Just a word or two as explanation.

[Ronald T.]

I shared my excitement about having finished a portion of this site because I was naïve enough to think all of you had already read these threads as well. My original purpose in reading this entire section was due to my desire to catch up with the rest of you. My goal was to not come into this forum uninformed, and I can see I clearly went too far. Obviously, I made an incorrect assumption. That is my only excuse.

Having completed that long-term task, I merely wanted to share my excitement.

I made this same mistake back in the early 70s when I decided to get my General Contractor's license. That license allows the holder the right to perform any aspect of the residential building trade. So I assumed those with that sort of credential actually knew how to do every aspect of building a house from the ground up. So I made certain I knew these things as well. It turns out, I was wrong.

These are two examples of how the old joke about "assuming" is often correct. And clearly, I've been an ass more than once.

As always, my best to you all.

 

[Incanus]

Your next task is clear: read all 113 pages of the 'Random Thoughts' thread in Chit Chat--

I suspect (assume?) that I went about it the more usual way: before I joined, I lurked for a few days reading the topics that were being discussed here that interested me, and otherwise got familiar with the site. It was the P. Overby thread about whether or not to write a practice novel first that made me decide to join.

And I'm glad I did.

 

[FifthView]

I was naïve enough to think all of you had already read these threads as well...was due to my desire to catch up with the rest of you....Obviously, I made an incorrect assumption....

I made this same mistake back in the early 70s ....So I assumed those with that sort of credential actually knew how to do every aspect of building a house from the ground up....It turns out, I was wrong.

I'm just trying to figure out if you accidentally or intentionally utilized the strategy of a back-handed compliment.

In any case, when did "Writing Questions" turn into a generalized thread for personal issues, or to discuss one's standing or appearance on these forums? In all those many threads in your wide-ranging reading, how many were "All about me; what do you think of me?" type of threads? Honestly, I've not devoted myself to reading all the threads in "Writing Questions," so maybe there are ample examples.

I've not been around a long time; I've also been participating less lately; but it seems to me "Writing Questions" is typically the place to post questions about the art of writing, ranging from the more abstract theoretical issues to very pragmatic issues on the subject of writing effective narrative. —NOT, precisely, about one's personal narrative vis-à-vis the community on Mythic Scribes.

But also, I'd say that worrying less about one's personal narrative might lead to a different use for "Writing Questions." So many of the threads in this particular forum relating to the art and craft of writing are useful without needing to simultaneously stress over one's personal standing on the site. If the goal of reading all these threads was to "catch up" with others, perhaps the forum was misused and a great many opportunities were lost. I mean, the opportunity to learn from the insights of so many people who have participated on the forum. For example, if you had written 1, 2, or 3 fewer threads about your personal narrative and had instead raised some issues or topics directly related to what you read during your quest—topics more directly relating to the art and craft of writing—more might have been gained.

 

[Incanus]

Certainly this thread should have been started in the Chit Chat section. I made a similar mistake a while back. It happens; no one's perfect.

You bring up some very good points, Fifthview, and I largely agree about the function of the Writing Questions forum. But still, I wouldn't be at all comfortable suggesting to people which threads they should or shouldn't be creating, or which they should or shouldn't be reading. For myself, I'll use the forum as I see fit. If I'm wasting time, it is mine to waste and no one else's.

 

[Mythopoet]

Ronald, I do think you seem a little too concerned about how people here view you. I say this for your own sake. You don't need to worry so much. This forum is full of really nice, really cool people. We get our occasional bad apple (though they tend to not last long), but for the most part everyone here just wants to help each other. So stop thinking about what we think of you and just jump right in.

 

[Ronald T.]

My thanks to you all. I suppose everyone learns in different ways, and sometimes those ways are more painful than others. But I have learned a lot from these recent posts, and I will strive to do better in the future.

And no...I never intended a back-handed compliment. It is just an example of a poorly written post.

As always, my best to you all.