back slapping verses face slapping...

This has been a very interesting thread, and I have enjoyed reading the opinions of others. Personally, I rarely comment on a build unless I have the kit in my stash or if I find it a very intriguing subject/technique. It's not because I'm self-centered or anything, I just feel that unless I'm bringing something constructive to the table, I don't want to spam up someone else's thread. I'm introverted in real life, so I tend not to change online.

Of course, if I could actually finish a build and get pictures up, I'd probably want my ego stroked with nothing but praise.

Just kidding, I'd rather advice to apply to future projects. If you praise a single project, you'll help a man for a day. If you reinforce and help improve a man's techniques, you'll help him model for life.

I find mindless praise tedious in the extreme, mostly because it prevents me from saying what I really feel without coming across as "the bad guy". Besides, "That's so awesome!" never taught anyone anything.

On the other hand, I've never heard of "mindless praise" causing anyone to put away their tools and stop modelling. I have heard and have seen "criticism" (or rather, just plain ego and/or social ineptitude which seeks to hide behind the lable of criticism) cause modellers to simply drop from the hobby, either for a while or forever.

If we are going to make a mistake, I say that it is potentially less harmful to be tedious to some, rather than lose a modeller because someone else might be having a bad day, logged on the computer, and "criticized" them. If in doubt, err on the side of being polite. The new/returning modeller might not learn anything earth-shattering from an "attaboy" but you can be sure that giving one - even for a standard to mediocre result - will not prevent them from modelling again.

I don't know that, given that people are people, there is a solution to this. More and more I think I like the idea of a critique board. Not too sure how it would work, however.

Didn't the car modellers go through something like this in the context of their meets/shows? I think that is how NNL modelling meets began. 

 -Jeff

JeffW wrote:

On the other hand, I've never heard of "mindless praise" causing anyone to put away their tools and stop modelling. I have heard and have seen "criticism" (or rather, just plain ego and/or social ineptitude which seeks to hide behind the lable of criticism) cause modellers to simply drop from the hobby, either for a while or forever. If we are going to make a mistake, I say that it is potentially less harmful to be tedious to some, rather than lose a modeller because someone else might be having a bad day, logged on the computer, and "criticized" them. If in doubt, err on the side of being polite. The new/returning modeller might not learn anything earth-shattering from an "attaboy" but you can be sure that giving one - even for a standard to mediocre result - will not prevent them from modelling again.

*applauds* Excellent post, Jeff. You hit the nail right on the head. This is the point many of us have been trying to make....to encourage modelers.

Also, permit me to reiterate that 'attaboys' are not intended to teach. The modelers here are smart people. They will learn by doing and by asking, if that is what they desire.

OK, I have posted a new thread over in suggestions and feedback asking for a critique forum. The idea being if you just want to show what you built, you can post on the model forum of your choice, be it aircraft, armor, auto's etc.....

If you want constuctive criticism then you could post in the critque forum. I think  it would be a very poplular forum and  with all the experience and knowledge on this board it could prove to be a great resource too.

Sooo........if we want it we need to let the mods know. If you like the idea, show your support here:

/forums/733949/ShowPost.aspx#733949

Sorry guys, I can't get a live link for the above address.....I don't think my browser and FSM get get on that well. 

 

 

/forums/733949/ShowPost.aspx#733949

Here ya go, Darren! Hey, I think it's a great idea!

I agree, but it is nice to hear some real feedback.  Sometimes you will post a work in progress, and then see it has 16 replies, and you get ready to read some good suggestions to help you....and you open the thread.....and its just compliments.  Its nice and I appreciate it, but It really is nice to hear something you can fix or change.  Im not saying all you can do is tell them stuff to fix, but if you have any ideas, they would be nice.  Ive noticed Ajlafleche and HeavyArty are both great at this.  Their posts are usually filled with feedback, whether its good or bad, that can help you fix something.  Ive also noticed a few times with HeavyArty, just as an example, whenever he says something thats taken wrong, some people get way too defensive. I remember one time someone was looking for the names of some modern wheeled LAV's or something, and someone posted a list of tracked LAV's.  When HeavyArty simply pointed out that these were tracked vehicles, the person seemed quite angry and acted as if he had been called stupid for not knowing, when this was the opposite of what had happened.

I know what you mean. Heavy Arty was very helpful to me with a Vietnam dio I built some time ago. His advice was very clear and constuctive, I was very greateful to him as with his help, my dio became much improved. I am sorry to hear someone took offense to his comments, he certainly did'nt deserve that. It still surprises me how some folks get so defensive about their models.

To my mind, this is another good arguement for my suggestion of a new critique forum. I really would like to see it happen.