11.14.06
Constructive criticism
While we were at lunch, my friend Shiaw-Ling was talking about her writing group. She explained that it was difficult for people to learn to give constructive criticism. It’s very easy to say something sucks; it’s harder to explain why it sucks.
Last night at dinner, I told my friend John that he is a dumbass because of his latest blog post. Go look. See? Keith, Stacie, and I made fun of John during the remainder of dinner.
Unfortunately that’s not constructive criticism. Not even the part where we pretended to forgive him because of his “Canadian ignorance.” There isn’t really such a thing.
It would be better to say that John’s post about Ed Bradley was perhaps too succinct to properly convey his points without seeming ignorant. He might want to consider that there are a wide variety of lovely shades of brown for African-American skin.
John would also do well to research his topic a little before making random comments. He mention’s Bradley’s Lifetime Achievement Award, but fails to mention any of Bradley’s other awards, which include, but are not limited to, nineteen Emmys and a Peabody.
Bradley has done some wonderful work in journalism, and deserves better treatment.