c’mon Joshua, stop it!…he he
zing!
hmm. complaining in a way that is compelling might just be creating — sometimes. you created a decent blog post the other day by complaining about how some people want to tell other people how to use the web.
just a thought.
I think there’s a difference between raising concerns/making commentary (“Please keep your social media shoehorn to yourself.”) and complaining (“OMG, _________ totally sucks.”), but I’m certainly willing to admit the gray area, and even more willing to admit this particular post was more directed at me than anyone who’s reading it.
Tilting at windmills might be considered complaining, could be social commentary, can compel change on occasion, generally looks ill conceived, and sparks visual interest and always unrest amongst the staid (and thereby at least seems creative in my book).
But standing in front of one, whining only that the windmill is tilting and SOMEBODY ought to DO something, is quite surely just complaining, which is what happens mostly… I think.
Perhaps just changing the shape or direction, or content, of something, in order to make someone stop, take notice, think, is indeed creative, and that is what is needed…for aplogetics, or design, anything else.
I think a well placed vent to a proper audience can be important.. however I’ve been thinking along the lines of you recently. This week my organization has let go of 2 very quality people. there has been a lot of complaining about it. While some of the comments may be justified, if half the time and effort many have taken complaining were spent productively, it would be less likely that more of us will need to be let go.
When the tide of your peers goes one way, it is hard to resist and try to go the other…
Why can’t you people just see it exactly my way? If only that were true, this world would be a much better place, I can tell you that.
Oh, wait. In this case we’re pretty much on the same page.
a well-designed page at that…
About The Author
I'm a graphic designer and sometimes writer living in Anderson, South Carolina. I serve as the Design Director for NewSpring Church. I love Jesus, my wife, Levi's Jeans, good Tex-Mex, and 8oz glass bottle Coca-Cola Classic. On good days I love them roughly in that order. Email me.
Less Complaining, More Creating
Thu 04/02/09
The amount of effort between complaining and creating is a ginormous chasm.
A friend recently commented, “I can make a website in 10 minutes and just complain, complain, complain. I’m done with all the complaining.” She’s right, it takes no effort to complain. You have the tools and the network of listeners to make your voice heard quickly and easily. But no matter how personally satisfying your complaint is, no matter how biting your sarcasm or eloquent your delivery, you’re still just whining.
I wonder what would happen if we took all the energy we spend complaining and put it into creating something?