tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post1230149914782958498..comments2024-03-26T15:49:05.333-07:00Comments on Criminal Minds: If You Can’t Say Something Nice... from James W. ZiskinJosh Stallingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09913654176433125233noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-62130265721921309042021-04-30T09:27:17.930-07:002021-04-30T09:27:17.930-07:00Punching not pinching!Punching not pinching!James W. Ziskinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677940119373480715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-61745783578623808772021-04-30T09:26:28.197-07:002021-04-30T09:26:28.197-07:00Frank, maybe I should have pulled her sweater over...Frank, maybe I should have pulled her sweater over her head and started pinching. ;-)James W. Ziskinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677940119373480715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-52080863396911195402021-04-30T07:58:59.682-07:002021-04-30T07:58:59.682-07:00It always amazes me at how critical and self-impor...It always amazes me at how critical and self-important people can be about something someone else created that is hard to do. <br /><br />I'm a hockey guy. Hockey is a hard sport - the skating alone is enough to doom most who try it. One pundit equated the skillset mix as trying to play basketball on a uni-cycle, and I don't think that's far off.<br /><br />But there are plenty of so-called fans who scream at the players, "You suck!" and "Learn to skate!" while never venturing to strap on skates themselves... and these folks are season ticket holders who go to thirty or forty games a year, year after year, just to tell those players how much they don't enjoy their game.<br /><br />"I didn't care much for your book" is pretty much the same thing, albeit with less fisticuffs. Although... it might change the dynamic if it was socially acceptable to respond to a snide comment like this by dropping the gloves and chucking some knucks. I mean, Brenda's idea for a agreed-upon comeback is nicer, I know, but still...<br /><br />In the end, Jim gritting his teeth and smiling, and Dietrich's call back to TR's one-in-the-arena quote is probably our best bet.<br /><br />But wouldn't it be cool?<br /><br />"I read your book."<br />"Thanks."<br />"I didn't think much of it."<br />[gloves drop] "You wanna go?"<br /><br />Five pages for fighting and a book misconduct, eh?Frank Zafirohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01846847831614880053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-39785363421670338432021-04-29T15:30:19.036-07:002021-04-29T15:30:19.036-07:00Hi, all. Thank you for your kind and funny respons...Hi, all. Thank you for your kind and funny responses. I laugh at the Library Lady Story still. You have to have a thick skin and sense of humor about these things. But at the time, I was shocked. I managed to smile and apologize, though, gritting my teeth, I’m sure.<br /><br />JimJames W. Ziskinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07677940119373480715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-6458112052171056762021-04-29T11:12:01.614-07:002021-04-29T11:12:01.614-07:00Susan, how about "And you have now fulfilled ...Susan, how about "And you have now fulfilled that desire. *My* currents desires are going unmet."Catriona McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17234089279665716446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-13801068362664527422021-04-29T08:55:34.348-07:002021-04-29T08:55:34.348-07:00We need to put our heads together and come up with...We need to put our heads together and come up with a brilliant zinger of a comeback to the "I just want you to know I don't like your books" useless critic. With these creative Minds , I think we could create the perfect all-purpose reply. Then, if said critic wanders over and pulls that stunt, she will begin to notice a certain refrain and maybe think we are spooky.Susan C Sheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18225627756540127032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-90109304620553862292021-04-29T07:49:06.803-07:002021-04-29T07:49:06.803-07:00You're a better man than I am, Gunga Jim. CxYou're a better man than I am, Gunga Jim. CxCatriona McPhersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17234089279665716446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-39650916478875619672021-04-29T07:32:55.625-07:002021-04-29T07:32:55.625-07:00Every author has a tale of the one reader that rea...Every author has a tale of the one reader that reads every single book and never likes any of them and makes sure to tell the author each time. Seems to me that it is long past time that the person must be hunted down and eliminated by a squad of CIA trained Ninja Assassin Librarians. Kevin R. Tipplehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04170714419133752724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-34888622115479187102021-04-29T07:04:05.025-07:002021-04-29T07:04:05.025-07:00I have a friend, and author, who told me a few yea...I have a friend, and author, who told me a few years ago about a reader she has who writes to her after every book, saying she bought the book, she read the book, she didn't like the book. Every single book. And you have to wonder, if she doesn't like my friend's writing, why does this woman keep buying book after book after book. But at least she does.Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02172124872936856806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-75912855767190961072021-04-29T07:02:19.780-07:002021-04-29T07:02:19.780-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02172124872936856806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-57033371237439573492021-04-29T03:38:12.871-07:002021-04-29T03:38:12.871-07:00I can’t imagine offering criticism, even construct...I can’t imagine offering criticism, even constructive — which it rarely is! Your first example is an exception. I like some books better than others, even some of yours. And wth did that person want to accomplish be telling you she didn’t think much of Styx and Stones? Pftt. Ann Masonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4994072470312639837.post-22557887906149861362021-04-29T02:55:03.981-07:002021-04-29T02:55:03.981-07:00Great stories, Jim. When I was in grad school and ...Great stories, Jim. When I was in grad school and starting to give papers at conferences, a professor told me, "If someone asks you a question you can't answer, just smile and say thank you." I think that would work with the critic at your table, too!Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.com