Site bugs 2 - the derailed version (Page 1 of 2)

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

I know that it is sometimes tedious to wade through several comments to a thread, but at the same time, it might behoove each person to at least scan previous comments in order to preclude repeated or very similar thoughts (unless feeling the need to reiterate). This would also MAYBE put a stop to comments that become argumentative. Give and take is a great part of this site, but when the thread takes on the guise of bickering, I cannot see its usefulness.

A perfect example of what happens when someone butts into a thread with an OT "mother hen" post.  The whole thread unravels and disintegrates into chaos....Thanks  A tip for you that is far more important than reading every comment in the thread.  Read the Topic of the post.  SITE BUGS  (not BUGS SITE)

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

Oh, for newcomers, Janet Reid and Janet Taylor-Perry are two different people. I am a former English teacher, and, yes, I tend to guide when I give feedback. However, I have never been accused of being a mother hen--maybe a hawk that would devour the mother hen.

I know you are different people, but you both share the same predilection for stirring pots that are simmering quite nicely.  It's a common disorder.  I read about it an online psychology magazine when I was doing some research for a character in my book.  There was a clique who thought it was genetic, but their research was eventually debunked.  They think they've pinned it down simply to overcompensating for insecurities.  I can give you the link if you like—they do offer some non-invasive treatment therapies, mostly counseling though, and they require you to tightly restricted use of social media and ban forum use altogether. ;-)

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

Having a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Masters in education, I can't help but smile. I'm starting a new thread in the writing tips forum if anyone would like to visit there.

Let's hope your smile was at understanding the sarcasm and not merely out of smugness.  Unlike you, I am ordinary.  I was born in a mud hut in central China, yet I too can't help but laugh:  at people who sling around their degrees as if they believe they have some meaning or might impress others.  You know, we simple folk used corncobs instead of toilet paper in our village, but we generally tossed them out when we were done, as they got a little uncomfy, if you know what I mean.

The fellow who relates how he walked ten miles to school every day, in the snow, uphill--both ways--is establishing his own authority.  But shouldn't we be more concerned with the quality of ideas?  And don't good ideas, well-expressed, establish a reputation here better than any life history could?

njc wrote:

The fellow who relates how he walked ten miles to school every day, in the snow, uphill--both ways--is establishing his own authority.  But shouldn't we be more concerned with the quality of ideas?  And don't good ideas, well-expressed, establish a reputation here better than any life history could?

Now that's a quality idea, NJC.  And as soon as I get rid of these Site Bugs that are irritating me, I'm going to post a quality idea myself. ;-)

Temple Wang wrote:

Janet Taylor-Perry wrote:

Having a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a Masters in education, I can't help but smile. I'm starting a new thread in the writing tips forum if anyone would like to visit there.

Let's hope your smile was at understanding the sarcasm and not merely out of smugness.  Unlike you, I am ordinary.  I was born in a mud hut in central China, yet I too can't help but laugh:  at people who sling around their degrees as if they believe they have some meaning or might impress others.  You know, we simple folk used corncobs instead of toilet paper in our village, but we generally tossed them out when we were done, as they got a little uncomfy, if you know what I mean.

Hell girl, we used corn cobs in the communal outhouse in the Ozarks. The cobs, after being used for a month or two, where collected by the youngest in our clan, and then Big Daddy "Buck" Smithers would turn them into corncob pipes for Ma and the rest of us kids and grand kids. I still smoke one to this day as I skim the centipedes and scorpions out of my salt-water pool (cement pond) over looking Maui and the vast Pacific Ocean. On a clear day I can see Saigon... dang, it's a small world after all.

BTW- I never found them uncomfy, if you know what I mean.

Max, you are a riot! Gotta love ya!

I'm about to play Mother Hen.  (Or maybe Foghorn Leghorn.)   I'll start by bragging about my qualifications.

I've been on online forums since 1981.  (You read that right.  Usenet, 1981.  Look up ihnp4.)

One of the painful lessons of those years is that it is possible for two people of goodwill to create a p***ing contest that neither of them intends, with a lot of hurt feelings that neither of them intended.  It happens by two kinds of misunderstanding: misunderstanding what the other means, not only in fact but in tone, and misunderstanding how one's own words will be read, in fact and in tone.

It ends when the people either decide it's not worth continuing, or realize that it shouldn't have happened, and that all the hurt feelings were unintentional.  This is hard.  It is a learned reaction.  It puts a really bad taste at the back of the mouth.  It feels like losing face--no, sacrificing face--for the sake of polity.  And maybe that's what it is, in the short term.   But makes online forums life a lot less stressful.

njc wrote:

I'm about to play Mother Hen.  (Or maybe Foghorn Leghorn.)   I'll start by bragging about my qualifications.

I've been on online forums since 1981.  (You read that right.  Usenet, 1981.  Look up ihnp4.)

Life.  Get one.  SITE BUGS

vern wrote:

I agree the off topic posts should be deleted from the original Site Bugs 2 thread and have deleted mine. Ladies and gentlemen start your engines, the track has been cleared of foreign debris. Take care. Vern

Edited to delete remark about not being able to use the "quote" box on the copied/pasted version; seems now you can. How did you do that?

"Start your engines" made me laugh! 

If I understand the question correctly, and forgive us for going off topic , I had both threads open on separate tags.  On the original thread, I selected the "Quote" option as if I was going to reply, CTRL-A (select all) then CTRL-C (copy).  In the comment box on the new thread, CTRL-V (paste).  If this is not what you've meant, you'd have to ask again using smaller words.  If you could slow your typing speed, that would be even better! 

Temple Wang wrote:

Why, Hi, other Janet.  Good evening.  So happy you asked. Let me clear that up for you.  I am here to critique and have my work critiqued. I've been here not quite two months and I have ten chapters posted.  I have done 35 reviews in that time, all in line reviews, and thorough to the best of my ability.  Now, tell me, Janet—and asking with my best judgment and sincerest interest—would you say your efforts in the last two months as far as posting your work here and doing reviews is any match to that?   Because, unless I am mistaken, it looks like to me you have posted, well, nothing in the last, well, four months?  But I have noticed you've been quite active on the forums.

I sometimes also participate in Forum discussions.  These generally go pretty well until either some know-it-all steps into the middle of the discussions and throws the thread off kilter, or when some mysoginist (who might have the initials CB) decides to vent his hate.   I am not a troll. I simply don't like mother hens in the Forum. So, here's what you can take to the bank, Ms. Reid. Next time you feel the need to get bossy with me on the Forums, don't. And I promise you that you will NEVER have to deal with me again.  However, should you feel compelled to do that again, you can rest assured I will take a break from my busy writing and critiquing to set you on the right path.  Is that clear enough for you?
I have a suggestion for you.  How about you back out of my grille and go back to posting on topic, or whatever it is that you do and we just end this here before you embarrass yourself further.
Cheers yourself.

Hi Temple

Ten chapters in less than 2 months is a good indication that your writing is clicking at a good pace and 35 reviews are pretty decent too, in all seriousness, even though I don't really keep score as I'm of the opinion everyone is doing their best, and that is good enough for me.  And absolutely, we can only try our best to give good reviews and can only hope it's helpful.  A pretty daunting task for anyone like me that view themselves as aspiring writers.  Especially when you review the work of a published author!

Well, sorry to say, but I think you're mistaken with regards to me not having posted anything for the last 4 months.  I think it's probably been longer than that!  Do you think I should contribute/participate less in the forums and instead write?  Well, to be honest, I don't really think I spend too much time in the forums though, but then again, every bit helps.  So you have given me something to think about.

Do you know what?  I think I just found some common ground with you and understand where you are coming from.  There are two things I really don't like.  Motherly hens and people that kick puppies.  When I come across them, I get so mad it feels like someone had put a cracker where Max puts corn, and had lit the fuse.  Sometimes people leave comments and then they end it with "Puh-lease, get over it and move on people, nothing to see here."  This is after they repeated about half of the opinions, but just in different words!  As if they own the thread, pft!  I even had someone that left a comment when I said something in good will to the effect that they "slapped me on my hand or wrist" because my comment deserved it.  Honestly, those were their exact words!  Now, tell me if I'm mistaken here, but that is as motherly as it get, isn't it?! 

I like your style more.  Setting someone on the right path is way over there with advice your big brother or big sister would be dishing out.  So not something a mother hen would do!  But then again, big brothers and sisters can sometimes be really bossy!  Not saying you are, of course, since we're on the same side.

I haven't met any misogynists on the site though, but then again, maybe I should frequent the forums more.   But in any case, I think we're back on topic in this thread, so at least that problem is fixed.

Kind regards
Janet