Ramblings On the Fence

Re: Samina, #30

I am not clear as to what you are disagreeing with. I don`t have an issue with the theme of the article; it is its poor quality of writing and the way the theme is addressed in it. A Porsche in the hands of a driver who does not know the difference between the break and the clutch and cannot drive more than 35 miles an hour does not make Porsche a bad car. It’s the driver that’s the problem.

I’ll tell you, Samina, this very theme with the pen of a good writer could have been very very powerful...alas...

Godot Baba,

Maybe its not a Porche, but an origami swan with no reving engines, girls with pom-poms and noisy tune up centers...maybe its light through the red garden....maybe its the rush of a voice muttering to itself as the speaker catches the subway...maybe its the dishes clattering in the sink, 4 days of bleary snow, whatever....and Godot Sahib, I am waiting for your version of it...not everything is big bangs and pyrotechnics....

Re: Samina, #34

Samina,

Don’t wait up for my version of it, mainly because I don’t have longing for “back home.” As for my identity “crisis,” I’ve already written my version of it for Chowk.

“maybe its the rush of a voice muttering to itself as the speaker catches the subway...maybe its the dishes clattering in the sink...”

Now, that’s good writing. You are a good writer, Samina (that was quite beautiful...I am serious.) But, unfortunately, all it does that it makes the article and the writer in question appear even worse!

Godot,

Your 12 head supporting days have compromised your gray matter...absose ka baath hain...:(

Re: Samina, #36

Chowk is a place for the writers and the readers. And unlike other publications where the reader has very limited access in expressing his opinion, Chowk is an open forum. Almost any comment, no matter how profound or inane, gets published. Here, the reader is free to express his opinion regardless of the “feelings” of the writer or other interactors. The writer takes that risk when submitting an article to Chowk. Not every reader is going to be nice and sensitive and praise a crappy piece of writing that no other publication worth its salt would publish.

Now, it’s fairly common for the readers at Chowk to praise a mediocre writing because the reader just happens to like the writer, never mind the third-rate quality of her writing. I am not that way. I care about good writing as much as I care about Chowk. Most of the time my comments about bad writing rub the wrong way. I get challenged by the offended readers and things get out of hand.

Lets face it, Samina. Not all submissions at Chowk are of good quality, some are quite bad, including “Ramblings On The Fence”, whether one wants to hear it or not. And if the writer and her well-wisher readers get offended by scathing comments on her writing, well, tough luck. If the writer feels the criticism is not justified, then she should be able to defend her writing. You know very well that I have gone through that process myself with my writings at Chowk. There are readers at Chowk just waiting to nail me on my writings, and would like to rip me apart in the most ruthless manner the first opportunity they get, and each time I have defended my writing or have accepted any flaws to it. If ``feelings`` of the writer and her reader-friends are hurt by criticism, then do not submit the writing. You know, as they say, if you cannot stand the heat...

My gray matter is fully intact and operational and that’s why I am able to stand up and say the empress is not wearing any clothes.

Btw, go back and read your own comment about my gray matter before you preach the contrary.

Godot, I am glad you care about good writing. Truly I do. However, I have the sneaking suspicion that this caring now is spilling over into some kind of agenda. Like I said I do not defend my writing. It it`s good it`s good and if it`s not, it`s not. You, however, did not just stay with a critique of my writing did you? You started making personal comments and pushing an agenda; this happened to me so I will make sure I do it to someone else.

My feelings are definitely not hurt by the fact that you did not like this piece or any other piece I have written. That is a matter of personal taste and my talent or lack of it. I just wanted to make my feelings clear on that matter.

And while I appreciate the fact that you think of me as an empress, I have to tell you, I always, always wear clothes in public.

Also if you have the right (and you do) of criticising someone`s writing, others surely have the right to criticise the way you do it. Unfortunately when you`re pushing an agenda of some kind, as you clearly are, that gets buried.

Re: Jawahara, #38

What possible “agenda” you think I have against “you,” Jawahara? Why should I pick on you? As I remember, a while back I praised one of your stories...I don’t know...it had something to do with a chapati and a belly or something...can’t exactly remember...that was probably the only time, other than this one, I had commented on your writing...what do you mean, then, by “...or any other piece I have written”? Now, Jawahara, you are putting words in my mouth and presenting yourself as an innocent victim of my aggression...a devil with an “agenda.”

Perhaps Beelzebub I am, but not the kind of a devil who takes it out on Malini if Kamini hits on me...I’ll make sure it’s Kamini’s behind I kick and not Malini’s...(and you can pronounce “Kamini” as “kameenee” if you wish...after all I do have an “agenda” as you seem to believe!)

And what “personal” comments I made to you in my postings? Please be specific. All my criticism, admittedly harsh, was directed against your writing, not against your looks or your personal life? And as for the “empress” remark--well, first of all I don’t think of you as an “empress”--it’s a classic saying and you know that as well as I do. The “empress” replaced “emperor” because here I was dealing with a female writer, that’s all. And if you are offended by it, then why? Why is it fine to say “the emperor is not wearing any clothes” and not fine to say “the empress”? That was not a “personal attack” on you. If you took it personally, well, then, as you say, it’s your prerogative. If you feel violated by the imagery, which you sure seem to be, well, don’t...it was never meant to be that way.

Go back and re-read all of my posts on this board, especially the very first one, and then come back and tell me if it is your “Ramblings On The Fence” I am criticizing or it is a personal attack on you. I’d also like you to tell me where, why, and how I was out of line in my criticism in my very first post, or in fact in any other post...really, I’d like to know that...was it my Porsche analogy? What???

You sound very upset, Jawahara...perhaps haven’t slept well, either, in a few days, thinking of my posts. Relax! Just tell your friends at Chowk that if they are going to challenge me then they should behave themselves first before they expect the same from me.

I am glad to hear that you “always” wear clothes in public, or you’ll stir up quite a scene! I’m also happy to hear that you’re not hurt by my comments, because if you were, you’d just be flattering me...and surely you don’t want to do that!

Now, just go back, cook a nice Indian meal for your loving husband, feed your dog, think of “back home”...don’t think of me...I’m not worth it...

This may not be Jawahara`s best work on CHOWK to date
but she sure could teach a great many of us here what good writing is
all about from her other pieces.

Godot, you are getting too personal.


Ras

=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts

I`m sorry, folks, especially Ras. This was never meant to be a ``personal`` attack, but it is being percieved that way. I`ve nothing personal against the writer (I don`t know...why should I?)

Having said that, I`m still of the opinion that ``Ramblings On The Fence`` is an example of a bad, third-rate writing. But then, as the writer says, to each his own taste (now, you can think of ``that`` as a ``personal attack`` as well if you wish.)

A CRITIC’S DEFENSE...

It is a sign of grave insecurities and feeble-mindedness that harsh criticism, analogies, and jokes are taken as personal attacks. My approach to the article in question was not to attack the writer but her writing. Unfortunately, given the insecurities surrounding the atmosphere, that is how it was perceived and, as the responses developed, the writer became a victim and the critic the aggressor.

An emotionally secure person would have defended my attacks on the writing, laughed at the jokes, or, better yet, if unable to handle the onslaught, just let my comments slide into the oblivion.

But no! Instead of questioning what is it that made me believe the article is “third-rate”--and I would’ve happily elaborated on my first post--some interactors and the writer took umbrage to my post, twisted it to make me appear a “personal” attacker, questioned my “gray matter,” and when further attacked in defense, pointed the finger at me and said, “see everybody.” Never mind the writing in question, the focus of my “attack”! Good going!!!

Chowk is not a charity where “all” readers are going to be benevolent and pity-praise a pathetic piece of writing out of personal liking for the writer. And mind you, this is not the last time I have harshly criticized a writing at Chowk (so, all you insecure writers, beware.)

There’s nothing personal in my criticism. This board reminds me of a series of back and forth letters to the Editor in The Guardian a few years back. John LaCarre, a brilliant writer, had reviewed a book by Salman Rushdie for that newspaper, and in his review was not very charitable to Mr. Rushdie. Guess what! An insecure--and this happens every time when one is not as good as one is made out to be--Mr. Rushdie took it very personally and had all kind of nasty things to say about LaCarre, and, to make things worse, in Rushdie defense one of his friends, Christopher Hutchins--who thinks with his only left side of the brain--joined, and started to lambaste LaCarre in the nastiest manner. And guess what, dear people! All those readers, I’m sure, whose “gray matter” was in working order were with Mr. LaCarre.

Now, dear people, I know you can’t help it, but don’t start drawing conclusions to the above story. That is just a story I recounted that the current situation reminded me. There’s nothing personal about it. Give your insecurities a little rest.

AN APOLOGY

Jawahara,

I re-read my posts and I can see how some of my references and a ``joke`` were completely out of line. Trust me, I did not mean it at all the way they came out. Reading the posts from a cold, third person eye made me realize how stupid and offensive some of my comments were. I’m a very open and honest person. It is not like me to keep anything suppressed and not talk about it. What I started as a match-fire on this board turned into an arson. And it has bothered me quite a lot. Since everything said was in public, so I must also apologize to you in public, knowing that my open apology to you will not make me a small person but you accepting it will certainly make you a bigger person.

Godot