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Date Posted: 20:58:05 02/23/04 Mon
Author: JP
Subject: Welcome to the Hotel California
In reply to: Wes (yeah, now I have the balls) 's message, "Was I supposed to be insulted?" on 19:08:15 02/23/04 Mon


Yeee-haw, let's see if we can tip this baby over! To the right y'all, to the right!

First off, thanks for all the nice things you said Matteo.

I think some of Matteo's assesments of the writers is kinda off. Jen and CCS are two of my favorites and they both have a lot of talent. CCS IS kinda crabby though. Heh. Stay gold C-money!

Matteo dude, thanks for the kind words regarding the Wal-mart skit. I still remember writing that skit. I wrote it and then said 'Dude...read it like one of the critics.' and I did and I thought it sucked. So I rewrote the whole thing and that's what came out. I don't know if it's that great but it's certainly better than it would have been had it not been for Matteo, Max and Assface. For me, having those guys around was terrific. It was like, here are some people who are on the outside looking in and caring what's happening here. From Wal-mart right through to that Microsoft skit I really regarded the reviews as a big part of the site.

While caring about the critics made me want to improve, if I've improved any a big part of that would be contributable to reading skits by other writers, like Patrick, and emulating the writing.. Hurricane Evacuation Shelter is the essence of a comedic skit and there's nothing on the site that's prettier than 'The Spiral Staircase.' for example.

Another thing that I think has helped me improve, since that time, is working with some of the other writers, like JEN! for example.

Anyways, once the anonymous reviews started and I noticed that certain writer's had left I began to realize the negative potential of the reviews. Not that I haven't enjoyed some of the reviews since but too often people get trounced on and the negative aspects of the reviews cancels any positives that come out of them.. For me anyways.

I must say though, I enjoyed it when CCS would find things wrong with my skits and suggest improvements. I tried so hard to make 1932 perfect, given his knowledge of the era, and then he goes and suggests that 'knockers' thing. I was like 'DAMMIT!!!! That would have been better.'.

It might be a silly notion, but personally I believe anyone who wants to be a critic should read Alexander Pope's Essay on Criticism. Here is a part of it that I think is pretty important:

Learn then what morals critics ought to show,
For 'tis but half a judge's task, to know.
'Tis not enough, taste, judgement, learning, join;
In all you speak, let truth and candor shine:
That not alone what to your sense is due
All may allow; but seek your friendship too.

Be silent always when you doubt your sense;
And speak, though sure, with seeming diffidence:
Some positive, persisting fops we know,
Who, if once wrong, will needs be always so;
But you , with pleasure own your errors past,
And make each day a critic on the last.

'Tis not enough, your counsel still be true;
Blunt truths more mischief than nice falsehoods do;
Men must be taught as if you taught them not,
And things unknown proposed as things forgot.
Without good breeding, truth is disapproved;
That only makes superior sense beloved.

Be niggards of advice on no pretense;
For the worst avarice is that of sense.
With mean complacence ne'er betray your trust,
Nor be so civil as to prove unjust.
Fear not the anger of the wise to raise;
Those best can bear reproof, who merit praise.
.
.
some crap I don't understand followed by:
.
.
Fear most to tax an honorable fool,
Whose right it is, uncensured to be dull;
Such, without wit, are poets when they please,
As without learning they can take degrees.
Leave dangerous truths to unsuccessful satyrs,
And flattery to fulsome dedicators,
Whom, when they praise, the world believes no more,
Than when they promise to give scribbling o'er.
'Tis best sometimes your censure to restrain,
And charitably let the dull be vain:
Your silence there is better than your spite,
For who can rail so long as they can write?
.
.
bunch more stuff...
.
.
But where's the man or woman, who counsel can bestow,
(sorry for messing up your meter Mr. Pope)
Still pleased to teach, and yet not proud to know?
Unbiased, or by favor, or by spite:
Not dully prepossessed, nor blindly right;
Though learned, well-bred; and though well-bred, sincere;
Modestly bold, and humanly severe:
Who to a friend his faults can freely show,
And gladly praise the merit of a foe?
Blessed with a taste exact, yet unconfined;
A knowledge both of books and humankind;
Gen'rous converse; a soul exempt from pride;
And love to praise, with reason on his side.

There's a whole lot more but those are my favorite bits for this situation. If you care enough to understand it u'll probably need a dictionary and some time.

Basically it's like being on a team. It's no good for a team when people are like:
"You didn't play very good that inning. Not good at all."
It'd probably be better if people were like:
"Dude, try leaning in a bit more when you're hitting it might help."

I don't know anything about baseball, just trying to make a point.

As for someone getting hired from here...I think we should focus on making SNY as good as it can be. Proper reviewing is a part of that but a bigger part comes from people stepping up their own game and writing better skits.

SNY rules!

One more thing about reviewing. I agree with Matteo. What? I think it's silly to suggest you need to be able to write to critique. I don't see Ebert making any movies but he's a good enough critic to have his own show and newspaper column.

As for wether or not you fit in here Matteo....well, the thing that makes SNY great is that anybody can be a part of it, including you. That is, as long as you don't tick off Patrick. You tick him off u're gone. Aside from that people, if you want to be a part of SNY just find a place and fit in. Just don't sit next to me...that spot is saved. For Britney? Perhaps...

And I think that 'Everyone is the center of their own universe' is a bit of nonsense. I mean, everyone looks out for themselves for sure but the center of my universe, for example, is God.

If you're gonna put yourself at the center of the universe then I think u're gonna end up being a bit of a dingus.

What is true, is that we're all victims of our own perception. Some moreso than others. The key is...I don't know...maybe not overthinking stuff. I don't care. This discussion has grown tiresome.

All these freaks and I'm the one who gets called odd...

[Fade Out to the Eagle's 'Take it Easy']

PS. Could we please watch the language? There are younger writers who visit the site. Wait a minute...

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