Comments on EvC Forum: A Play

I hope it gets better. I'm all for satire, but this seems a little too forced. I don't mind what kind of character you made for me but there doesn't seem to be an actual point for anyone to be saying what they are saying. Perhaps there should be more action they are relating to? Something to actually provoke the discussion?My only disagreement with my character is you have me saying something about haeckel's drawings. In fact I have no position about them. Not knowing anything about them to begin with, it seemed that Wells had some legitimate criticism of them. Apparently even Gould ended up agreeing.It seems they are useful for something, but what I have no idea, and maybe they should be abandoned. Biologists can sort that out. I never showed up in the haeckel thread, or in haeckel discussions, and never would because I avoid them like the plague.Perhaps you should just have me trying to change the subject, or note some sexual characteristics within the haeckel drawing.FYI, I'm also not big into drag. I've CD'd a few times for laughs, but its not a thing for me. You might want to stick with disco like clothes, since that's what everyone thought I was wearing in the avatar I used of myself.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

I didn't mean to sound like I was wholly rejecting what you were doing, and I don't mind being satirized. I fear my comments have come off as damning rather than simply constructive criticism.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

Whoa whoa whoa. Treated you with contempt? If you are planning on putting art into the public arena you have to be ready to handle criticism, and not take it so personally.I did not feel you were a bad person, nor that you should stop what you were doing. I thought that the script could use better motivation for the characters to get into discussion, and attempted to correct some inaccuracies about my character, so that the parody could be more accurate and hopefully even more funny.You can choose to dismiss my suggestions, and that's fine.I don't see why my character saying "no I don't want to discuss haeckel", or "Yes, I'm eager to discuss his renderings of preborn nude children as it relates to the recent Child Protection Act", would necessarily be less funny or satirical then what you had, even if more accurate. If you think its funnier that I would say I want to discuss haeckel or you don't want to rewrite, fine!My objection to the drag was not ironclad and in fact partly generated by rampant criticism of art I put out at EvC. When I made the mistake of posting what I thought was a cool looking avatar of myself, people told me how scary I looked with repeated references to my clothes looking like a crazy disco outfit. It happens I don't CD, though I'm sure it is funny to portray my apparent sexual freedom with me being in drag. I can handle that and laugh at it. I just figured that dressing in swinging disco fashion would be just as funny and as it happens, more accurate to what people have already said about my clothes here.I did not take your play personally, and I did not mean to sound contemptuous, and I apologize for anything I said such that its tone might have conveyed that impression.My new criticism is for you to grow some thicker skin. If anyone takes your work personally (ie they feel insulted, which I did not) or tries to suggest something about you from it, they aren't worth listening to.If however you agree with my (or others') suggestions about what might help your work in and of itself, then include it, if not, continue on. Its about having fun and as long as you were having fun, and obviously others enjoy it, you are being successful in the only way that counts.This isn't a debate, its art!This message has been edited by holmes, 08-19-2005 06:15 AM

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)

I'm not sure, that would sort of cut me down in size... ahem.Actually I'd have been fine with more satirization on the same point, twisting my own position against me. For example:Holmes (noticing others looking at his dress): Hey, I want to make it clear that I'm just dressed like this to be funny, I am in no way a cross dresser... not that there's anything wrong with it... but I don't get off on this kind of thing.Everyone (in unison): Riiiiiiiiiiiight.Holmes (flustered): I mean it, I'm not into wearing dresses like this, or panties, or bras, or these adorable fishnet stockings with garter, or high heel shoes which show off my legs nicely don't they... I mean, I'm not into this for sex, just for laughs.Random snickers are heard.Anonymous Voice: Don't worry, we're laughing.

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holmes
"...what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.."(D. Bros)