Thick Skin and Criticism

[Guest guest]

Bob Flaw wrote:

> this particular book to support some of his opinions. I feel there is

> an element of naive enthusiasm in the book. As Philippe's

> English editor and translator over eight or nine books, and having

> turned down several others, I'm pretty intimately familar with

> Philippe's writing. From my point of view, Philippe is still very

> young.

 

Ken wrote:

> The same is true, to a certain extent, with

> the urge to criticize. In fact, it's a kind

> of enzymatic action that must take place in

> the metabolism of our social interactions if

> the ideas that we consume and use to construct

> the bodies of our knowledge are to be properly

> broken down and taken up again.

 

Ken,

 

I'd agree, that the critical process is important- and that process is used

in many academic disciplines, if not all of them - but writing a critical

paper of an idea, etc. gives one the time to think over one's opinions many

times - whereas writing an email can involve less thoughtful expressions,

and is thus more dangerous... perhaps to be taken more lightly, but I know

this is a very serious group.

 

I think this email forum for idea exchange and criticism of ideas is great.

However, I think the line should be drawn at personality and character. I

would call Bob's above comment about Philippe a judgement of character.

Now, if we could all be sure that Bob is the appropriate judge for

Philippe's level of scholarship, then perhaps that would be ok. But I have

no way of knowing which of them knows more about Chinese sources, nor do I

care. I would rather see Philippe's book published and Bob's specific

criticisms of specific ideas so that I can learn from both.

 

To stymie everyone else's interest in a book you will not publish, but

someone else may, is to go beyond your own right to refuse to publish, but

also to insult the author and anyone else who chooses to publish it. To do

that with a personality judgement is unneccesary. This is a behavioral

choice- I had to go to the bookstore to try to find info about how to deal

with intraprofessional conflict, and I didn't find anything. But I did find

something on conflict and negotiation- the important line not to cross is

into the personal. Attack ideas, but don't attack people, please.

 

(By the way, I'm uncertain if there is such a thing as enthusiasm that is

not naive- I was recently called naive by someone else- it's not fun- it's

hard to defend yourself against a self-proclaimed

authority/father-figure/expert.)

 

A certain fellowship I know of makes the distinction between two types of

elders- the " bleeding deacon, " and the " elder statesman. " The bleeding

deacon has to be involved in everything, while the elder statesman steps

back, lets people learn, and acts as a wise resource. One involves a kind

of self-centered control, and the other requires humility, patience, and

tolerance. Those last three are spiritual virtues, signs of good character.

That isn't to say that elder statesmen don't step in when things are

seriously out of control, but they don't see every little thing as a huge

danger.

 

B

(If you have trouble identifying which B this is, check the email address

above.)

 

 

 

Brian Benjamin Carter, M.Sci., L.Ac.

http://www.pulsemed.org/briancarterbio.htm

Acupuncturist & Herbalist

Editor, The Pulse of Oriental Medicine

Columnist, Acupuncture Today

(619) 208-1432 San Diego

(866) 206-9069 x 5284 Tollfree Voicemail

 

The PULSE of Oriental Medicine

http://www.pulsemed.org/

The General Public's Guide to Chinese

Medicine since 1999... 9 Experts,

240+ Articles, 195,000+ readers....

 

Our free e-zine BEING WELL keeps you

up to date Sign up NOW. Send a blank email to:

beingwellnewsletter-

 

[Guest guest]

> To stymie everyone else's interest in a book you will not publish,

but > someone else may, is to go beyond your own right to refuse to

publish, but > also to insult the author and anyone else who chooses

to publish it.

 

Brian,

 

You were the one who opened the door to this conversation. You stated

an opinion, whether explicitly or implicity, on this forum, which is

a public forum. As a member of this forum, I am entitled to my

counter opinion and to the statement of that opinion. I was not trying

to " stymie " or " insult " anybody, you or Philippe. As a member of this

forum, I was stating my informed opinion about the work under

discussion. I felt and still do feel that the author of this

particular work has not yet sat with the materials long enough to

present them in the mature way I (as editor) think would be best. (At

least not in the form I originally saw 18 months or more ago.)If you

do not like your opinions criticized by others, then you should not

express them in such a public forum.

 

Bob