Anonymous memes:
Don't Do Them.
::sigh:: Nobody asked me for my opinion, I realize; we should probably either participate or not participate, but not just sit on the sidelines and comment. Right?
Yeah, that's kinda what I think, too, but I've seen so damn many of them since joining LJ, and -- I'm going to sit on the sidelines and comment.
I think they're a bad, bad idea. I'm not suggesting there's any ill intent in the genesis of an anon meme, at all. I think the execution, though, leaves a pile to be desired.
Am I the only one who feels this way? That offering a place to anonymously, let's say, critique writers*, is not a good idea?
The problem is pretty obvious, I think. Anonymous = not having to own your own opinions. You can toss them out there, the internet equivalent of items flung out the window of a speeding car, and no one will know they're yours.
I realize lots and lots of very nice things get said in anon memes. I really DO realize that. Thing is, many not-very-nice things also get said. Now -- I'm not going to suggest negative things cannot be said about one's writing. But the temptation anonymity provides to let it ALL hang out -- to say an unvarnished truth, to express a potentially non-constructive opinion -- is great, and irresistible to some.
I treasure positive comments on my stories. But I remember each and every negative thing said like an individual, never-healing paper cut. It's hard not to get stuck on the negative; all too easy to nod distractedly at the nice things and brood, obsess, over the not-nice ones. Wonder if THIS person said X, how many people THINK it and don't say it? Are they right? Are those other people who say nice things, wrong?
Maybe no one else gets into that spiral, I don't know, but I suspect I ain't alone. It's, I also suspect, a big part of the reason why it's difficult to leave constructive concrit, even when it's invited. It's tough to know the inverse: that you may be the reason for some other writer feeling like shit on a cracker about their work.
Now compound this by the realization that anon memes allow you to leave any commentary you like, and no one will ever hold you accountable for it. If they feel badly, reading it? They can't blame YOU. Could be anyone! La la!
Anonymous memes take the responsibility out of negative opinions, and in my (owned) opinion, that takes much of the meaning out of them, as well.
*The current meme going around has authors choosing to place their own names up for critique. I find this problematic. Criticism of a story is one thing; criticism of a writer, another. If a given writer has enough material to comprise what might be called an ouvre, then I suppose it's possible to critique them on the basis of that body of work -- to make generalities about them based on that ouvre. But therein lies a dangerous-ass path, because it's damned hard to confine critique to what's meaningful and pertinent about the work AND discuss the writer's abilities/weaknesses, etc., without venturing into the realm of ad hominem attack. I have not read the commentary in this specific current meme, so I have no idea if this has taken place. I do know I've seen it happen in the past, and I believe it is shaky ground.
I could see placing a given work of an author up for critique, absolutely. I admire that -- I would not want to do it anonymously, but I think critique is awesome. But....
And maybe there's another area to discuss as well: the idea that much critique is never meant for the author at all. cereta is many parsecs better-equipped to tackle this idea, but in a nutshell -- how many of us are prepared to critique an ouvre with an eye to constructive feedback for an author? As opposed to stating critique of a piece that's really much more solidly slanted in favor of other readers? Can we tell the difference? IS there a difference? I believe there is, but I'm not sure the distinction is always clear or easy to see.
Ultimately, maybe anonymous memes are meant to be simply a way to say sometimes harsh truths without penalty. And maybe in some ways that's a good thing, I honestly can't say. I see too much potential for pain, though, and no idea whether or not it would be constructive. Ideally, yes. Practically? Who knows?
::sigh:: Nobody asked me for my opinion, I realize; we should probably either participate or not participate, but not just sit on the sidelines and comment. Right?
Yeah, that's kinda what I think, too, but I've seen so damn many of them since joining LJ, and -- I'm going to sit on the sidelines and comment.
I think they're a bad, bad idea. I'm not suggesting there's any ill intent in the genesis of an anon meme, at all. I think the execution, though, leaves a pile to be desired.
Am I the only one who feels this way? That offering a place to anonymously, let's say, critique writers*, is not a good idea?
The problem is pretty obvious, I think. Anonymous = not having to own your own opinions. You can toss them out there, the internet equivalent of items flung out the window of a speeding car, and no one will know they're yours.
I realize lots and lots of very nice things get said in anon memes. I really DO realize that. Thing is, many not-very-nice things also get said. Now -- I'm not going to suggest negative things cannot be said about one's writing. But the temptation anonymity provides to let it ALL hang out -- to say an unvarnished truth, to express a potentially non-constructive opinion -- is great, and irresistible to some.
I treasure positive comments on my stories. But I remember each and every negative thing said like an individual, never-healing paper cut. It's hard not to get stuck on the negative; all too easy to nod distractedly at the nice things and brood, obsess, over the not-nice ones. Wonder if THIS person said X, how many people THINK it and don't say it? Are they right? Are those other people who say nice things, wrong?
Maybe no one else gets into that spiral, I don't know, but I suspect I ain't alone. It's, I also suspect, a big part of the reason why it's difficult to leave constructive concrit, even when it's invited. It's tough to know the inverse: that you may be the reason for some other writer feeling like shit on a cracker about their work.
Now compound this by the realization that anon memes allow you to leave any commentary you like, and no one will ever hold you accountable for it. If they feel badly, reading it? They can't blame YOU. Could be anyone! La la!
Anonymous memes take the responsibility out of negative opinions, and in my (owned) opinion, that takes much of the meaning out of them, as well.
*The current meme going around has authors choosing to place their own names up for critique. I find this problematic. Criticism of a story is one thing; criticism of a writer, another. If a given writer has enough material to comprise what might be called an ouvre, then I suppose it's possible to critique them on the basis of that body of work -- to make generalities about them based on that ouvre. But therein lies a dangerous-ass path, because it's damned hard to confine critique to what's meaningful and pertinent about the work AND discuss the writer's abilities/weaknesses, etc., without venturing into the realm of ad hominem attack. I have not read the commentary in this specific current meme, so I have no idea if this has taken place. I do know I've seen it happen in the past, and I believe it is shaky ground.
I could see placing a given work of an author up for critique, absolutely. I admire that -- I would not want to do it anonymously, but I think critique is awesome. But....
And maybe there's another area to discuss as well: the idea that much critique is never meant for the author at all. cereta is many parsecs better-equipped to tackle this idea, but in a nutshell -- how many of us are prepared to critique an ouvre with an eye to constructive feedback for an author? As opposed to stating critique of a piece that's really much more solidly slanted in favor of other readers? Can we tell the difference? IS there a difference? I believe there is, but I'm not sure the distinction is always clear or easy to see.
Ultimately, maybe anonymous memes are meant to be simply a way to say sometimes harsh truths without penalty. And maybe in some ways that's a good thing, I honestly can't say. I see too much potential for pain, though, and no idea whether or not it would be constructive. Ideally, yes. Practically? Who knows?