From: liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid   
      
   Bill Sloman  wrote:   
      
   > On 8/02/2026 3:37 am, Liz Tuddenham wrote:   
   > > Bill Sloman  wrote:   
   > >   
   > > [...]   
   > >> I'm not arguing with him - just jeering at his attempts to look clever.   
   > >> I'm not bored stiff, but I don't have anything like enough to - I do   
   > >> apply for jobs from time to time,and have got the occasional interview,   
   > >> but 83-year-olds aren't attractive recruits.   
   > >   
   > > Especially 83-year-olds who jeer at other people.   
   >   
   > If you look at the comments I've published in Review of Scientific   
   > Instruments since 1972, you will find that I've been jeering for quite a   
   > while.   
   >   
   > It's called informed criticism in that sort of context, and can be quite   
   > useful.   
      
   You don't seem to realise the difference between constructive criticism   
   and destructive criticism.  The former helps to move things forward and   
   encourages people to produce better work next time; the latter puts off   
   the person you are criticising and deters them from trying to do better.   
      
   Destructive criticism in reviews or online comments is bad for the   
   profession, bad for the publishers, and makes the critic look bad in the   
   eyes of the readers because it is often a sign of bluster to cover up   
   insecurity.   
      
   When you reply, it often helps to put yourself in the other person's   
   shoes and consider whether they see your reply as benefitting them.   
   giving them information which they might not have (in an encouraging   
   way, not a disparaging one) and making them feel they would like to   
   learn more about the subject.  If you think they will see it as   
   unhelpful jeering, don't post it.   
      
      
   > It probably doesn't have anything to do with my lack of success in   
   > job-hunting.   
      
   Have you ever looked at the differences between yourself and those who   
   got the jobs (apart from age).  It doesn't matter how knowledgeable or   
   clever you are, if you appear to adopt a curt or abrasive manner that   
   will get up the noses of the people you work with, they won't want you   
   in their organisation.   
      
   They won't change; you can if you try.   
      
      
   --   
   ~ Liz Tuddenham ~   
   (Remove the ".invalid"s and add ".co.uk" to reply)   
   www.poppyrecords.co.uk   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)