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Just a note for everyone on HN who is starting a business or working on any project: THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD RESPOND TO CRITICISM! Classy, doesn't expect the u

by JPKab 14y ago

Just a note for everyone on HN who is starting a business or working on any project: THIS IS HOW YOU SHOULD RESPOND TO CRITICISM! Classy, doesn't expect the user to research beyond the page, etc. I have to confess: my initial reaction was "isn't this kind of self-explanatory" and "dude, if you want to know what rethinkdb is, look at their damned website" or even the dreaded, and admittedly elitist "if you have to ask, its not targeted at you." However, reading your response, I am reminded that I can be a smug asshole, and I'm going to remember how you responded for the day I release something to the public. Your response, on top of the fact that I've already examined, installed, and liked your product, adds even more to my confidence that you guys are creating a great longer term product.

coffeemug 14y ago
I once read a quote by Bertrand Russell that really helped me respond to people better. He was talking about studying philosophy, but it applies to understanding points of view in general. Here it is: In studying a philosopher, the right attitude is neither reverence nor contempt, but first a kind of hypothetical sympathy, until it is possible to know what it feels like to believe in his theories, and only then a revival of the critical attitude, which should resemble, as far as possible, the state of mind of a person abandoning opinions which he hitherto held. Contempt interferes with the first part of this process, and reverence with the second. This helped me a lot, hope it helps you too!
alexpopescu 14y ago
I don't have a similarly stylish and philosophical story as coffeemug's but the thing that changed the way I perceive criticism is something I've read a while back: before coming up with any answers or remarks, ask 3 questions about the original thing. Agreed these 3 questions shouldn't be: 1) WTF? 2) who is he to criticize? 3) should I bother?)

by JPKab 14y ago

coffeemug 14y ago

I once read a quote by Bertrand Russell that really helped me respond to people better. He was talking about studying philosophy, but it applies to understanding points of view in general. Here it is: In studying a philosopher, the right attitude is neither reverence nor contempt, but first a kind of hypothetical sympathy, until it is possible to know what it feels like to believe in his theories, and only then a revival of the critical attitude, which should resemble, as far as possible, the state of mind of a person abandoning opinions which he hitherto held. Contempt interferes with the first part of this process, and reverence with the second. This helped me a lot, hope it helps you too!

alexpopescu 14y ago

I don't have a similarly stylish and philosophical story as coffeemug's but the thing that changed the way I perceive criticism is something I've read a while back: before coming up with any answers or remarks, ask 3 questions about the original thing. Agreed these 3 questions shouldn't be: 1) WTF? 2) who is he to criticize? 3) should I bother?)