On Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 3:24 PM, Lali <laur...@gmail.com> wrote: > I agree with you Ray, a nasty reply in a professional setting is easy to > fend with a well thought answer. > Having a thick skin, what does that mean? I don't run and throw myself on > my bed and cry my eyes out when I get a harsh critique, but I won't lie and > say that it sits well on me right away, after the bad feelings are sorted > out, a harsh critique usually motivates me to be better. But it has to be a > harsh critique with substance, and those are usually the ones that hurt the > most, if you are convinced you have done a good job, or if you are not aware > you made a mistake, an omission or something of the sorts. On the other > hand, an empty nasty comment really doesn't help anyone, specially a > beginner. But maybe I am a little inexperienced, I have never received a > nasty review for any of my articles, but I did have a particularly nasty > supervisor, and I did speak out and it did have consequences for me, far > more serious than getting an article rejected. > > L > > Lali,
To me a "thick skin" is learning to distance yourself from your work and it took me a really long time to learn how to do it. It is to step back and see harsh criticism for what it is, it is an attack, substantiated or not on the work, not on you. Whatever anyone says about what you do, is not a final judgment not on you not on your work. Step back, take what you can, learn what you can and move on. I think it will keep you sane, but take care not to become jaded and if you don't enjoy hard criticism, try really hard not to it yourself. In that way, maybe one day soon, we won't need thich skins. Cheers, T. -- "Education is not to be used to promote obscurantism." - Theodonius Dobzhansky. "Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto Me ha dado el sonido y el abecedario Con él, las palabras que pienso y declaro Madre, amigo, hermano Y luz alumbrando la ruta del alma del que estoy amando Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto Me ha dado la marcha de mis pies cansados Con ellos anduve ciudades y charcos Playas y desiertos, montañas y llanos Y la casa tuya, tu calle y tu patio" Violeta Parra - Gracias a la Vida Tiago S. F. Hori PhD Candidate - Ocean Science Center-Memorial University of Newfoundland
