Let me just say this....

[coveredbridgenaturals]

I welcome constructive criticism at all costs, but If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. I joined this site to not only share with others what I've done, (and quite proud of what I've done considering the inexperience I do have), but looking to simply mingle with those who share my passion for soapmaking. If I wanted to experience drama and petty nitpicking, I'd be in grade school, but I'm not and haven't been for quite some time now. This is a forum, not a place to bash others. If you're bored, better go make some more soap. If your mothers heard some of the things I've heard on this site, they'd probably wash your mouths out,....with soap. I didn't come here to get a "Welcome to the forum, but I'm still going to bash every effort you've made in your soapmaking." Look people, we're all soapers, and I expect to be treated with respect, just the same as the next person. Just because you aren't cussing at me or bluntly saying ignorant things, dosen't mean you aren't still being rude. Being rude and disrespectful has many faces, and most of you are 10, 20, 30 years older than me...you should know better. I also didn't come here looking for a mother, I have one, and I don't need more than that. Am I upset? Of course I'm upset. I leave my first FRIENDLY hello in the intro forum and I already feel like I'm getting a giant blanket party, (if anyone here is/was in the military, you know what that is!) and the amazing, baffling thing is,....we're all adults here. Shame that someone who's under 30, has to tell people older than her how to behave. Now that that's off my chest, anyone want to have a constructive, polite, USEFUL, mature conversation? Believe me, I've seen that there ARE mature people here, and that's who I care to talk to. If you can't do that, turn the other cheek and back off, I have nothing to say to you. As for everyone else, thank you for being civil and quite helpful,....I look forward to speaking with you again!

 

[kharmon320]

Maybe there are PMs that I cannot see, but looking at your introduction thread, I don't see anything off-color. I honestly think they were giving constructive criticism about your website. You may not have been seeking advice on your site, but it came across that you were.

Welcome to this forum! It's one of the most valuable resources I discovered across while getting back into soaping last year. Less snarky than most of the other forums I visited.

 

[Genny]

I completely agree with Kharmon320. If in your introduction to a forum where you state that you want other experienced soap makers to visit your site & the product, then to us it sounds like you're asking for feedback.
Just like when we post pics of our soap, we want honest feedback. If my soap looks like cat vomit, then I want someone to say something before I advertise it to the public. Or if Hazel shows us a soap so crooked it looks like a drunkun monkey cut it, I'm sure she's going to want us to speak up.

Sorry if your feelings were hurt, I'm pretty sure that was not the intention of our posts.

 

[IrishLass]

Welcome!

I just now had a look at your intro thread, and although gaining feedback on your site might not have been your intended desire, I agree with Genny and kharmon that it 'reads' like a welcoming invitation for feedback- as well as a warm, friendly 'hello', too, to which I say a warm and friendly 'Hello'! back

I've found oftentimes that it is very difficult to interpret or convey one's true tone accurately on a forum where people cannot see each other's facial expressions or body language. It's the biggest drawback of writing on a forum and the bane of every forum member without a doubt. Many times, I've learned that honesty can be mistaken for rudeness where no rudeness was intended at all, and I admit that more times than I can count I've had to go back re-read a particular post 3 or 4 times before finally being able to pick out the true 'tone' (I can be slow sometimes ). It also helps if one is familiar with the writing style of the person who is responding.

From all that I can see from the responses, and being fairly familiar with the writing styles and personalities of each the particular respondees, I am very confident that no rudeness was intended. Some of those who responded have been running their own businesses for awhile and are very knowlegeable about all the pitfalls that one can fall into, and were truly trying to be helpful and honest as they could be in calling attention to those things that could end up being a detriment to the overall success of your business. Whenever (if ever) I decide to go into business myself I can only hope that they will be as constructively honest with my own website. Truly- you are getting a treasure trove of very valuable (and free) advice. I hope you will give the respondants the benefit of the doubt and then go back and re-read the posts in the helpful light that I know they were intended.


IrishLass

 

[maya]

hello and welcome! nice to have another soaper around.