LMAO!! OMG Debi! that is so funny - but what makes it soooo funny is that....i thought the same thing at first!!

I just thought it was a 'style' not a brand!! haha!!

I think that there are people who are rude and insensitive and can't give criticism well.

I think that there are also many MANY people who are overly sensitive and can't take criticism without a temper tantrum, or who think that a criticism of their work is a criticism of them as a person.

This isn't just in cakes, of course. It happens with writing, with art, with just about anything someone puts effort into. I'm an artist and a writer, so that's where I've been asked to do the most critiquing. The attitude is so prevalent, in fact, that I refuse to critique anything from anyone that I don't know even if they directly ask me.

I think much of the conflict I've seen here, as with any other creative community, comes out of BOTH sides, because I've certainly seen threads on this board where people have gone, "Look at what I did! Is it good or bad??" and when people have come back and said, "Well, you're on the right road, and this is good, but here's where you could improve next time," the original poster has come back with a hysterical fit of "How dare you attack me this way!"

I have also definitely seen threads where there's been a nice discussion going on, and someone has come in and left me feeling absolutely flabbergasted by their spite and nastiness.

Sometimes, I think it can be hard to tell the difference between the spite and the honest critiques, even if you're in person.

For a long time, I thought a "coach" purse was just a big travel bag that was smaller than carry-on luggage (as in flying "coach" instead of "first class"). Had no idea people were spending THAT kind of money for a freakin' PURSE! [/quote]

OH my gosh, I just died laughing reading that! I do have a Coach bag.....here's my story:

About 10 yrs. ago I kept seeing women with these nice leather purses with a a rod across the top and a handle and decided I wanted one. I had no idea they were Coach, or even ridiculously expensive. Finally found out where to get one and knew I never would because of the cost. So, my DH got me one for Christmas that year, and I still carry it every day. It came with a disclaimer though; he told me he really hopes I enjoy it because that is where I would spend eternity; when I die he will have me cremated and buried in it!! Merry Christmas, huh?!!

At the time it was $260, so for not buying another purse for ten years, it's cost $26 a year,and it's still going strong. I've had it repaired once, and they didn't charge me, so I guess it was a worthy investment!

Seriously, if someone upset you or was rude, then just tell them so. What's the point of starting a thread to make a generalization about certain rude people?

It's a forum. There are SO MANY people on it, and there are so many personalities. Some are stronger than others, and it's hard to gauge a tone from behind your computer screen. Sure, some posters go over-board, but why wouldn't you just tell them their comments are rude instead of starting a thread about it?

Just my thoughts....I'm going to go back to sketching a cake out.

angie

in my opinion, which doesn't seem to hold too much weight in my house!, constructive criticism can be a great thing, but it has to go two ways. one must be able to take the criticism that is being offered in the spirit it was meant to be taken. with that being said, some people take the idea of "constructive criticism" and use it as an excuse to spew out hatred or derision, and then say "but it's the truth".

i think there is a happy medium. if i see a thread where someone has honestly asked for opinions, i'll soften any potential blows i might have with some things that i think they've done really well. there is a way to do things, and it doesnt' have to be done spitefully or hatefully. i also think the humor works great for deflecting those threads that turn ugly...that's my favorite trick!

If I am correct in my assumption with what this is in regards to, said troll implied that cake dummies are not real cake and shouldn't be viewed to the same standard as real cake thereby implying that decorators that use dummies for say competition or display are not worthy. this troll is a complete ass but comments in general can be sort of ugly at times around here. It seems at times we are too polite to be honest and other times we are all too honest and hurt OPs feelings without thinking.

As for coach purses... My siblings and parents got together and got me a coach purse last year for my birthday... my hubby says to me at least once a week, usually when i say "I just need to grab my purse" Put me in the game coach and thinks he is absolutely hysterical. I am not into name brands either for lack of funding but my younger siblings with no housing payments or children to care for always chip in and buy me nice things for my birthday. This year I got Ugg and Emu boots. My hubby calls the emus the ugliest "moon boots" he's ever seen but they're so comfortable that I wear them practically every day even as slippers when I'm in my PJ's! what's funny is that these few luxury items make it look like I'm into name brands and such when I pick my daughter up from school and I usually get side comments from the other mothers.

And you know what....that's exactly why people shouldn't judge! No-one knows what goes on personally in other people's lives unless invited to know by that person. I'm so aware of these kind of things now that my husband has been laid off; I wear gel nails which are quite an expense for someone who has the income to support that luxury, but ludicrous for someone who does not. The catch: I'm a licensed nail tech and do my own; it cost me nothing but time. I know that, my family knows that, but anyone else who knows our situation and doesn't know I do nails, I'm CERTAIN are judging me for having my nails done. Things like this make me much more openminded to other people's situations, and the fact that we never know all the facts, that's why we should just worry about ourselves and let everyone else do the same. Great point you made!

thank you Stephanie... FINALLY someone who "gets it". I didn't want to mention specifics (my form of tact) and I DID contact the poster. This isnt' the first time this has happened.. I see it often. (I'm not calling anyone a Troll, for the record)

I (like Varika ) am an exhibiting artist and can take "constructive", even harsh constructive criticism. Infact I thrive on it. CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. No, I don't want to be sweet talked, tell me the truth but no need to be mean spiritied.
There is a difference~ someties it seems like the poster derives some pleasure in what is said.

It's easy to say someone is over-reacting when the comments made are distant and not about you. Just a thought. I am sensitive, I'll admit it, but I'm not weak because of it.

My reason for this post ~ as someone asked "why" I posting publicly... is to help bring light to this issue. I guess I expected people to understand, but maybe I didn't articulate my point well enough. It wasn't so "well meant decorators" would think their comments were ill received. Seriously, I for one, appreciate good critique ~ but it seems in short supply these days.

Yes we should all play nice. But some don't play nice so we gotta incorporate that into our daily diet. Like in the Olympics where they toss out the high score and the low score--you gotta overlook some stuff. If you have to comment you could go pfffht or something and that could be code for eff you or something

But (like poker) I'll see you that Coach purse...

http://acmecakes.com/images/IMGP02502.jpg

And raise you an eighteen hunnerd dollah Louis...

http://acmecakes.com/images/2007-08-25_10-34-43_0003.JPG

We've got a snow day here in Elvistown and I'm dangerous with time on me hands.

Wait wait, you gotta see the 'working edible chain'

http://acmecakes.com/images/2007-08-25_10-35-41_0009.JPG

No, you don't. I'm not getting out of my driveway for 2 days. Here's a pic of the 12" or more of snow I have to shovel out. http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopicp-6229871-.html#6229871

It's 12:30 and I don't expect my subdivision to be plowed out for another 3-4 hours at LEAST! [/quote]

good gracious...that's a hefty bit of snow! I've got family in Indianapolis, so I suppose they're in your boat, lol. It snowed like that twice here, but that was over 10 years ago, and never again...I suppose the snow doesn't love some of us Virginians anymore, haha

Why, that's 3-4 hours that you could whip up some astonishing new cake flavor that wow's the masses!!

It snowed for 24 hours straight, breaking the snow accumulation record from back in '96 or '99.

all my bake stuff is at the shop. But I never bake on my "day off"!

I'm having a snow day, too. It officially has trapped me in the house. Can't open the front door!!!!!!!!!! It's pretty, I'll say that much.

angie

I've said this before but it bears repeating to illustrate the extreme difference between Southern snow days and Northern snow days.

I mean it snows like every five years or something and we had 8 inches of snow once that stuck--did not melt by afternoon.

So the officials got on the radio and said they would not plow the streets because it would back up into everyone's driveway.

That's just so funny I still laugh about it.



I mean people around here drive faster so they can get home out of the elements.

Want a picture of my beautiful sunny weather with a 79 degree temperature?.. Might warm your heart some!
Edna

k8, I've always said that no matter how much it snows here, in three days it will be gone. Even now, the girls (my daughter and friend) are working on the driveway and where they've exposed the concrete (a good conductor of heat), it's already melting. 24 hours of snow, and now we have a bright sunshiny day ... I was shoveling in just a sweater and gloves.

There's a saying in Indiana: If you don't like the weather, wait 20 minutes and it'll change.

Aw man Debi, you just had to mention a bright sunshiny day, didn't ya?

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me down
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day

Oh yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day

Look all around there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead there's nothing but blue skies

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day
Bri-ri-ri-ri-right
Bright bright bright bright sun shiny day
Oh yeah
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day
It's gonna be a bright bright bright bright sun shiny day.

chutz, my kids HATE it when I do that to them ... start singing a song when they say a key word or phrase. Which, of course, means I do it all the time!

Hey Chutzpah - all this singing you've been doing....maybe you should audition for American Idol...if you lived in the states that is.

And Debi - did you get tired shoveling? Is that a butt print I see in the snow on the right side of the pic?

Hey, ya think if I sat down and let a big 'ole fart, it would melt the whole driveway?