe all of this is but a dream anyway.
Where are you in the Maya? (that'd be a good name for a band...)
lk
Lynn Kindler, The "Idea" Coach
Please listen and vote....
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/www.sacredpathcoaching.com
Lynn, that's a great name for a band...and the contest is all an electronic dream. Mutable, changeable, ethereal.... Dr. Candice Perts work applies (intention equals results).
BarbaraAnnKaarina Turning-McCord, R.N.
"Nurse BK has your chart and is on the case"
http://www.publicradioquest.com/user/4165
www.thirdcoastlive.net
brings on unpleasant things. We are in that moment of uncertainty when the die has been cast, but we know not our fate. I will forgive any pettiness. I hope you will forgive any I might have shown.
My feelings today are similar to those I had running for office. It was a great ego kick: You're someone important and everyone is interested in what you have to say. Then, comes the reality check of election day. Your name on the screen...numbers are starting to appear after it. Have I asked a question the answer to which I really want to know?
Here's to the Questers, to 1451 who dared! I'll say it again: We're all winners here!
Jim Barfuss
http://www.publicradioquest.com/user/2824
“The Hubble telescope now lets us view the distant past. If we turned it around, could we see into the future?" Seymour B. Moore
Excellent point Jim. Thank you.
Love comics? Anime? Sci fi? Gaming? Firefly? Star Wars? All the above? Then get Geek on NPR! Vote for Red Shirts Rising! http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1202
I'd pick you for my team any day!
Unfortunately, I rarely get to be captain, because I'm horrible at sports. ;-)
ADQ
Please and Thank You for your Vote:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/6914
Keep on rockin' in the free world.
It’s the anxiety over the results soon to be announced. It shows up in a variety of discussions. Perhaps -- on a subconscious level – it gives a sense that one is not to be blamed for not voting enough or not receiving enough comments or ultimately not winning if one doesn’t win. In a competition, when things begin, everyone is excited and supportive in the possibility of the moment. As things near a conclusion, there is worry and anxiety that shows up in judgment of others. It’s difficult to keep it below the surface.
Notice that even you have become negative from noticing how negative everybody else is!
Ultimately, it's not what is important. I wrote this in the 11-pointer thread, and I'll repeat it here: I am thankful for any support I've received, and all of it has felt honest and heartfelt to me. I'm grateful for that. In these last hours of round one, let me simply say that it's been a blast. I've never become so caught up in anything on the internet, and I really hope that there will be other avenues wherein I will meet and hear many of you.
It has been a privilege to be part of this event with all of you. I am so impressed and so pleased to have had this opportunity and I think everyone who participated in this contest is extraordinary.
Joy
http://publicradioquest.com/node/800
http://www.joyfulnoise.net
Perhaps, though I think my comments are meant more in the idea of truthful Critique that kurtericheintz talked about, then the sort of squabbling that I mentioned in the earlier post. But maybe thats Toma-toe and Tomat-o.
And I have to say Joy, I agree 100% that despite my observation, I have met, communicated, and learned from wonderful and amazing people here in the contest, real gems of what NPR listeners are. No matter what else, I'll walk away with that prize gladly.
Love comics? Anime? Sci fi? Gaming? Firefly? Star Wars? All the above? Then get Geek on NPR! Vote for Red Shirts Rising! http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1202
I fully agree. It's been a great opportunity and no matter what happens next, I appreciate the support from those who took the moment to listen.
Mike Wright
-----------------------------------------
http://www.publicradioquest.com/node/1808
For the musical side, check out my playlists at
Well you've got all these people who desperately want the same outcome, and who have absolutely no control over their own fate. Our ability to win this contest is completely up to the judges---except for in one case.
And that one case is what everyone seems fixated on.
People don't like to feel helpless. The reality that 1441 of us are not going to round 2 has sunk in. There's nothing we can do, UNLESS--we have enough friends between now and tomorrow night at midnight to catipult us to the top of the popular vote category.
So you can bet your bottom dollar that, rather than resigning themselves to waiting for the results, people are going to spend the final few hours of the contest fixating on the one thing they feel the might have control over to get the desired outcome they want.
ADQ
Please and Thank You for your Vote:
http://www.publicradioquest.com/audio/user/6914
Keep on rockin' in the free world.
that since I shared your sentiments when you posted them in the 11-pointer, that I should repeat that agreement here.
it has been a blast.
Steve
I’ve come to see that the ultimate source of all human anguish is that we are finite beings sentient of infinity.
p.s. Your observations about what might be going on, seem correct to me.
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