http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/ "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards" Tue, 22 May 2012 00:47:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1592 hugh macleod Thu, 19 Aug 2004 21:33:08 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1592 Jeez, Cynthia, I know. So hard not to alienate the lesser beings ;-) Jeez, Cynthia, I know. So hard not to alienate the lesser beings

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1591 cynthia Thu, 19 Aug 2004 21:26:05 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1591 "If you care whether Hugh thinks you're a loser or not, you haven't yet internalized his advice." yes, in a perfect world we could all be as cruel as we wanted and no one would ever get offended. my point, though, was about hugh perhaps alienating the core readership that was brought here by the 'how to be creative' list. many of whom are the very so-called 'watercoolies' who have not yet, as you say, "internalized his advice." and if they feel belittled, they're not GOING to internalize his advice, they're going to turn off. this is why i originally sent this as an email to hugh rather than a public comment--it was simply my take on a potential flaw in his execution, not a morality lesson. “If you care whether Hugh thinks you’re a loser or not, you haven’t yet internalized his advice.“
yes, in a perfect world we could all be as cruel as we wanted and no one would ever get offended. my point, though, was about hugh perhaps alienating the core readership that was brought here by the ‘how to be creative’ list. many of whom are the very so-called ‘watercoolies’ who have not yet, as you say, “internalized his advice.” and if they feel belittled, they’re not GOING to internalize his advice, they’re going to turn off. this is why i originally sent this as an email to hugh rather than a public comment–it was simply my take on a potential flaw in his execution, not a morality lesson.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1590 Greg Smyth Thu, 19 Aug 2004 03:33:40 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1590 Apologies for the earlier double posting - AOL grrr! Apologies for the earlier double posting — AOL grrr!

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1589 Craiger Thu, 19 Aug 2004 03:16:29 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1589 I'm a relative newbie to this site (found it about 2 months ago), and if there *has* been a tone shift with the recent posts, I don't really mind. I find Hugh's musings to be generally upbeat and positive, so I tend to leave here with a feeling that lies somewhere between inspiration and a foot in the ass (with both resulting in a li'l spurt of motivation!). Sometimes we're more disgruntled, jaded, bitter, etc. than others. The key thing is to not have that be standard operating procedure (i.e. the recent "Watercooler Gang" post). I worked for several years at a computer game developer where there were constant bitter struggles between the creative and the administrative depts. It occurred to some degree on every game we made, and it eventually took it's toll on me after a couple of projects where I headed up the art team in a management role. Daily battles to preserve the creative integrity of the project made me a miserable s.o.b. I grew to hate my job, which I considered thankless. I clashed constantly with my producers and complained openly about virtually every facet of the project. It finally came to a head when I got called on the carpet by my supervisors and came within an inch of being fired for being so negative and contributing to the already sinking morale. Long story short: I eventually straightened up and got some perspective. I was a hell of a lot happier once I began to regard my job for what it was- a job. I still had days where I was incredibly frustrated, but I really tried to keep things positive and glean what good stuff I could out of the job. Besides, the yahoos that owned the company ran it into the ground shortly thereafter, so most of the creatives (including myself) felt a small degree of vindication despite being rendered jobless. I never said I was *entirely* without a dark side... I’m a relative newbie to this site (found it about 2 months ago), and if there *has* been a tone shift with the recent posts, I don’t really mind. I find Hugh’s musings to be generally upbeat and positive, so I tend to leave here with a feeling that lies somewhere between inspiration and a foot in the ass (with both resulting in a li’l spurt of motivation!).
Sometimes we’re more disgruntled, jaded, bitter, etc. than others. The key thing is to not have that be standard operating procedure (i.e. the recent “Watercooler Gang” post).
I worked for several years at a computer game developer where there were constant bitter struggles between the creative and the administrative depts. It occurred to some degree on every game we made, and it eventually took it’s toll on me after a couple of projects where I headed up the art team in a management role.
Daily battles to preserve the creative integrity of the project made me a miserable s.o.b. I grew to hate my job, which I considered thankless. I clashed constantly with my producers and complained openly about virtually every facet of the project. It finally came to a head when I got called on the carpet by my supervisors and came within an inch of being fired for being so negative and contributing to the already sinking morale.
Long story short: I eventually straightened up and got some perspective. I was a hell of a lot happier once I began to regard my job for what it was– a job. I still had days where I was incredibly frustrated, but I really tried to keep things positive and glean what good stuff I could out of the job.
Besides, the yahoos that owned the company ran it into the ground shortly thereafter, so most of the creatives (including myself) felt a small degree of vindication despite being rendered jobless.
I never said I was *entirely* without a dark side…

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1588 Mary Beth Thu, 19 Aug 2004 03:02:39 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1588 I don't see any real contradiction going on -- there's the aspect of personal creativity, no matter what is going on inside your head or what your creative needs are, and then there's the reality of working. Working may be a great environment for you and your creativity or it can be so so or it can be awful. Sometimes you can leave sometimes you can't. that's life. I read Hugh's writing with his point of view in mind and think about how it applies to my own work, which isn't at all the same as his on a day to day basis. In terms of the material here - I think the discussion, whether in agreement or not, is more than half the reason for reading. In any discussion there's room for disagreement and there's bound to be some discomfort. With all discomfort there's a range of personal comfort. The good news -- much learning happens on the fringes of discomfort as we expand our knowledge and understanding. I don’t see any real contradiction going on — there’s the aspect of personal creativity, no matter what is going on inside your head or what your creative needs are, and then there’s the reality of working. Working may be a great environment for you and your creativity or it can be so so or it can be awful. Sometimes you can leave sometimes you can’t. that’s life. I read Hugh’s writing with his point of view in mind and think about how it applies to my own work, which isn’t at all the same as his on a day to day basis.
In terms of the material here — I think the discussion, whether in agreement or not, is more than half the reason for reading. In any discussion there’s room for disagreement and there’s bound to be some discomfort. With all discomfort there’s a range of personal comfort. The good news — much learning happens on the fringes of discomfort as we expand our knowledge and understanding.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1587 doris Thu, 19 Aug 2004 02:39:24 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1587 "The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he “The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1586 Greg Smyth Thu, 19 Aug 2004 02:09:27 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1586 Jeez you people take things way too seriously. Hugh writes a good blog and in this whole How To Be Creative thing has written very little I don't agree with. As for this watercooler controversy - where's the controversy in saying "don't work your guts out for people that only want you for what they can get out of you"? And why shouldn't you feel better than people that essentially waste their lives trying to please The Man and not themselves (whether that includes Being Creative or not)? Jeez you people take things way too seriously. Hugh writes a good blog and in this whole How To Be Creative thing has written very little I don’t agree with. As for this watercooler controversy — where’s the controversy in saying “don’t work your guts out for people that only want you for what they can get out of you”?
And why shouldn’t you feel better than people that essentially waste their lives trying to please The Man and not themselves (whether that includes Being Creative or not)?

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1585 Greg Smyth Thu, 19 Aug 2004 02:08:12 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1585 Jeez you people take things way too seriously. Hugh writes a good blog and in this whole How To Be Creative thing has written very little I don't agree with. As for this watercooler controversy - where's the controversy in saying "don't work your guts out for people that only want you for what they can get out of you"? And why shouldn't you feel better than people that essentially waste their lives trying to please The Man and not themselves (whether that includes Being Creative or not)? Jeez you people take things way too seriously. Hugh writes a good blog and in this whole How To Be Creative thing has written very little I don’t agree with. As for this watercooler controversy — where’s the controversy in saying “don’t work your guts out for people that only want you for what they can get out of you”?
And why shouldn’t you feel better than people that essentially waste their lives trying to please The Man and not themselves (whether that includes Being Creative or not)?

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1584 Katherine Thu, 19 Aug 2004 00:44:22 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1584 cynthia: I didn't say Hugh is right. I said he's consistent. I'm not sure there is a "right" answer for anything connected to creativity. The very nature of the process is that it's unique. Some people thrive in environments that others find stifling. If you care whether Hugh thinks you're a loser or not, you haven't yet internalized his advice. cynthia: I didn’t say Hugh is right. I said he’s consistent.
I’m not sure there is a “right” answer for anything connected to creativity. The very nature of the process is that it’s unique. Some people thrive in environments that others find stifling.
If you care whether Hugh thinks you’re a loser or not, you haven’t yet internalized his advice.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1583 Justin Kownacki Thu, 19 Aug 2004 00:40:41 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1583 Wow, to have gone from a seed of an idea to a polarizing pariah in a matter of weeks -- not bad, Hugh. Such is life in the breakneck-paced blogosphere. I predict a "Where Are They Now?" blog to do an article about this very list in five weeks... Personally, I say some days will be more sugary than others. If Hugh's in a place where he needs to vent, it's his blog. If he's stopped holding your hand and started slapping it, you either need to find a new role model or develop thicker skin. Neither is a bad thing or a good thing. It's just evolution. Wow, to have gone from a seed of an idea to a polarizing pariah in a matter of weeks — not bad, Hugh. Such is life in the breakneck-paced blogosphere. I predict a “Where Are They Now?” blog to do an article about this very list in five weeks…
Personally, I say some days will be more sugary than others. If Hugh’s in a place where he needs to vent, it’s his blog. If he’s stopped holding your hand and started slapping it, you either need to find a new role model or develop thicker skin. Neither is a bad thing or a good thing. It’s just evolution.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1582 cynthia Thu, 19 Aug 2004 00:01:21 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1582 no one is suggesting the contradiction you are denying. people just don't like being called losers. that goes beyond making people uncomfortable. and that's why wolves die alone. and you can't quote hugh as proof that hugh is right. no one is suggesting the contradiction you are denying. people just don’t like being called losers. that goes beyond making people uncomfortable. and that’s why wolves die alone.
and you can’t quote hugh as proof that hugh is right.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1581 Katherine Wed, 18 Aug 2004 23:18:08 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1581 "The price of being a sheep is boredom. The price of being a wolf is loneliness. Choose one or the other with great care." -- Hugh MacLeod Wolves are lonely because they make people (including themselves) uncomfortable. Sheep are bored because they're afraid to explore the things that make them uncomfortable. Incidentally, hunting wooly mammoth is a group endeavor. Many creative pursuits are group efforts (movies, theater, many types of music and dance, etc.) There's no contradiction between suggesting that everyone should pursue their creative potential and observing that some environments are more friendly to that potential than others. “The price of being a sheep is boredom. The price of being a wolf is loneliness. Choose one or the other with great care.” — Hugh MacLeod
Wolves are lonely because they make people (including themselves) uncomfortable. Sheep are bored because they’re afraid to explore the things that make them uncomfortable.
Incidentally, hunting wooly mammoth is a group endeavor. Many creative pursuits are group efforts (movies, theater, many types of music and dance, etc.) There’s no contradiction between suggesting that everyone should pursue their creative potential and observing that some environments are more friendly to that potential than others.

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1580 ah Wed, 18 Aug 2004 22:18:35 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1580 Well, I come here for "informed and lighthearted and sometimes highhanded primal," not "let's be nice, somebody might feel insecure." Well, I come here for “informed and lighthearted and sometimes highhanded primal,” not “let’s be nice, somebody might feel insecure.”

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1579 Carter Wed, 18 Aug 2004 22:06:38 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1579 Hugh, I think you've just fallen into the trap of starting out discussing a general concept (creativity) and as your material has thinned, your insights have become more personal, more introspective, and thus more *proprietary*. As the posts become more autobiographical, it's natural to draw lines between "what makes me special" and "everyone else". Of course, why anyone would care (much less be offended) is beyond my comprehension. I mean, if you're going to stifle yourself and let other people dictate what your write, you might as well be getting paid, right? Hugh, I think you’ve just fallen into the trap of starting out discussing a general concept (creativity) and as your material has thinned, your insights have become more personal, more introspective, and thus more *proprietary*. As the posts become more autobiographical, it’s natural to draw lines between “what makes me special” and “everyone else”.
Of course, why anyone would care (much less be offended) is beyond my comprehension. I mean, if you’re going to stifle yourself and let other people dictate what your write, you might as well be getting paid, right?

]]> http://gapingvoid.com/2004/08/18/a-reader-writes/#comment-1578 Johnnie Moore Wed, 18 Aug 2004 18:31:12 +0000 http://gapingvoid.com/?p=845#comment-1578 I like the fact that you say what you think bluntly, and I dont' mind if you exaggerate to make your point. I'm amused by the paradox in lux's comment. On the one hand lux accuses you of value judgement and treating people as lesser beings. And prefaces this by commenting on "a stench of smugness coming from you". What's that if it's not a value judgement? Lux wants it both ways. Fair enough, I think we all do. I notice that the blogs I read most are the ones with passion, whether I agree with them or not. And I think that passion is a pretty useful component of creativity. And I also think creativity in teams is under-rated and I know for myself that the metaphor of lone-artist-starving-in-garett-in-face-of-adversity has its limits. There, that's probably annoyed everyone... I like the fact that you say what you think bluntly, and I dont’ mind if you exaggerate to make your point.
I’m amused by the paradox in lux’s comment. On the one hand lux accuses you of value judgement and treating people as lesser beings. And prefaces this by commenting on “a stench of smugness coming from you”. What’s that if it’s not a value judgement? Lux wants it both ways. Fair enough, I think we all do.
I notice that the blogs I read most are the ones with passion, whether I agree with them or not. And I think that passion is a pretty useful component of creativity.
And I also think creativity in teams is under-rated and I know for myself that the metaphor of lone-artist-starving-in-garett-in-face-of-adversity has its limits.
There, that’s probably annoyed everyone…

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