On Fortitude, Ego, and Entitlement
Number 3 — Sun, 04/11/2010 - 22:17
A while ago, an ex-student of mine, who I treated exceedingly well while being his professor, wrote a piece calling me out and even insulting me in the title of the post. Why would I allow someone to insult me on my own website? I am, after all, the CEO and the sole proprietor of the corporation at this point. I could, as would most people here in Puerto Rico, close his account and tell him to go fuck himself. But, I didn’t, and I won’t.
Why?
Because there are things, many things, in this world that are much more important than me, and much, much, much more important than my ego. Because I would like to believe I have the fortitude to withstand criticism warranted, or unwarranted. The fortitude to search for the truth no matter where it leads.
I believe in an open society. I believe in freedom of expression. People should be free to speak their minds. Of course, this works both ways. If someone attacks me, they must be willing to have me attack them and/or their ideas. I would rather deal with ideas because ad hominem arguments are the last resort of a losing ego. Freedom of expression is not for the weak; it is for those with fortitude.
Open societies are stronger than closed ones. They allow for experimentation and for innovation. This is why I believe that China, with all its industrial might and its phenomenally disciplined workforce, will eventually stall and will not become the world superpower everyone fears and expects. Without freedom ideas stop evolving and progress ends.
However, I have seen people use the freedom provided here on La Acera to write logically unsound essays. I will not name names. These people then wilt under the criticism leveled against their arguments. They accuse others of failing to have tact or of being too harsh. This is not the way of freedom of ideas and intellectual honesty.
Freedom to write what you want obliges you to give the same freedom to others. That is the double edge of free expression; you can say it, but it will be tested by fire. Fortitude is about this. Fortitude is about having the strength of character to say what you have to say and then take what comes back. Socrates knew this.
It is easy to speak and then run for the hills, as Thrasymachus attempted to do in Book I of the Republic. He came on like a wild animal, presented his ideas and then tried to leave before Socrates could test them. But he didn’t manage to do this. Socrates tested him, and Thrasymachus was no match for him. Thrasymachus remained quiet for the rest of the conversation.
See, it is easy to scream to avoid listening to what the other has to say. Fortitude demands that we do otherwise. It demands that we listen to the opposition, defend our views, and, if necessary, acknowledge defeat in the face of a stronger argument. What gets in the way of fortitude? Ego.
Ego is that petty little part of our person that wants to feel important and special at the expense of others. Our ego tells us that we are great, even when we are not. When our ego knows that our inflated sense of self-worth is based on fake assumptions it doesn’t tell us to be humble.
No, instead our ego tells us to put others down. The ego prefers denigrating others in order to feel good over actually taking a risk and attempting to create something worthwhile. Putting others down in easy. The payoff is immediate, and it presents little chance of failure. On the other hand, building something is extremely hard. The payoff is far in the future, and it requires constant and extended effort.
In the end, ego is the enemy of self-esteem. Ego is a manifestation of the fear that we are not special or great and as a result are not worth much. Ego is a cover for a lack of self-worth. Ego is the fear that we will not amount to much. According to ego, it is better to not try than to try and fail. If we don’t try, at least we can keep the myth of our genius intact. Thus, ego leads us away from our life projects and into putting others down so we can feel good about ourselves.
One of the most common symptoms of this ego-trip is people’s absurd sense of entitlement. Again, I will not name names, but managing a bunch of people is an easy way to see this problem manifest itself. As soon as you get people into the equation ego rears its ugly head. For example, I’ve had writers quit La Acera because (and I am translating verbatim): “this just isn’t enough about me anymore.”
One of the things that got the egos rolling was a meeting where we explicitly introduced organizational titles. People have been doing the work involved in the titles from day one but we had avoided using the terms (CEO, COO, CIO, etc...) because we didn’t want egos to have a conniption. But we incorporated La Acera to deal with some legal matters, so we needed official titles to deal with the outside world. We told everyone about them at the meeting.
Some people freaked out: mostly because their ego didn’t get a title. See, this was all about entitlement. Some people thought they should get a tittle because of who they are, special people, and not because of what they do. I am the CEO. Why? Because I do 99% of the long term planning for La Acera. Because I worry about La Acera when other people are hanging out on Flamenco beach.
Jean Vidal is the COO of La Acera. Why? Because without him I couldn’t run this thing. He is indispensable. He works on La Acera everyday on top of his actual job to make sure everything is running smoothly. He takes care of the everyday operations. I can make the same story for every person that has an oh-so counter-counter-culture title.
Some egos’ sensibilities got hurt by the titles. They felt that the titles made some people more important than them and that is the last thing an ego can accept. But one of the basic rules at La Acera has always been: “You decide your own level of involvement.” People get a title because it describes what they do, not because of ego trips. Do you want a title at La Acera? Cool, then grab a shovel and get to work.
There is no way I am letting anyone’s sense of entitlement, mine or otherwise, get in the way of this project. Honestly, it matters too much for that. This has never been, nor will it ever be the Marco Rigau #3 vanity project. Why would I allow it to be anyone else’s?
The Internets are seriouz
Anónimo de Castro Font (not verified) — Wed, 04/14/2010 - 20:20The Internets are seriouz biznes!!!!!111!11 Necesito la dirección del HQ de La Acera, tengo un paquete de Midol que enviarles para el problema de bloated egos y los hurtsy-wurtsy cramps (lamentablemente no cura el bitching que estamos presenciando aquí). Lo mejor que pueden hacer es no dedicarle tiempo a este asunto and move-the-fuck-on.
Sinceramente,
Anonimo de Castro Font
It is a teensy bit
Al Carbon — Thu, 04/15/2010 - 01:26It is a teensy bit embarrassing that this whole mess has become such a controversy. However, #3's article had a much larger point beyond anything having to do with La Acera, applicable to any organization and any country that upholds freedom of speech.
You certainly know ego
James Rodriguez (not verified) — Tue, 04/13/2010 - 08:20"Ego is that petty little part of our person that wants to feel important and special at the expense of others."
I love this line, because it almost seems like your describing your role as C.E.O. of this site.
Primo no veo como tus
Felipin — Tue, 04/13/2010 - 08:34Primo no veo como tus comentarios recientes estan aportando a que se produzca algo mejor. Si lo que quieres es insultar, es preferible que lo hagas de frente y no a traves de la seguridad que ofrece el espacio virtual de la computadora, porque no creo que a nadie nos interese conocer tus opiniones personales acerca del asunto.
Digo, todos los análisis que se hacen aquí son las opiniones personales (vaya redundancia) de las diferentes personas, pero todas esas opiniones están dirigidas a crear un conocimiento, a aportar algo. Lo que tú estás haciendo no llega a ese nivel y realmente se ve feo
@#3: I presume that you have
Petra Arboleda Urbano (not verified) — Tue, 04/13/2010 - 00:11@#3:
I presume that you have this open blog (a la Salon, Huffpo, etc) because you want an ever increasing audience of loyal readers. I also imagine you would like more readers than contributors (you have 42 so far.) Your justification for not cancelling the account of the blogger who insulted you, the editor-in-chief of La Acera, in a public forum; it doesn't make any sense. I have to agree with Rob about how this sort of public beef about petty internal issues take away any credibility LA is trying to build. It bathes everyone associated with La Acera in a very unflattering light. The internet is already littered with user-driven communities such as 4chan, livejournal, etc. If this is what you wanted, why even spend the money on hosting services and the domain name? I am simply offering my perspective as an occassional reader. I already have my own news/opinion website somewhere else. One thing that I know is that if you are building a op-ed website geared towards a specific audience, you have to have control of your writers. Otherwise you will have your website hijacked by entitled, dominant "writers" who will turn off your intended audience. Although most contributors here have interesting things to say, there are a couple who seem to be loose cannons and/or plain ol' hacks. It is not a question of freedom of expression. The writer who insulted you is at freedom to get his own free blog and build an audience, so why keep him on board? I personally wouldn't allow anyone I gave the opportunity to become part of a community of "serious" writers and thinkers, a community which I have organized, to get away with this shit. Perhaps this is the reason this certain ex-student of yours also feels empowered to rant paranoically and deffensively against any La Acera reader whose tone he doesn't agree with. Quite frankly, I am very surprised to find out from the comments here that this person is aged 25. He sounds more like an angry and misguided 17 year old. In fact, when I read the link he posted himself on the comments for this post, I read how he stated that he is actually checking the IPs of any anonymous commenter (or any named ones really, anybody can be anonymous and hide their IPs if they feel so entitled) He chewed out an anonymous commenter and mistakenly accused this commenter as being the same one as who posted another comment. He then revealed that he is aware that "both commenters have different IPs." It is laughable how he threw in that thinly veiled threat as if it wasn't common knowledge that site moderators had access to these. What made that sentence stand out was the the visual of this little jerk hunching over his computer obsessively trying to find the names, e-mails, addresses and phone numbers of LA's commenters. I also wonder just how is he going to use this information. I mean is he going to "tirar commenters al medio"? meaning post the commenters private info everywhere, like the pro-lynching Ana Cacho mob in Facebook has done? Is he going to pay a visit to his web nemesis? Now really #3, how do you think having someone like that reflects on a project so close to your heart? Let me point out I write this because I like your point of view and as someone who has had my own zine style website, I know how difficult it is to get them of the ground and all the battles one has to wage to obtain credibility in an oversaturated media field. Having someone like this (I'm only referring to him because this article is about the crap he wrote) will undermine a thankless endeavor that should be a labor of love. Just an idea, let go of the dead weight, because if you don't it will sink your ship faster than the Titanic.
Wow, thanks for proving my
Michael Jackson (not verified) — Tue, 04/13/2010 - 21:01Wow, thanks for proving my point jon dumbass. I love it how the comments are selectively being manipulated and erased from the site. I hope that AC and #3 remember that having someone like Jon Dumbass posting info about someone else's website without express permition is a clear violation of your host's policies. It's not even my website to boot, lol. As I stated before you erased my previous similar comment (yet you leave the faggot one, nice!) you shall know me as Michael Jackson for the moment. And my website is michaeljackson.com Can you pleeezeee direct hits my way, I really need them!!!!
The comments are not being
Al Carbon — Wed, 04/14/2010 - 08:50The comments are not being selectively removed from the site. Unless our lawyers took one down for legal reasons, nothing should be taken off and if someone is doing that then they are in deep shit. I'll look into it.
Although we are not happy
Al Carbon — Wed, 04/14/2010 - 08:51Although we are not happy about your use of homophobic slurs.
Oh and also let me point out
Michael Jackson (not verified) — Wed, 04/14/2010 - 11:44Oh and also let me point out that depending on your admin setup and your host, anyone with a little bit of hacker knowledge can break into your account and delete comments or blogger posts they don't like. It could also be an anti-spam filter app that you set up in the admin settings that uses arbitrary algorythms that is erasing comments. I don't know if the blog app you are using allows for a human verification system (similar to Blogger) but allowing one may help with the erased comments issue.
Good point
Jean — Wed, 04/14/2010 - 11:49Hey MJ,
I haven't been following the he-said she-said that's been going on here but I do vouch for the fact that no one is authorized to remove postings unless they are beyond the threshold of human reason and decency.
That being said, I appreciate the tips and pointing out the deletions. We will def. take a closer look into that because, as you can imagine, it's something we do not want happening whatsoever.
Thanks for participating in this ongoing debate, as contentious as it may be.
Cheers.
I apologize about using the F
Michael Jackson (not verified) — Wed, 04/14/2010 - 11:30I apologize about using the F word, it wasn't gratuitious or used homophobically. As a gay man born in the wrong body and a professional faghag, I can assure you I use the term in the same way the author of The Boondocks uses the word "Nigga." So accuse me of being a Perez Hilton all you want, but don't accuse me of being a 'mophobe. Regarding the posting of an innocent's website, I am being serious. This "blogger" decided in his psycho paranoia, to post the personal blog of a woman whose only fault is having a name similar to my pseudonym, in order to mock her and I guess send others to her website (to harass her maybe?) I am seriously surprised you guys, or your legal team, would allow this. Not only does it violate any website host's policies, but I am not even that Petra (again Petra Arbolada Urbano=Pedro Albizu Campos. Pretty dorky joke I know) If I don't subscribe, its because I'm to lazy to, plus I only visit the site in occassional spurts. About the names, since I'm not revealing any personal info about anyone and only express my point of view when I comment, what is the difference. I am just a reader generating clicks (something your distinguido court jester seems to openly mock and disdain.) I also noticed the same issue "she-who-shall-remain-nameless" pointed out, and that is the why of my "the admins erase comments in an arbitrary manner" comment.
Can the commentators delete their own?
Bea — Wed, 04/14/2010 - 10:16Because during the weekend I read about two posts by Petra (although one was "Anonymous" it referred to Petra as being the same person), one answering the comment by David, and one answering a comment by the essayist on the Solo en Puerto Rico post.
I was wondering about its dissapearance too, and I thought the person who wrote it deleted it.
Can they do that?
Estimada Petra
Juan Bobo — Tue, 04/13/2010 - 18:05Primero que nada quiero rogarte (por tu propio bien y que te sirva para el futuro) que leas las cosas bien antes de comentar. No es el primer comentario tuyo que leo, ni será el último, y me parece que debes pensar un chin mas antes de escribir. Si lees BIEN mi post original (el que suscitó este post) donde "insulto" al CEO, te darías cuenta de varias cosas. Primero, yo no soy el CEO por lo que no tengo "acceso a los IP" de absolutamente nadie. Y aunque lo tuviera, no tengo razón para "amenazar" a nadie. WTF, Petra. Paranoid MUCH?
Yo escribí, y cito, "Anónimo, nuevamente me dirijo a tí, esta vez con un IP Address diferente."
¿Acaso sabes porque escribí eso? ¿Leíste bien todos los comments? ¿Leíste mi post anterior dirigiéndome a Anónimo? FYI: No es la primera vez que me dirijo a un "anónimo" que haya posteado un comment. Y si piensas un chin te darías cuenta que es OBVIO que cada vez que comenta un anónimo se tiene que presumir que es alguien nuevo, porque no se conoce su identidad (no tiene una cuentita como la tuya, donde pusiste tu pseudónimo).
No sólo eso, sino que cada vez que alguien (incluyéndote) entra al maravilloso mundo del Internet, dicho usuario cibernético siempre tiene un IP diferente. Siempre. Por lo tanto, el comentario no era una amenaza de un loquito en un sótano. Relax, dude! No se va a utilizar tu nombre, IP, pseudónimo, ni tu propio blog en tu contra. ¿Para que? Si recurres a La Acera es para que seas libre, escribas lo que quieras, comentes donde quieras, y hasta tienes la opción de comentar como un Anónimo. Quizá debes considerarlo.
¿De verdad piensas que me deben cancelar la cuenta? Cuéntame, ¿por qué? Arguméntate ahí algo porque aparentemente los argumentos de #3 sobre FREE SPEECH no son suficientes para ti. ¿Tú de verdad no crees que si el quisiese, ya me hubiese borrao para siempre? Ah, y claro: Si piensas que los problemas internos no se deben discutir en público, porque le quitan credibilidad al site, ¿qué haces leyendo este post? Porque según tu el site perdió credibilidad con este post... right?
Si acaso, lo que digo YO, bathes ME in an unflattering light. NO a La Acera. Y como sabes del mundo de los blogs... ¿no te has dado cuenta que los posts controversiales atraen más lectores y comentarios? ¿Como por ejemplo, este comentario tuyo?
"One thing that I know is that if you are building a op-ed website geared towards a specific audience, you have to have control of your writers." Petra, petra, petra... Estas partiendo de la premisa incorrecta. Number 3 no quierecontrolar a los escritores. No por el mero hecho de que sin nosotros el domain no le sirve de nada, sino porque el proyecto surge precisamente para esto. Un espacio para que leas, escribas, pienses comentes, y te le cagues en la madre a quien quieras. Yo no estoy de acuerdo con el uso de malas palabras, y si lees mi post a Anónimo, te lo confirma. Pienso que le quita fuerza a todo argumento. Pero por mi madre santa te digo que si me le quiero cagar en la madre a Santini, no voy a ser sutil.
Te escribo con palabras fuertes, no para desalentar que continúes leyendo, porque sé que lo vas a hacer (ya sabemos que te gusta demasiado el site y he leído lo que comentas recientemente porque no tengo más nada que hacer en este sótano oscuro y frío, *brrrrrr*), sino principalmente porque me desalienta que gente como tú le quite valor al espíritu del site y comente sin saber. El site se HIZO así y el mismo #3 es un “loose cannon”. Why keep me on board? Ask him. He clearly thinks I write well enough and that’s enough for me. Aparte de lo que para él (y no para ti) era exageradamente obvio; yo no lo estaba insultando.
Ahora bien, me da alegría saber que you "personally wouldn't allow anyone [you] gave the opportunity to become part of a community of "serious" writers and thinkers [...] to get away with this shit”. Suenas como una persona demasiado controlling. Que fuerte. You would definitely defeat the purpose of an open community of "serious" "writers" and I'm glad I don't write alongside someone like you. Ya me lo imagino… ¿Tendría que pasarte todos los posts para que me edites el contenido también? ¿Tendría que pasar por un filtro como en la Republica Popular China, donde el contenido de Internet lo controla el gobierno? Definitivamente no crees en la primera enmienda... I forgot.
¿Tampoco crees que todo acusado deba tener un juicio justo? Porque la propia “prensa” puertorriqueña le sigue sacando el JUGO al caso de Lorenzo, no sólo uno que otro Facebook freak que ya da por culpable a la madre. I’d hate to think what people would say si escribieras para La Acera, con la poca credibilidad que dices que tenemos.
Añado además que en mi post yo explico de forma muy clara la razón por la cual escogí ese título para el post. No solamente tengo el permiso de escribir lo que quiera, sino que lo continuare haciendo. Y el día que no pueda, confía que cancelo mi cuenta yo mismo. Porque yo escribo y tu lees… si quieres. Para eso tienes un feed, para que puedas escoger que cosas leer y que no.
Precisamente aquí entran los dos principios cardinales de este site: (1) Freedom of Speech. (Poder escribir sobre lo que sea, sin repercusión; te puse un link para que te orientes sobre el derecho que tienes y que la constitución protege), y (2) que todos los días haya algo nuevo. Por más honesto, serio, insólito, indecente, descortés o simplemente incomprehensible que sea, todo post es bienvenido. Aquí no hay que complacer los gustos de nadie, aun si tú o #3 creen que es necesario para los monthly hits tener cosas "atractivas" para los lectores.
Que lo escriba el…
Eso si... Me parece interesante que recurras a La Acera para lanzar tus ideas al medio. ¡Nosotros no tenemos credibilidad! ¿Estás buscando público? ¿Una invitacion a La Acera? Hay que apoyarnos [los bloggers] mutuamente.
Att., - Mr. Dead Weight
a.k.a. "the the 17-year-old little jerk hunching over his computer obsessively trying to find the names, e-mails, addresses and phone numbers of LA's commenters." Jajajajaja. oh.my.god. WTF.
Whatever you say faggot
Petra Arboleda Urbano (not verified) — Tue, 04/13/2010 - 18:15Whatever you say faggot
+1 for Petra...
Juan Bobo — Tue, 04/13/2010 - 19:30*Swoosh* Nothing but the bottom of the net. "Lawyered". - Marshall, How I Met Your Mother.
Oh and I also have the
Michael Jackson (not verified) — Tue, 04/13/2010 - 21:13Oh and I also have the displeasure of taking a class with you. Maybe this will help you find out who I am.
I actually agree with Number 3
vanessa seijo — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 17:39(Okay, wait, the sky isn't..falling...okay, not falling...carry on)
I take this post as something more than a comment on whatever dustup happened before, on which I had one opinion I stand by and that's all there is for me in it. I take this as Number 3's philosophy of life, which frankly, is a lot deeper than mine. I think he is using said dustup as an exemplum of his theory. The fact that Number 3 did not answer rashly before is proof of this philosophy of life that I speak of. Trust me, he is right when he says anybody else would have asked for the gun and the badge. And I commend him for it. Freedom at La Acera is the kind of freedom that is not found elsewhere, kid yourselves not. At the other place where I blog one writer found himself the recipient of a not so nice call from another writer's attorney after a particular nasty dustup. I'm NOT saying that will happen here, I'm saying it happens.
However, said freedom should be treated with care as to not make a travesty of it. I think the use of foul language and insults, while getting a point across quickly, can turn off many readers. It's like killing a mosquito with a shotgun, effective, but there are less costly ways of doing so.
I am not interested in titles because with titles come responsibility and I have no adminstrative skills. Trust me, I have too much on my plate already.
And I admire the amount of energy and time-money and soul that the ceo,coo,cio, and whatever devote here. (don't even know if I got the acronyms right.)
I might not agree with other writers all the time, but I will agree to keep a civilized tongue.
Much love to all my bubelehs, S.W.P.T.
(She Who Posts Tuesdays)
Ego, etc.
Lilliana Ramos-Collado (not verified) — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:28No estoy de acuerdo en absoluto con tu punto de vista. Suena a un sadomasoquismo elegante que, a fin de cuentas, te coloca en la posición de mártir en la batalla contra el ego. Lo cierto es que la gente está cada vez más agresiva e irracional, y el insulto no es sólo insulto, sino síntoma de la incapacidad de argumentar. Como bien decía Aristóteles en su retórica, el argumento contra la persona devela la frustración ante la incapacidad de responder a un argumento con otro argumento. No podemos comportarnos como si nada pasara. Si somos profesores, lo somos a tiempo completo. Siempre pienso que es mejor (aunque sea más trabajo) poner a la gente "en su sitio" en el discurso, no en la vida. Desarmar el discurso de la pataleta y revelar su contenido irracional o mezquino suele funcionar bien como lección de decoro. Estamos perdiendo el decoro, y nunca me parecerá kool permitir cualquier cosa: la libre expresión tiene sus límites, sobre todo si vamos a ser intelectuales. Lo "visceral" debe someterse a escrutinio; si no, vamos a estar condonando prejuicios, racismos, estupideces, al validarlas como expresiones legítimas que, quieras que no, denigran el trabajo del intelecto. Digo, si es que vamos a defender el trabajo del intelecto... Claro, a la gente que me insulta no la saco de mi rueda de amigos, pero sí me tomo la molestia de contestarle detalladamente por qué su pataleta insultante no es más que una pataleta insultante. Usualmente, esa persona recapacita y comprende que no es esa la manera de bregar con los problemas. La indiferencia a contestar (disfrazada de renuncia a defender el ego) puede verse, a fin de cuentas, como arrogancia, y la arrogancia, de parte de un profesor, nunca es kool.
Gracias por tu aportacion
Bea — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 13:59Te agradezco muchisimo que hayas aportado a esta discusion con un comentario tan detallado y elocuente.
Te habras percatado que este es un debate que llevamos arrastrando hace algun tiempo. Es imprescindible que recibamos opiniones de aquellos que nos leen, que estan "afuera", pues en la cotiniadidad de la convivencia se pierde la perspeciva mas amplia. Como calibrar el control de las expresiones en nuestro blog, sin caer en la censura, es algo que todavia estamos ponderando.
Trato, como contribuidora oficial de este sitio, de mantener el decoro en las discusiones. El insulto, la ofensa y el vituperio degradan, como bien dices, el foro de nuestro dialogo.
I am that student...
Juan Bobo — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 11:35"Freedom of expression is not for the weak; it is for those with fortitude." ...Ditto.
I don't know where you got that phrase, but if you truly believe in it you are on the right path. And if you wrote it yourself I encourage you to keep thinking, writing, posting (not just once a week). Your article was quite honest and quite honestly, good insight as to what you were thinking when I wrote my piece, El CEO es un cabrón. In case people were wondering about it, here it is.
I understand why you never commented on my piece, even as you were mocked by others who said: "WHERE is #3?". You didn't need to. I also understand why we never even spoke about it, except when we jokingly talk about titles on our sporadic phone conversations.
Number 3: I think you believe in me. Y para mí, eso vale mucho más...
But I want to make something clear like I did on my original post. I did not want a title precisely because of what it entails. You get a title depending on the shovel you pick up and what you do. And I can't pick up a shovel just yet. Honestly, I am surprised by the stuff I have done so far considering my schedule. And the things I will continue to do "por amor al arte".
And unlike other La Acerans, I have not and will not quit. Because I didn't join this for it "to be about me". It was never about me. And I didn't "freak out because my ego didn't get a title". I didn't freak out at all. I loved the fact that people took the reins (even if they used titles) and are steering the website. Because I can't and I know this. It would be irresponsible for me to try and do more and end up doing a mediocre job.
I am in the midst of the scariest and most difficult step in my young professional career. I am graduating law school. It might not seem like much to some, but trust me when I say, it is no picnic. Even so, I made it very clear that I am and will continue to write, work, think and post for La Acera. But I did not want a title because you get what you give. And I wasn't ready to give 99% of my time to La Acera. I'd rather be on Flamenco beach with my brother and his girlfriend (who were here from NYC on vacation) because I don't have much downtime from my full-time job, my 4 night classes (twice a week) and my soon-to-come, last-semester-ever final exams.
I'm glad you wrote this. I'm glad I read it. I hope others do the same, or otherwise they'll regret it.
- Jan André, aka Juan Bobo, CO'D-on't think so
Ps. Ego aside, if I wasn't your best student, I don't know who was. =D
When dealing with an
I Am Rob — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 00:21When dealing with an audience... it's best to STFU and keep the drama behind closed doors.
I found humor in Jan's original post. I find nothing redeeming in this.
-Rob
I suggest you actually take
Number 3 — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 07:53I suggest you actually take the time to read, instead of being on the defensive.
You find what you want to
Jean — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 00:25You find what you want to find Rob.
You found nothing redeeming because you weren't looking for something in the first place.
For many of us, the article wasn't redeeming, it was on point. Besides, your a bit too late on the "STFU" card.
If I go to a store, and as a
I Am Rob — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 00:30If I go to a store, and as a customer I see/hear something of this nature, it makes me question that store's professionalism. There are some thing the public, the cliente, the audience... there are things they don't need to be bothered with, the things that they could care less about.
Notice, every response to this has been from contributors and staff.
Maybe I'll send a link to this article to a few of my friends in HR and get their opinions.
I disagree and I'll tell you why
Bea — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 06:19Several of my facebook friends took this essay and shared it on their pages. I did not ask them to, and these are people who have a long experience in the workplace (and who don't share La Acera posts, not even mine, not even when they "like" them on fcbk.) As in, for example, the retired head of one of the UPR library collections. So it seems they agreed with the post.
Besides, this post is more than about our "in fight." It is about the commitment to a project and in many respect is an explanation of what La Acera is about. It is also about how to conduct debates and disagreements without censuring others, and also how to do it respecfully.
I was very surprised to find this comment from you, Robert. I really wasn't expecting it, I don't understand why it upsets you so much.
Use that inner monologue first...
Jean — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 00:36Interesting how you didn't write this comment on JB's article. Acaso it didn't bother you then?
In fact, here is what you wrote "Oh Alex poo...
take absolutely nothing I wrote in that post seriously. The only thing you should take seriously is the sheer amount of awesome this site puts out.
Robby Lou Who"
Yet know you suddenly discover professionalism? What did you find a self help book in Borders and have an epiphany?
So sorry Rob, but try to be consistent in your arguments first. Then, come talk to us about "being professional".
Btw, on sending the article to your friends, but of course. But shouldn't you WANT to do that every time?
I find a difference is a bit
I Am Rob — Mon, 04/12/2010 - 00:44I find a difference is a bit of a difference when it's a writer criticizing their boss, especially when I (admittedly) found it humorous.
This I find as nothing more than sour grapes.
If you have a problem, tough shit. Be a big person, ignore it, or laugh it off. If you laugh it off, you end up making the person criticizing you seem like a prick.
I know Marco laughs a lot of things off and ignores them, which makes me wonder why he didn’t choose to do that this time.
Good night fuzzy piece of Georgian fruit that is canned, diced, and sold for its nectar… that shall never be named.
There is no "I" in Acera
Jean — Sun, 04/11/2010 - 23:43I am also glad you wrote this column. When you believe in something, as many of us believe in La Acera, your belief obliges you to take the personal component out of the equation.
This isn't about any one of us, but about the collective project and goal: Open and unrestrained debate.
Jan's post was a prime example of why open discourse has to be allowed and promoted. He said his piece and so be it.
For those who seem to believe too much in "I" instead of "we", well, #3's piece addressed it well.
Cabron. Who do you think you
Al Carbon — Sun, 04/11/2010 - 23:25Cabron. Who do you think you are?
Why do you talk about the CEO and the COO but not the CIO????
And how come you already have 4 comments on this post, and I only have 4 comments on my post from last tuesday? I want Sundays. You took the good day.
*throws a chair*
PS I want what's coming to me. I want half, Eddie.
Hey sugar plum. You know I
Number 3 — Sun, 04/11/2010 - 23:32Hey sugar plum. You know I have much love for you. The only reason I didn't put the CIO down is because you get all shy about it ;) (and going through the whole list is kinda too much)
OMG! I was totally joking!
Al Carbon — Sun, 04/11/2010 - 23:33OMG! I was totally joking! LOLZ BFF 4eva xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Ad hominem "arguments" prove you have nothing to say
Bea — Sun, 04/11/2010 - 23:07That's why I get so picky with personal attacks, insults and obscenities directed at people. Some, when they are unable to refute an argument, just resort to the lowest form of response: insult.
As you said, this reaction has to do with ego and entitlement. The entitlement does not allow self-analysis. If you think you can never be wrong, well, you can never really learn anything, you can't talk, you can't have a dialog with anyone.
I am so glad you wrote this column. This is a very important project, and one person alone can't do it. Actually, big changes and innovations are done in collectivity. If we are to show how to have open, uncensored dialog in an appropriate way, we need to lead by example. We need to follow rules and we need to be open to criticism and listen, so we can truly participate in the debate.
Bravo
Mafalda — Sun, 04/11/2010 - 22:51It takes a lot of courage, selflessness and enlightenment to put one's ego aside for the benefit of one's true ideals. I applaud you sir.
Thank you.
Number 3 — Sun, 04/11/2010 - 23:04Thank you.