Having said that, I TRY to be careful about what I say re anyone’s creative efforts (with ONE insufferable exception who thinks the sun shines out his backside, and whose backside has thus become a very HUGE target!) and preface my constructive criticism with at least two or three things I liked and thought the person did well with, before carefully phrasing my criticism, and being very specific with reasons and examples. If you do it this way, the person who you’re criticizing can USUALLY tell you’ve put some thought into your opinion and that you’re not just SLAMMING. Usually. Sometimes. Hopefully.

And yes, sometimes the truth hurts, but it also makes us better as artists/writers/creators.

But I’ll slam the movie The Blair Witch Project until the day I die because technically it didn’t have a script.

Novels however, facinate me. Any writer who can write that many words and keep your attention from beginning to end or make you look up a word now and then that you never heard of—-that is the art of being creative. To lose yourself in someone’s imaginative tale is the ultimate of entertainment. Anyone who criticizes novels, I want to say to them “let’s see your measly story—-yeah, what can you write?”

Now, entertainers are another slice, they beg for attention and set themselves for criticism so it is our obligation to throw in some catty comments now and then, just so they know they are being watched.

Novelists though, deserve our respect.

And it may just be that I haven’t picked up the right King book at the right King time. It isn’t uncommon for me to open a book and decide that its theme isn’t what I’m looking for at the moment. I’m rarely in the mood to wet my pants, so that might be why I don’t read King.

I will say that I have become more conscious of *how* I say that about King and other writers, now that I travel with writers.

Actors are fair game.

“Blogs are about ideas – therefore, agree or disagree with the idea, not the person. Freedom of speech does not give you the right to be uncivil. Use constructive criticism and use evidence to support your position. Read others’ posts carefully – often in the heat of the moment you may think that a person is saying one thing, when really they are not.

# Try not to generalize. Sentences that start with words like “All” (e.g., “All teachers,” “All administrators,” “All liberals,” “All conservatives”) are typically going to be too general.

# Blogs are public. Whatever you post on a blog can be read by anyone and everyone on the Internet. Even if you delete a post or comment, it has often already been archived elsewhere on the web. Do not post anything that you wouldn’t want your parents, your best friend, your worst enemy, or a future employer to read.

And I also liked your discussion a while ago about stupid girls, prompted by Lindsay Lohan’s latest escapade.

So maybe my rule should just be no slamming other writers–unless they’re perverts or anti-Semites, too.

Also,some people need to be slammed a little-look at the Mel Gibson mockfest going on right now. I can’t help but join in the fun and do I feel bad about it? No,because not only did Mel bring this on himself but he’s in DEEP denial over his racism. If he was truly sincere about regretting the things he’s said and done,I would cut him a break but no,he’s not and all his celeb buddies are rallying around him with”Oh,Mel’s not a bigot..he’s just a drunk!” Great endorsement there,folks.

When the Opal Metha scandal broke,I kept reading about all the harsh feedback Kaayva was getting while the folks who obviously were just as much to blame being happy to let everyone dump all over the girl and I felt sorry for her(and said so). It’s all about context,IMO