If You Can't Stand The Heat, Oh Well
On a couple of occasions I have commented on a blog post and the comment mysteriously disappeared. Both times I was critical of the writer's negative attitude about WA. I was not nasty or vindictive. I defended the program and refused to allow the writer to blame what he/she considered a lack of success on the program or the community's failure to offer assistance.
This time, as I read through the comments I noticed that not one of them placed the blame where it belonged: with the member. They were all "sorry he felt that way" and offered tons of advice to somebody who was obviously not going to take it.
Much of the advice was from people that I respect very much and it was good stuff. In fact, some of it I made note of to use myself. I'm well aware that you "catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." I'm also aware that some flies just need to be swatted.
I guess WA begs to differ. I understand that they want to be as encouraging as possible and I'm okay with that. It's just that it's discouraging to me to have my honest feedback censored because it might hurt somebody's feelings. This will not stop me from being sometimes brutally honest with my feedback. But don't worry. You probably won't get to see it anyway.
Recent Comments
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I think honesty is important, but brutal honesty defeats the purpose for our giving feedback. We have to tell people honestly what they need to work on, but it is always important to be gentle. You can say harsh things in a nice way.
Your brutal honesty can destroy whatever confidence a person has, especially if they are new to this business. They have a lot to learn, and need all the encouragement they can get. It is true that sometimes folks need a talking-to, but it is not our job to hurt anyone.
Keep on being honest; that is important. However, put yourself in the other person's shoes before you make your answer. Give them good advice without chasing them away from Wealthy Affiliate.
You are absolutely right. I guess I just expect people to be as thick-skinned as I am. I am compassionate and empathetic most of the time, but I believe that sometimes, only brutally honest will get someone's attention. My editor days are behind me, so I will try and not be so critical in the future.
I think you are one hundred percent correct. Where has freedom of speech gone?
Seems like there is some kind of movement to take it away from us.
This is really annoying to me as I served my country when called upon to do so. Not a draft dodger like many from my era that were plain afraid to go to Vietnam.
Keep on using your freedom of speech and all our other constitutional guarantees.
I will you can count on that.
Thanks, Wayne
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I think honesty should be practised at all levels. If this upsets someone then so be it. I am not someone who will tell somebody they have written a good article when in my opinion it is not good.
I would hope that all those writing reviews on my websites would be brutally honest. I am trying to improve myself and that will not happen without getting honest reviews.
I have stopped commenting on peoples websites because if they don't like it they can refuse it.
Derek
I'm with you, Derek. I want people to be brutally honest with me, too. This is no time to be stroking egos. There are a lot of obstacles ahead of us as we travel this road.
This business is not for everybody, and brutal honesty may be a way to separate the wheat from the chaff. The way I see it, if you let my comments drive you away, you didn't have the staying power to begin with.