well, obviously your time is your own and you should do or not do any project you wish, but you need to bear in mind that you aren't owed anyone's time, attention, or enthusiasm. People aren't betraying you by not thinking it's a good idea, or even by actively thinking it's a bad idea. If the criticism of others is enough to make you abandon the idea, are you sure it was a good idea?
Oh come on!
There is a difference between constructive criticism and simply stomping on an idea. Lets look at this from the perspective of someone who may have been interested in attending this event, or even TAM.
Someone comes up with an idea. A few people decide they're going to give their reasons why it's going to fail, even though they have no intention of even attending, no matter what it is.
This dominates the conversation and turns it negative. The person, who may have been excited and interested in contributing is now bombarded with 3 pages of negativity.
Instead of finding solutions to the problems, some choose to bring it down even more. This creates a situation in which a good idea, now seems stupid. The person that was thinking of attending now feels like embarrassed or dumb because they aren't comfortable with the traditional events at TAM.
The conversation continues and it becomes less and less exciting. No one is being encouraged to add ideas. No one is posting potential links. No one is trying to communicate with each other and get to know each other.
The fact is that the actions of a few people here ruined and tainted the experience. They chose to focus on the negative and offer very little in terms of making it a success.
I don't mind criticism, but you can't say that all criticism is healthy or productive. Here is an example...
"I think I would like to get in better shape"
"Go to the gym then, that's what they're there for"
"I don't really feel comfortable going to the gym though..."
"Why, that is what others do!"
"Ya, but I would like to find an activity that I would be more comfortable with."
"How are you going to get in shape with that attitude?"
"I dunno, I thought I would perhaps find some other people to work out with."
"You don't have a plan, you don't know who those people are...this isn't going to work."
"...oh.."
OR!
"I think I would like to get in better shape"
"Cool, what were you thinking of doing?"
"Well, I don't really feel comfortable in the gym, so I'm still thinking."
"Hmmm, well maybe we can come up with some good alternatives."
"That would be cool, but I would like to find others in a similar situation as well."
"That makes sense, you need to feel comfortable, here I'll help you look. This should be cool!"
"Yay, I'm excited!"
See the difference? See how one encourages the idea and leaves it up to the person to succeed or fail? See how in the first one they knocked the person down to the point where they lost the desire, but in the second one they encouraged them and go them excited....even if they thought the idea was totally stupid?
If you don't think this thread went like this, you should go back and give it another read.
