A ten-foot poll . . . watch out for toes
I'm concerned about how seriously people are taking my opinions or musings that I post here or on others' journal threads. What I say isn't meant to be taken as gospel, and not all the advice I give may be good for you (although it's meant well and I always intend for it to be good for you). I don't want to mislead aspiring authors (or anyone else): when I state that I believe that X is more likely to be a good strategy for getting published or writing a readable story or whatnot, that's all it is--what I believe, or at least it's to the best of my knowledge at this time. I might figure out something different later on and change my mind as new info comes in, and so should you. Don't go by what just one person says. Often, you have to discover your own truths. But you knew that.

Anyhow, I'm wondering. I know that my experience of a story or a novel or even your blogpost will be a synthesis of what you said and what I read into it, because of what I brought to the work. This also applies to things people may say here. But I generally give people the benefit of the doubt and don't assume that they're trying to be nasty whenever they make comparisons--they're just the comparisons that seemed illuminating at the time. For example: If I write that I think it's harder to bake well than to cook well because baking is really chemistry and takes more precision and cooking on the stove will usually turn out pretty well even if you fudge on the amounts a little, does that insult good cooks? It shouldn't. It's just someone's opinion. We can agree to disagree.

Let's say that I claim to be a baker (though I don't). Does that put my sample (fake) opinion above in a more sinister light? I mean, would you then say, "Aha, you think baking is tougher because you're a baker and you always think that what YOU do is harder than what others do, and you're once again proven an arrogant twit/twat?" Surely not, but I am seriously wondering how many people see it this way, and don't call me Shirley. At least not in public.

Poll #1165586 Play Ball, or Play Misty for Me
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

Which is harder?

Does saying that one is "harder" or requires more ability bash those who do the other thing?

Is it arrogant if a person says she thinks it's tougher to bake cookies than to fold laundry? I mean, can we hold opinions, or is that out of style now?

# # #
From a mythology book earlier, speaking of the Norse myths: "The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat." *thought-provoking truth*

"Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God's service when it is violating all his laws."
--John Adams

"Verba volant, scripta manent" ("Words fly away, writings remain")

"It's so nice when people humiliate themselves. Saves me some work.;-)"--sosoclever

Don't take life so seriously.--Kilroy