tif@gamma.UUCP (Barbara Charles) (03/05/86)
> The woman asked a serious question. > No need for sarcasm. I wholeheartledly agree. No need for sarcasm. If everyone is put down when they ask a serious question to the net - it cuts down on the amount of communication - people don't won't to post anymore. My grandmother always said and I'm sure everyone has heard it: "If you don't have anything nice to say - DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL" Barbara Charles
mc68020@gilbbs.UUCP (Tom Keller) (03/08/86)
In article <791@gamma.UUCP>, tif@gamma.UUCP (Barbara Charles) writes: > My grandmother always said and I'm sure everyone has heard it: > > "If you don't have anything nice to say - DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL" I have always felt that this cute little phrase was intended to stifle any form of criticism. In particular, criticism of adults or adult behaviour by children. I object. While I confess that it can be very difficult to accept (believe me, I *KNOW*), it is often the case the children have legitimate criticisms to make. Stifling them harms them in at least two ways: 1) it frusrates them unnecessarily, forcing them to internalize both their frustration *AND* their reaction to it 2) It teaches children that criticism is a nasty, bad thing, to be avoided. This results in adults who have some pretty bizarre attitudes about criticism and self-expression. -- ==================================== Disclaimer: I hereby disclaim any and all responsibility for disclaimers. tom keller {ihnp4, dual}!ptsfa!gilbbs!mc68020 (* we may not be big, but we're small! *)