There’s a lot of shit flying about regarding words.

Somebody turned the fan up.

Should a person who volunteers for the Rogue Festival write unfavorable things about various shows in the Rogue ON the Rogue Festival web site?

There have been a lot of opinions about this. Some people say “Only if it’s nice.” Others say they should be allowed to say whatever they want. A lot of the people talking don’t know all the specifics of what brought up the issue.

I’ll offer my own perspective.

I performed in the Rogue. The show in which I performed was mentioned and compared unfavorably in a review for another show. (I’ll get to why I’m not naming names in a little while.) The show reviewed was given favorable remarks, and I have no doubt it was deserved. Why, though, is it necessary to compare a musical act that is COMPLETELY unrelated to the style of the act being reviewed? One might answer “to point out contrast”. I admit that contrast can be relevant in writing. I think it was misused in this instance. Calling another act “low-brow” just because it is not classical, operatic, and complex seems underhanded; especially given that these things weren’t said in the review for the supposedly low-brow act. In fact, this “low-brow” act was given a somewhat favorable review by the same reviewer (though the people in the act as a whole were referred to as drunks. Another erroneous blanket statement.) Nowhere in that review was it compared or contrasted with the first show.

If the point was to say, “Look… these people over here had a full house doing some other kind of music, while a really great show of operatic styling had very few in the audience. What a shame.” then maybe that is how it should have been worded. Constructing the review in such a way that insults the non-classical show AND its audience was not the best way to get the point across. From a purely informational point of view… it’s sloppy.

Then again one might think that not naming names when expressing concern that someone is doing this might be considered underhanded. Here is why I did not during discussion on another blog, do not here, and will not. I think it’s impolite. Period. For someone completely outside of the issue, they will have no idea who I’m talking about, and all they will see is the issue. They will not form an unfavorable impression of someone they may or may not know.

You see, when I post criticism… ANYWHERE… I do it politely. I am careful to not cast personal aspersions on the individual(s) who are part of the issue.

I do not call them low-brow. I do not call them drunks. (I haven’t even categorized this post as having to do with the Rogue, instead categorizing it as “pondering” on the off chance someone links through the Rogue site, ends up here and looks at the category that has to do with the Rogue. The “general” public does not need to see this.)

I stick to the issue at hand, and leave remarks that can be construed as relating to the personal habits and quality of someone OUT of it.

I do not say inappropriate things. I am not rude.

There is nothing wrong with having an opinion about something. Not all opinions are the same, and GOD FORBID that we should all become so homogenized that we all appreciate the same things. There’s no variety in that. Our world is veering far too close to that already.

However, criticism, or even just expressing dislike, distaste, or disappointment, can be done in a manner that is not insulting.

That said… when one represents an organization, one has no business undermining the success of that organization’s good relationship with those who do business with or through it.

As a friend of mine would say… that’s BAD JUJU!

As a visible representative for the festival, it is just very poor manners to express personal preference for one show over another on the festival’s website.

Now… in a personal blog? Have at it. Post recommendations to your friends, your readers… but even that should be done with some delicacy. In personal conversations with those you know well, feel free to discuss whatever you want. To strangers, festival-goers and potential audience members… give only dates/times, direct them to the website for AUDIENCE reviews, maybe mention a show or two that seems to have garnered buzz. (In case I haven’t made it clear, being a volunteer with somewhat more visibility and responsibility than simply selling tickets, you lose your status as John Q. Public. Sorry.)

This is an issue of common courtesy. I would not volunteer to bring people into my home and then make them feel uncomfortable for being there. (I would not make them feel uncomfortable WHILE they were there as well, but that’s an issue for another time.) I would not speak poorly of those in the homes of my colleagues, while speaking favorably of others. It might give these visitors a bad impression of the festival, of the people involved with it, of the people of the city in which it’s held.

It’s just… not… a good idea.

I wrote reviews on the Rogue site. I wrote many. They were all favorable. They were not all for people I considered friends. Some were for people I don’t even know. I just happened to have chosen well, or got lucky. If I had found something clearly unlikable about a show, I would have said so. So, even though my reviews were all positive, they were NOT all PR. I did, however, want other potential audience members to know about my favorable impressions.

There’s nothing wrong with unfavorable reviews. Any publicity is good publicity, and you can defend, or invite people to see for themselves. The main problem is the host insulting the guest. That’s just downright bad manners no matter where you’re from.

Now… here’s the kicker. This is all about someone who KNOWS better. This is someone who supposedly knows how to express things in writing very well.

So here’s my final opinion. This is a case of not taking the time and care to be clear, precise and concise in expressing opinion. This is a case of not thinking it through. This is a case of “letting fly” with no care for the consequences. This is downright journalistic laziness.

We’re seeing a hell of a lot of that lately.

It’s a shame.

Now I AM going to get personal, and still not name names. It’s my blog, and I can do that. I think someone has been acting out, in various ways, not thinking clearly, and making poor choices. It has been escalating. I feel deep concern for many reasons. I am not going to elaborate further.