Yes, my Opinion Means NOTHING To You

[Seraph]

I do web design work, and consultation on the side. Unfortunately had to switch to charging for that, because I got asked so often to look over sites, that if I did all of it, I'd never get work done. It's commonly known though, that I do that, and for a decent price. I don't shirk around, and will point out things almost immediately, so that usually I only have to charge for the first hour. Its a HUGE deal, and a lot of websites have come to me for it quite often. This guy though, has been pinging me for a couple of weeks now to look over everything and give him a detailed review for free. I guess he finally cracked, LOL.

Client: hello
Seraph: Hi
Client: I just designed a site and I wanted toknow what you think of it
Client: <site>
Client: Can you tell me if it looks good?
Seraph: I really can't do consultation work for free right now....but I will say this. That design is going to kill your bandwidth. There's a few issues with the image compression, and with the new bandwidth packaging pricing for your script's host...it's going to be expensive.
Client: ok I'm learning right now but I will get better
Client: I designed this and installed this all by myself. Youdon't even know how to install . Your prices are outragous. I know way better designers then you.
Client: I dont care what you think
Seraph: Aaaand we're done here. Goodbye! <block>


Yes, obviously he cared so little about my opinion that he felt the need to contact me and ask. I'm not worried though. I already looked at his site, for such a basic design, he's bumped himself into the second tier of bandwidth usage for his hosting. Its going to get EXPENSIVE for him to run his site, lol.

In other news, I really *really* hope Trillian doesn't put a cap on how many people I can block. Because its getting to be a long list. ><

[Moirae]

Boy, he was being a jerk. Why did he even bother calling you then. I really wish I knew why some of these people did this stuff.

[Betweenshades]

Sounds like he was just looking for a pat on the back instead of actually learning anything. Sad.

[chainedbarista]

he's someone who cannot handle constructive criticism; those are the types that no one should hire. they'll design what they think what you want instead of designing what you really want.

[Midnight12]

Guess he really didn't want to know, just wanted to waste time?

In other news, I really *really* hope Trillian doesn't put a cap on how many people I can block. Because its getting to be a long list. ><

Used to use Trillian, didn't think there was, and the combined ignore lists from all my different names reached about a hundred so...no?

[Seraph]

he's someone who cannot handle constructive criticism; those are the types that no one should hire. they'll design what they think what you want instead of designing what you really want.

Sadly, I've actually had clients ask me if I make sure they like the site. When I was like, well yes, it's YOUR site!....they tell me horror stories about how the previous designer did the site design, and never listened to them. Since they'd already paid, the designer was like SEE YA~~~~ and poofed.

Boy, he was being a jerk. Why did he even bother calling you then. I really wish I knew why some of these people did this stuff.

...Full moon?

Used to use Trillian, didn't think there was, and the combined ignore lists from all my different names reached about a hundred so...no?

I'm glad to hear that, lol.

[Seshat]

Sounds like he was just looking for a pat on the back instead of actually learning anything. Sad.

When people ask me for a critique, I do some expectation management. I ask them what level of critique they want.

If they want beginner level, I'll tell them what their greatest strength, and their greatest weakness are (in my opinion), and recommend books/advice if I know of it to strengthen their strength and improve their weakness.
Some of them at this level want me to tell them if they have the capacity to go into the field (writing). I usually tell them that everyone does, but some people need co-authors.
(My father is a brilliant man, with a lot of knowledge and the ability to organise it well. But his spelling, grammar, and general writing ability make my mother's co-authoring compulsory!)

Medium level, I'll give them my opinion of where they are right now (medium amateur, good amateur, semi-professional, could be professional with an editor's help). I'll pull fewer punches, and treat them more like a busy-but-caring editor would. Or like a not-so-busy editor, actually. More like a writing teacher.

I don't often get asked for a full-on, pull-no-punches critique (my husband does it, but his work generally needs only two or three sentences modified for clarity).
If I did, I'd probably have to charge for the work because of the time and effort I'd spend on it: but it would cover everything I know about the art of writing as applicable to that particular work.
And yes, I'd mention where my opinion was 'my personal style would be to do it X way, your way is not exactly wrong, but think about whether X might be better'.


Hmm. Where was I going with this?

Oh yes. People often ask me for critique, and don't realise that I'm capable of giving full-on, pull-no-punches critique. I find it's a lot easier to offer them the choice of how much critique they want.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Sounds like he was just looking for a pat on the back instead of actually learning anything. Sad.

Most of the time, when someone asks somebody's opinion on something like this, that's exactly right.

All I can say is, I wish I had a nickle for every time someone asked "my opinion." I guess asking "can I get your opinion?" is less embarrassing a thing to say than "can you please blow some smoke up my ass?"

[dalesys]

..."can you please blow some smoke up my ass?"

But leaving the firecracker attached to the smoke is such fun!

[Andara Bledin]

All I can say is, I wish I had a nickle for every time someone asked "my opinion." I guess asking "can I get your opinion?" is less embarrassing a thing to say than "can you please blow some smoke up my ass?"

Yup. Most people who ask for critiques don't want advice, they just want validation.

^-.-^

[Pairou]

Critique is good. Makes me happy and helps me grow as an artist and person.

If I'm having a bad day and I want validation or just a compliment, I will say so. XD

[Seshat]

Pairou:

I like you.



Adara and RK:

You're both right. People who aren't asking for genuine critique need to learn to say so. My post earlier in this thread covers how I separate the ones who are from the ones who aren't.

Actually, having offered that, I usually find that people are willing to be told their greatest weakness (as I see it) and actually seem to listen.

[wolfie]

Most of the time, when someone asks somebody's opinion on something like this, that's exactly right.

All I can say is, I wish I had a nickle for every time someone asked "my opinion." I guess asking "can I get your opinion?" is less embarrassing a thing to say than "can you please blow some smoke up my ass?"

Freshly-cut pine branches to produce the smoke? Check.
Newspaper to start the fire? Check.
150 PSI 60 CFM industrial air compressor to deliver the smoke? Check.

[Web_Pict]

Sometimes you just get blinded what you are doing. Outsider's opinion helps then. Wish I'd have someone to take alook of sites me made, they propably just horrible but friends are to friendly to say truth.

Blinding goes as well with arts, leave a work for a while, and it looks all different.