Post by jamshundred on Apr 28, 2015 22:39:01 GMT
This was taken from the chat group started by Olga! A thread started by another participant on the group titled, " Nobody's Perfect".
Wow and Wow! This is an amazing post. I was beyond impressed. High-five!
Judy
Quote
Post by Autumn Earth Acres on 5 hours ago
Not sure if we are talking about the positive or the negative about cattle or their breeders here, but in either case I think it's important to have the balls to be open and forward with people, maintain objectiveness, keep an open mind, and take a critique. This is a place to learn all aspects of cattlemenship, there are going to be a differences of opinions, strong opinions, and bluntness in delivery of those opinions. It takes and open mind and a lot of pace to not be offended. But if you are offended, the best way to often deal with it is to be forthcoming instead of passive-aggressively trying to blackball someone behind their back. At risk of sounding overly condescending, I'd like to reiterate what some things mean.
Objective: based on facts rather than feelings or opinions : not influenced by feelings
Subjective: based on feelings or opinions rather than facts
Critique: a careful judgment in which you give your opinion about the good and bad parts of something (such as a piece of writing or a work of art)
Peer: a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else
When I was taking art courses in college, I really liked the philosophy I learned about critiquing others. It's a sensitive matter as our prudish nature is easily offended. First one must learn how to be critiqued and how to use criticism constructively. This is how we learn - otherwise we end up doing something wrong for 30 years because no one ever told us differently. Second we must learn how to criticize one in a helpful manner without using unnecessary language that becomes abusive. This takes finesse that most us just don't have, as either the observer or subject. One would have to look at a peer's artwork - their baby - and say, "this is what is working/this is what isn't working." You never said, "that's bad, shame on you." To say something was "bad" was vague, unhelpful, and offensive. To say, "The background of the portrait is drawing the focus away from the subject of the painting, perhaps if you softened the background it would help bring the subject forward," would be a way to criticize the portrait objectively as well as provide a solution to the problem observed. This is both progressive and unoffensive. And if you are offended by this method, then you have not learned how to take constructive criticism and perhaps should learn to meditate first.
When we talk about the "good and the bad" let's not forget to be constructive in our observations and most importantly objective. The faint of heart should not engage in discussion without first knowing how to interact with others. It is equally important for the subject to be able to handle the criticism rationally as it is for the critic to use objective and constructive language to dole it out.
Furthermore, when handling something we find less than appealing, it's important to include the person in question, otherwise there is no room for improvement for either side. This is after all a forum - which is to say it is here for open discussion amongst a community of peers. "Treating others as you would want to be treated" is a completely subjective matter as everyone has different personalities, thresholds and beliefs. Compromises can only be made if both sides can meet halfway. Therefore by excluding a person from any attempt at mitigation only makes the situation more convoluted. Especially in a forum where people have come together across the world without faces, personalities, or voices and only have a few short paragraphs to represent their entire being. These aren't the days of old, we don't meet behind the village to decide if we should burn the witch. We rationalize, discuss, and have a fair trial. Sometimes the witch still burns, but at least she had her chance with an equal voice amongst peers. As much as we'd all like to banish those with different opinions or less than savory personalities, the world would be a lonely and ignorant place if we did.
Keep in mind I am the youngest of eleven children. I've heard every insult, use every swear word, seen all the gore, and been pretty much tortured through childhood by those bigger stronger and smarter than me. I've grown up to be jaded and mouthy - I'm not exactly popular.
Ellen Gray
Owner-operator at Autumn Earth Acres
Roseau, Minnesota
Read more: dextercattle.proboards.com/thread/4543/nobodys-perfect#ixzz3Ye7LSosy
Post by Autumn Earth Acres on 5 hours ago
Not sure if we are talking about the positive or the negative about cattle or their breeders here, but in either case I think it's important to have the balls to be open and forward with people, maintain objectiveness, keep an open mind, and take a critique. This is a place to learn all aspects of cattlemenship, there are going to be a differences of opinions, strong opinions, and bluntness in delivery of those opinions. It takes and open mind and a lot of pace to not be offended. But if you are offended, the best way to often deal with it is to be forthcoming instead of passive-aggressively trying to blackball someone behind their back. At risk of sounding overly condescending, I'd like to reiterate what some things mean.
Objective: based on facts rather than feelings or opinions : not influenced by feelings
Subjective: based on feelings or opinions rather than facts
Critique: a careful judgment in which you give your opinion about the good and bad parts of something (such as a piece of writing or a work of art)
Peer: a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else
When I was taking art courses in college, I really liked the philosophy I learned about critiquing others. It's a sensitive matter as our prudish nature is easily offended. First one must learn how to be critiqued and how to use criticism constructively. This is how we learn - otherwise we end up doing something wrong for 30 years because no one ever told us differently. Second we must learn how to criticize one in a helpful manner without using unnecessary language that becomes abusive. This takes finesse that most us just don't have, as either the observer or subject. One would have to look at a peer's artwork - their baby - and say, "this is what is working/this is what isn't working." You never said, "that's bad, shame on you." To say something was "bad" was vague, unhelpful, and offensive. To say, "The background of the portrait is drawing the focus away from the subject of the painting, perhaps if you softened the background it would help bring the subject forward," would be a way to criticize the portrait objectively as well as provide a solution to the problem observed. This is both progressive and unoffensive. And if you are offended by this method, then you have not learned how to take constructive criticism and perhaps should learn to meditate first.
When we talk about the "good and the bad" let's not forget to be constructive in our observations and most importantly objective. The faint of heart should not engage in discussion without first knowing how to interact with others. It is equally important for the subject to be able to handle the criticism rationally as it is for the critic to use objective and constructive language to dole it out.
Furthermore, when handling something we find less than appealing, it's important to include the person in question, otherwise there is no room for improvement for either side. This is after all a forum - which is to say it is here for open discussion amongst a community of peers. "Treating others as you would want to be treated" is a completely subjective matter as everyone has different personalities, thresholds and beliefs. Compromises can only be made if both sides can meet halfway. Therefore by excluding a person from any attempt at mitigation only makes the situation more convoluted. Especially in a forum where people have come together across the world without faces, personalities, or voices and only have a few short paragraphs to represent their entire being. These aren't the days of old, we don't meet behind the village to decide if we should burn the witch. We rationalize, discuss, and have a fair trial. Sometimes the witch still burns, but at least she had her chance with an equal voice amongst peers. As much as we'd all like to banish those with different opinions or less than savory personalities, the world would be a lonely and ignorant place if we did.
Keep in mind I am the youngest of eleven children. I've heard every insult, use every swear word, seen all the gore, and been pretty much tortured through childhood by those bigger stronger and smarter than me. I've grown up to be jaded and mouthy - I'm not exactly popular.
Ellen Gray
Owner-operator at Autumn Earth Acres
Roseau, Minnesota
Read more: dextercattle.proboards.com/thread/4543/nobodys-perfect#ixzz3Ye7LSosy
Judy