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It can be fairly disheartening when someone likes something you do for the wrong reasons. As a writer, I get this a lot. Maybe someone misunderstands the message I'm trying to deliver, or maybe I'll get an e-mail from someone who says "that picture on your site is awesome" without making any sort of mention of anything I wrote. It's something that's experienced by just about anyone who's ever written something on the Internet. My reaction to this, I think, can be used as sort of a yardstick with which to measure my maturity as a writer, or really, as a person. Once, I'd be tempted to correct or even berate someone who complimented me for the wrong reason, and in retrospect, it's a terribly lame thing to do. Look at this comic. Despite the scenario that would overwhelmingly suggest otherwise, his friend doesn't seem to be using a sarcastic tone. She genuinely seemed excited by Rock's flight. Now look at Rock's face. He isn't angry. He's sad because his plane crashed, sure, but he's not about to bark at her because she liked it for a reason apart from what he intended. These days, I try to make an effort to appreciate kind words from strangers, regardless of what they liked. I have to remember a time during which I was lucky if ten people a day would write what I wrote. I wouldn't have ever resented any sort of friendly commentary then, and I shouldn't now. |