I figure it's about time that I heard from you, my readers.
I am obviously biased when I write- I am expressing my opinion, my thoughts, what I think is right. What I want to know is, how do I come across?
What should I change? Am I too harsh? Am I condescending or hurtful or hateful and what can I do to fix it? What would you like to see me do differently?
Let's go. Have at me. Whatever complaints or critiques you have, now is the time to lodge them.
In effect, "I want you to hit me as hard as you can."
15 comments:
Why should you change anything at all? And if you would-the posts would no longer be authentic.
You are a student who is searching for meanings. Simply keep on writing and that's all.
You need to write with your true voice, which you do. Keep it up.
I really enjoy reading what you write. I think that you are thoughtful, and I appreciate your unique way of looking at things.
Since you're looking for constructive criticism, you may want to be extra careful that when you do write negatively about a person/place/group of people, etc. that you make it very difficult for us readers to figure out the identity of your subject. I know that you try hard to hide people's identity, because most times I have no idea who you're writing about, but sometimes (one piece stands out in my mind) I do, and I'd rather not read lashon hara.
Keep up the amazing blogging!
Last anonymous,
First, thanks very much.
Could you email me the title of the piece/ link the post? Perhaps I'll remove it if it's really so obvious.
I'm thecoruscation at gmail.com
Oh, feh. You should take away this post. :)
You can come off as unempathetic and overly certain sometimes, but I'd rather you didn't make an attempt to change it in your voice. I think I see it changing in your self, and I'd rather watch the progression than see you learn to cover up.
Well, I don't know you personally and I've only started reading your blog lately but...
You remind me of a close friend from college. We'll call her Sarah. Sarah was raised a very conservative Anabaptist and went to public school all her life, while her church-mates were usually home-schooled. The Elders of her church were sometimes displeased by her actions, but since she excelled in school so well and was so smart, they didn't give her too hard of a time. For instance, she took part in a school play once, where she kissed a boy. She was always different than her fellow students in public school; especially the females. She was tom-boyish, very precocious and very religious by their standards. Untouchable to the boys, even the ones who had crushes on (and possible mutual feelings). She had a hard time interacting with her classmates and usually got along with, and was understood by, her teachers more so. Her classmates usually considered her stuck-up or "bitchy", but really she just was on a different level than her classmates, constantly pursuing knowledge and a sense of prestige. Very assertive. Her friends would often see her talk down to them, or she'd roll her eyes, be too assertive at our lunch table, etc. She cared about her friends, but she was a walking social faux pas sometimes. She only had one or two really close friends that would get to know her better. She was very very romantic deep down, yet on the outside she exuded practicality and a hardness and could easily make you feel like an idiot, even when you knew you were right. This was a shell for herself to protect her inside from the outside world.
While her classmates focused on the mundane petty things of high school and college, she was focused on her scholastic pursuits, scholarships, getting into med school, excellence, etc. She was a rebel in this aspect, as most women from her religious community only graduated from high school, got married soon after, and started raising children. She loved "Beauty and the Beast" and often thought of herself as Belle (and she was).
There's more, but eventually she became engaged our college senior year to a mutual friend and married soon after graduation. The husband is an exceptionally understanding, kind and thoughtful man who had been through a lot in his life. Because he is so understanding and kind, he was able to help her in the aspects she needed help with in interpersonal relationships as well appreciating and giving her the room to grow in her abilities to be the best she can be.
She now is a doctor here in Indiana and has two beautiful children. She works full-time and the husband is a stay-at-home father who home schools and does the house work, etc. and they are happy.
I have to smile sometimes at the things you write, because it actually brings up memories. You remind me a lot of her. She was a very beautiful person then and is a very beautiful person now, and the world is a better place because of that. Keep up the good work.
"If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."
George Washington
Chana, continue writing the way you do. There will always be people who will want to take your ideas apart ...
I think one of the best parts of blogging is how truthful some of them are. The very fact that people don't put on a specific voice for their blogs but rather write truthfully and genuinely straight from their thoughts gives blogs a realness that other forms of literature and media don't have.
Basically, don't change a thing. Stay you. =D
Perhaps more to the point: it's your blog. Write what you will. If I don't like it, I have the option of not reading it (or reading it anyway; I read some blogs which I strongly disagree with, just because I think it's important to try to understand other viewpoints).
Hey Chana,
I'm the same anonymous from before. I was referring to your 2006 post, "On Tznius and Modesty." Basically, Chicago is a small city.
Hey, I found out where you are actually willing to state your own opinions.
Huzzah!
-weed
You're very intelligent; you think hard, and you think deep. You're also rather on the opinionated side, but not in a bad way, more in a you-know-what-you-believe-and-you're-sticking-to-it kind of way. I don't know you in real life, so I don't have what to compare to, but that's how you seem to me.
Hmmmmm
Well... as I understand,
you ask for two things
1 - 'How do I come across?'
2- 'Hit me as hard as you can'
I don't think I can 'hit you' somehow. Can't see what to criticize on this wonderful blog.
You are genuine and open minded, mightily deep, unique, highly intelligent, very efficient, interested and interesting, very caring, and possibly spiritual (wondering if it's an 'interest' in spirituality, or truly spiritual.. perhaps both), appreciative, intense and giving.
I'm sure there are more qualities that make up the whole of you, that I've not mentioned. But, I'll leave it at that. These are what come to mind without effort, but in all sincerity.
I want to add -
incredibly creative and posessing a strong imagination.
I also like what Hakiruv wrote,
and I too, somehow imagine you to be softer and more romantic on the inside than what you show to those around you in real life.
Perhaps this is a misconception (the tougher outer part that I assume you might have) -
but, anyway.. you asked about how you come across so...
:)
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