And now I want to get some true answers !

[freestyle2music]

More and more people are posting their pictures and/or videos of their rides on YouTube and this forum.

In 90% of these cases they get answers like Wooow, what a beautifull and nice horse, and all other kind of diplomatic answers.

Do you think you serve these posters with these kind of statements ?

I specialy ask this question because I just watched a bunch of videos about dressage with on one soundchannel a German commentator and on the other soundchannel an American commentator, and it was very strange to hear that the American commentator was always soooooo/toooooo soft in her comments, compaired to the German commentator.

Why don’t you call a spade a spade or a trainwreck a trainwreck ?

Theo

[Thomas_1]

Maybe it’s a cultural thing…

I either give a detailed critique or else if it’s a child’s horse or such as an unimagineable mess or someone I don’t like and know is just fishing for what they want to hear then I normally say something like:

“what a nice arena”
“pretty coloured boots”
“lovely scenery”

However I have posted that before and got a PM saying something along the lines of “oh I’m so pleased you like my horse and think we look great together”

Shucks… now my secret is out :winkgrin:

[STF]

Maybe the American has more class.

[fiona]

Obviously i don’t travel in social circles where one might be unfortunate enough to encounter a spade so i have never had occaision to call such an item by it’s nomenclature.

Seriously, i don’t comment on youtube or any other places - you do have to remember that the comments are probably given by non horsey people and maybe it’s a gift to see life through rose tinted glasses.

Personally i only listen to the German commentary and i train with a german but then i know i look like a spade.

[Carnelian]

Sometimes the truth hurts, but I’d rather hear the truth!

I’ve always wondered about the “critique me” pictures sent in to Dressage Today. Some of them ARE train wrecks. I have some nice pictures of myself, but there is always one, two (or more usually) things I can obviously see wrong with my position in EVERY picture that I don’t need a big name to point them out in a national magazine no matter how nicely s/he puts it. Plus, I have a trainer and regular clinicians that are brutally honest. I know full well when one of them says “let’s try that one more time,” she really means, “you sure made a mess of that one, now do it like I explained this time.” :lol:

[Kementari]

And what harm does it do to YOU if a complete stranger thinks they are a better rider than you think they are?

[STF]

@Kementari;3772411

And what harm does it do to YOU if a complete stranger thinks they are a better rider than you think they are?

Because were Americans and we are stupid! :lol::lol:

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=STF;3772377]
Maybe the American has more class.[/QUOTE] :eek: :lol: Darn it … there goes my whiskey on the keyboard

[STF]

Dont waste good Whiskey Thomas… its a sin to do so!

[goeslikestink]

i dont comment on your tube but i have commented on here on a couple of videos on riding position apart from that
i might say you have a nice neddy as all neddies are nice

but i also enjoy your videos - visual is good as it dont lie

[siegi_b]

It’s definitely a cultural thing…

I know that when I first came to the US I couldn’t get over all the superlatives used - so and so is fantastic, outstanding, incredible, etc. etc. - when nothing was that great about the subject. It goes hand in hand with high-pitched voices that squeek their pleasure at a new baby, new car, new apartment, whatever.

The best example is the “Letter of Recommendation” issued by a company to a former employee… In Europe an employee that performed her job well and according to expectation levels would be delighted to get such praise. In the US the same person would expect nothing short of outstanding and showing knowledge above and beyond expectation before they’d be happy with the recommendation.

In short, it’s inflationary language! You do get used to it at some point but to this day I have a hard time using superlatives to describe an average thing/job.

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=STF;3772435]
Dont waste good Whiskey Thomas… its a sin to do so![/QUOTE] Well don’t say ridiculous things that make me splutter :winkgrin:

[Coreene]

Theo, in the US you kid could be on the team that lost every single game in their soccere league, and they would still get a trophy. Sad but true part of the culture. Heaven forbid people should tell it like it is. That is why I am such a refreshing change from the norm, ha ha ha.

[redhorse5]

I don’t know. I work in another field that is populated by international figures, many of which are German. In my experience with them they are very quick to label Americans as stupid, and dull even when they didn’t have any experience with the American customers. I think Americans are quick to realize that you get a lot more results with honey than you do with vinegar so to speak.

When I am riding, I appreciate accurate critiques of my riding along with helpful suggestions as to solutions to my problems. When I am trying to learn something it is good to know when you are doing something right as well as doing something wrong.

Besides, American management techniques all include the employee critique meeting that starts with, “Roy, I have noticed that you are always on time with your work, you never call in sick, you are well liked by your staff and have been super enthusiastic about staying late and working weekends, if we could just get your sales numbers up a bit closer to your quota we could avoid laying you off”. Motivation is the key to improvement. Or at least here in the US it seems to work.

[egontoast]

I get the impression that most people who ask for critiques are not really looking for critiques. The posts often sem to be ‘brags’ disguised as critiques and theposter gets very offended if anyone actually critiques them.

[Thomas_1]

[QUOTE=redhorse5;3772622]
Besides, American management techniques all include the employee critique meeting that starts with, “Roy, I have noticed that you are always on time with your work, you never call in sick, you are well liked by your staff and have been super enthusiastic about staying late and working weekends, if we could just get your sales numbers up a bit closer to your quota we could avoid laying you off”. Motivation is the key to improvement. Or at least here in the US it seems to work.[/QUOTE]

Here that would be “pull your finger out and sell more or you’ll be fired”

[Coreene]

Would love to edit out my typos, but reading/posting with phone, which seems to not let me. It is a cultural thing, same as some cultures find it rude to say no, etc., this need to praise. Calling like we saw it at the Olympic Trials? Shock horror, that was rude!

[mzm_farm]

It is just part of our “culture”. Kinda like saying " Hi, how are you?" and then being annoyed at an actual answer to the question vs. same back.

Really, what good would it do to tell a stranger that their nag is not so good looking and they can’t ride? If you have nothing constructive to say, I don’t see how it does any harm to gush over someone’s critter. Maybe the person commenting really finds what they see attractive?

Funny thread, does take a while to get used to the “culture”.

[kip]

I think that the best thing we can do for posters who are looking for advice is to deliver the critique in the same professional and helpful manner that a good trainer does for their student. I do think that offering some positive comments along with a hard critique is a good thing because it gives people a chance to build up on things that they are doing right.

[JRG]

Because my mother told me that if I had nothing nice to say, don’t say anything. So, I don’t unless I am specifically asked.