Sandra Talarico on mon 20 aug 01
There seems to be a fair amount of political
correctness in this group. Not everything that
everyone does with regard to clay workshops is good.
Why not discuss it openly?
I've been quick to praise good workshops in the past,
with names included. Why is the reverse not a good idea?
Lori was just one person in the workshop. But,
we're all adults and we know that people have opinions
and experiences that may not mimic ours. We can handle
it (I can handle it). I would rather know where Lori
had her bad experience than not know. It may or may not
help me get to decide if I want to attend the same center.
Key concept - I decide. With information I've been given.
Sandy Talarico
part-time potter buying toothpase with a salary from a
large telecommunications corporation
vince pitelka on mon 20 aug 01
> Lori was just one person in the workshop. But,
> we're all adults and we know that people have opinions
> and experiences that may not mimic ours. We can handle
> it (I can handle it). I would rather know where Lori
> had her bad experience than not know. It may or may not
> help me get to decide if I want to attend the same center.
Sandy -
Political correctness has absolutely nothing to do with this. And I do not
really care to have the last word on this, but I feel very strongly about
the quality of this list, and I do not want to see it degenerate into a
whining forum. This forum is all about people expressing their individual
opinions, and of course we can handle differing opinions. Again, none of
that has anything at all to do with this discussion. This is entirely about
bashing someone with uncorroborated evidence, and we all know that this can
be extremely disctructive. I am pleased and reassured that so many people
also find this very disturbing, and I am very surprised at the number of
people who essentially say "Bash away!" Is that really what you want? Do
you want to risk damaging the reputation and success of good workshop venues
or presenters because of one disgruntled participant? We live in a society
which feeds on sensationalism, and it takes a great deal of good PR to
overcome that kind of public bashing.
We are talking about opinions going out to 3000 Clayart members. That is
both the strength and the weakness of this forum. Anyone can get on this
list and express their opinions. It is a wonderful example of democracy and
free speech, but as any of us long-term members know very well, there is
tremendous potential for abuse of this opportunity. I generally tend to
assume the best about almost anyone, but I am a realist, and I know there
are people out there with mean agendas. If some selfish, self-serving
individual with unrealistic expectations is dissatisfied with a workshop
experience, and if they are encouraged to post their dissatisfaction on
Clayart, there is tremendous potential for serious damage to the host and
the presenter.
Enough said from this end.
Best wishes -
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Crafts
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
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