A Big, Fat, Uncensored Apology to Hubbers Everywhere

1. 61

   Teresa McGurkposted 15 years ago

   I spent 25 years grading papers in undergraduate university classes.  Sometimes, in the comments sections after hubs I read, I catch myself leaving "professor-type" comments ("Excellent!" "Good work!" "Keep it up, semester's almost over!")
   
   Sometimes I don't manage to, though,in that handy five-minute window HubPages gives us (thank you, HubPages, btw), and one of my snarky comments gets through, unedited.
   
   For this, I am truly sorry.
   
   I also spent ten years editing a small (a VERY small) literary arts journal. I read a lot (an amazingly huge shitload) of work submitted during those years, and one of my tasks was to build up a generous reading schedule to mitigate the ruthlessness inherent in choosing one poem or story over another.
   
   I didn't like that. 
   
   For example, I had to tell some extremely gifted writers (better writers than I am or will ever be) that one or other particular piece wasn't quite gonna make it.  Fair do's in the business, you might say.
   
   BUT I'm not in that business anymore, and it is certainly not my place to make an editorial comment on another Hubber's work, nor is the public comments section the arena in which to have made such an arse of myself in the first place.
   
   So, I would like to apologize for my big mouth, my big feet, and the conjunction of these in unhappy union.
   
   Teresa McGurk
   (Sheila Tombe.)

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      B.T. Evilpantsposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Snarky? An arse? I must have missed something! I have read a lot of your comments, as well as your hubs, and I hold you in high regard! We should all be so lucky as to be critiqued by someone with your credentials!

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      Elynjoposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      You might want to rethink your apologies, you haven't read one of my hubs yet hehe. :-)

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      Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      (But as my arse is nicely rounded, and adequately proportioned, I hesitate to apologize for it. . .)

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      C. C. Riterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      But dear, you were correct. I am insane. So forget the apologies already. We all love you ya know and value your comments always.

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         Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I can't.  And sweetheart, you are far from insane!

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      MissJamieDposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I've never read a comment from you that was rude or condescening on any way, shape, or form.....we love you here:)If you irritated one person, so what? You're fabulous!

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      nicompposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not even sure what snarky means.

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      lxxyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      It's okay, we still love you.

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   frogdroppingposted 15 years ago

   Teresa I welcome your comments. To my mind and as far as I'm concerned you have nothing to apologise for! Whatever made you post this?
   
   You, your comments/feedback and hubs' quality are about as good as it gets. Big up ye Teresa - Feel free to comment as you please

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3. 61

   Teresa McGurkposted 15 years ago

   You are all sweet, guys; but the truth is that I have made a couple of comments I regret.  I'm not looking for exoneration here; I really do want to express an apology. 
   
   
   (Oh, and Elynjo -- I'll be over for a skelly at your hubs soon!)

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   k@riposted 15 years ago

   Teresa,  I have never found you to be other than a lady, one who will tell the truth.  This is why I respect you.  I love how you are don't change!

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   WhiskeyChickposted 15 years ago

   Well, I for one don't mind a bit of critisism.  So if you ever get to me, please don't feel like ya have ta hold back.  But if it's really bad, e-mail would be a useful communication tool From what I hear round n about, you're the bees knees.  So hell woman, you got somethin ta say, just say it.

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   Everyday Miraclesposted 15 years ago

   I haven't seen you do this. However, I have to agree with you that the place for criticism is not the comments section. I think our "Extreme Hub Makeover" section is sadly underused and that more authors should be taking the time to seek a critique if they need it. They might not want it, though, and if that's the case, as hard as it is sometimes, we've got to keep our mouths shut!

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      Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      That's a good idea -- I don't think I've ever posted there, now that you mention it.
      But haven't you ever made a comment somewhere that you later thought was out of line?  And then, once I realized that I had, I thought, dang -- how many other comments have I made that weren't well-thought-out or justifiable?
      My problem has always been my big mouth.  That's why I feel such a fraud on HubPages -- people seem to think I'm a kindly little old lady, when that's sooooo far from the truth.

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         Everyday Miraclesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         That's part of why I don't comment as often as I would like

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   Moonchild60posted 15 years ago

   OH my Goodness, Teresa you are brilliant.  I would be honored to be critiqued by someone like you.  Criticize me next, me!!!

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   Leta Sposted 15 years ago

   Aaack...  It's every writer's duty to get over carrot and stick evaluations and get on with it.  Or you might as well hang your keyboard up.
   
   Don't think I've ever heard a snarky word from you in regard to anything of mine, lol.  But wouldn't mind if you did....anyway.  Cuz negativity sometimes motivates me, .

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   Lady Guinevereposted 15 years ago

   Hey, I KNOW that I make a million mistakes.  I wish I had a proofreader before I post my hubs.  For me trying to write is like pulling teeth out of my ear.  The words just do not flow and describing words elude me--even with a thesaurus!
   
   You can critique all you want of any of my hubs--except my Whispers From Oz, they need alot of work!
   
   Lady Guinevere

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    Feline Prophetposted 15 years ago

    What brought this on, Teresa?

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    Shalini Kagalposted 15 years ago

    Any comment from you is always welcome - you know that, so stop fishing you brilliant thing, you!

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    Rochelle Frankposted 15 years ago

    I've always  found you to be exceptionally kind in your comments. I know I could use a good copy editor. One that I used to work with really put a polish(not a sausage-- that would be Polish) on some of my work by catching my grammar goofs, syntax slips, spelling smash-ups and punctuation malfunctions.
    I really don't mind  anyone offering helpful correction, and hopefully I accept it with humble gratitude.

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    Laila Rajaratnamposted 15 years ago

    Teresa..you are one of the most encouraging hubbers I've known.In spite of being such a great writer ,you have encouraged and appreciated me.Since I'm a noobie in the world of writing, your comments mean a lot to me and I really treasure your comments and they have kept me going.Thanks for everything!

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    ajcorposted 15 years ago

    as far as I can see no apologies are required from you Teresa, I like your comments and feel happy that you visit my hubs - I have never seen any comments from you anywhere on hubpages that were wounding in anyway....it must just be from your perspective; you know the old line "your strongest critic is usually you"....cheers

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    cindyvineposted 15 years ago

    Has someone complained about your comments, as I think they are fair

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    bgpappaposted 15 years ago

    Comments are comments, they say what you want them to.  The only rules should be they sould be relevant to the hub.
    
    As for, I enjoy snarky comments.  I snark back. Some people call this debate.
    
    As for proofreading, if you have a moment, please go to town on all of mine. lol

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    JamaGeneeposted 15 years ago

    I can't remember a single comment you've made that was "snarky" or negative. No need to apologize that I know of!

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    Leta Sposted 15 years ago

    I'm actually really hoping this is not somewhat of a response to something I wrote in a certain hub--because wasn't I just talking about the 'business' of writing?  And the academic and critiquing thing and all that?  And the poetry connection, etc.
    
    All I can say is that you have 'got' the spirit and intent of every single poem of mine you have read and commented on...and that's something honest, not academic.. 
    
    And if snark was ever intended, lol, it was probably nothing compared to, let's see, "your poetry is good but only in a traditional American way," by someone who sees themselves as avant guard and has published 5 books of poems, or when my one older friend 'edited' something I wrote 'for the better' so that it was unrecognizable...  Oh, and I think I mentioned "Stone and Blood" poems to someone?
    
    LOL- you just have to laugh.

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    LondonGirlposted 15 years ago

    Far too nice to be a professor. "Good work"? "Keep it up"?
    
    What happened  to, "verging on the adequate"?

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       WhiskeyChickposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       That last part there can certainly make 'r break a person.  But what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.  Those words always made me fall off the earth for a while 'n then come back tenfold.  I'm actually glad for those words.  No sense stringing someone along when their work could be so much more.

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       Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Or -- "plausible -- in an alternate universe, perhaps"
       or "who will you be repeating this class with, next semester?"

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       shibashakeposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       lol - One time I got an ATROCIOUS, all in caps. It was fun. Made me want to try all the harder

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    \Brenda Scullyposted 15 years ago

    I have read some of your comments, and you sound like a lady who knows what she is talking about ....
    
    The day you leave me a comment, I will know I have become part of the family...... leave it a couple of weeks though I aint done a good hub yet, I am still in the learning stages...

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21. 61

    Teresa McGurkposted 15 years ago

    Yeah, now it sounds as if I'm fishing for compliments.  Thanks to everyone who commented. I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm retired, that's all!

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       MissJamieDposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Just because you're retired does not mean that you should feel shameful for doing what you did for many years!! When I write a hub, I expect comments whether they're positive or otherwise. I hope people are being truthful with their comments, but to have class and respect at the same time. You are simply adding your experience and knowledge to hubs and hubbers, who wouldn't want the truth?

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       Paper Moonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       If you are retired, then you have all the more experience.  If you feel you were too strong in your slap, you could always comment again.  Comments  can be deleted, and a Hubber can choose not to have a comment section.  I have seen many professors make mistakes due to their egos.  We are all human, we all err.  We could all use a little “McGurking” once in a while to help us catch ours.  Seems to me that most people have the utmost respect for you.  For good reason.

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    LondonGirlposted 15 years ago

    "aiming for re-takes already"?
    
    Is "semester" an American word for "term"?

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       Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       yeah -- there are two semesters in the academic year, each 16 weeks.  You take so many courses per semester.  I missed the Easter break very much.

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          LondonGirlposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          In my law degree at UCL (Univesity College, London) we only took courses that lasted a year, not a term or semester. And the first two years we had no choice anyway, and in the third year, one compulsary course, and 3 options.
          
          But you had to pass every course to pass the year, and you couldn't re-take a course. If you failed the exams in a subject, there were re-takes at the end of August, and if you hadn't passed all the subjects after re-takes you were chucked out.

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             Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Yeah -- same deal for the undergrad work I did.  The professor who let me back in to uni after my first-year-fiasco-and-right-royal-piss-up said they ate people like me for breakfast; but he let me transfer from Marketing to Spanish/English Joint Hons. anyway.  My advisor wanted me chucked. I learned later that a couple of the lecturers (French and Spanish) voluntarily went to speak on my behalf.  During the summer hols.

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    Anna Marie Bowmanposted 15 years ago

    Teresa, I welcome any and all comments.  I, personally, appreciate an honest critque.  If I did something wrong, or if someone has something helpful to say, I welcome it.  I don't think you really need to apologize.

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    dwilliamsonposted 15 years ago

    I am pretty new to hubpages and would love you to take a visit over to my hubs.

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    bgpappaposted 15 years ago

    My favorite professor comments:
    
    Did you show up to the wrong exam?

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    Whikatposted 15 years ago

    Teresa, I think you are full of it I do not believe for one minute that there is a snarky comment in you. If there is, believe me, I think we would all rather have a snarky comment in our comments section from a professional Editor and Proof reader who is a friend, than to have a fake nice-nice comment from someone who feels a desperate need to have attention, and really doesn't give a crap about what we write or how we spell it. Feel free to leave snarky comments on my hubs anytime Teresa, I would consider myself honored that you are trying to help me to be a better writer. P.S Just do not bring your yellow highlighter with you O.K?

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       Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Would red do?

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          Whikatposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Yes Teresa, I like red! Although I am afraid that after you got through editing one of mine, it would look like a bloody mess.

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    Tom Rubenoffposted 15 years ago

    You know, gee, there are some commenters I would like apologies from (a very few, I might add) but you are definitely not one of them.  Because of the Writing Ninja that you are, I regard each and every comment from you as an heirloom to my house. 
    
    Once a peer editor gave me this comment:  "Yuk."  It was not useful.

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       Whikatposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Well Tom, I haven't had the privilege of reading all your hubs, but if I was one of those commentator's I am truly sorry. I find the hubs that I have read of yours to be very entertaining, and written by a very skilled writer. I am sure that is what the commenter meant to say also, instead of yuck

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       cindyvineposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       well Tom, maybe the commentator was not commenting on your writing style, but actually identifying with your topic, which is a good thing as it shows that your writing did what it was supposed to do, get a response from a reader and make them connect.  Yuk shows that they connected with your writing, so you should give yourself a pat on the back.

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       Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       You are too funny -- Master Splinter sends greetings, btw

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    goldentoadposted 15 years ago

    anyone that is hurt by a negative critique or if the comment box remains empty is too delicate to get into the brutality of writing. Keep it real Teresa, you have the experience to help wannabe writers like myself and I for one, hope you keep me honest.

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    Paper Moonposted 15 years ago

    Snark away at me. 

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    LondonGirlposted 15 years ago

    One of my mates, who is by far the cleverest person I know, did a degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge, AND a degree in linguistics in Zagreb, at the same time. She'd do the work for both during the year, take her exams in Cambridge, and push off to  Zagreb to do the exams there. She got firsts in both, then knocked off a PhD in genetics in 3 years at Cambridge, while also doing a masters in linguistics in Zagreb.
    
    She also did acting in Ancient Greek and worked on her Latin, French and German in her "spare" time.
    
    She'd be well annoying if she wasn't so nice (-:

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       Teresa McGurkposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I'd say she'd have one hell of a fine brain.

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          LondonGirlposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Yup - she was a fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge, before she was 30, as well.

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    Research Analystposted 15 years ago

    No worries,

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    Herald Dailyposted 15 years ago

    I was surprised at your post, Teresa.  I've read a lot of your comments as I've perused a number of hubs and have never seen anything that resembles what you are apologizing for. 
    
    Even if you did offer critiques, with your talent and background, it would be an honor to receive them.

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    Purple Perlposted 15 years ago

    I have always valued your comments,Teresa!

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    earnestshubposted 15 years ago

    Teresa you have always been an inspiration for those of us who are learning to write here, and you have never been harsh in any way that I have seen either.

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    Teresa McGurkposted 15 years ago

    Guys:  I'm now totally embarrassed that I started this thread!  Your comments have been kind, charming, and very reassuring.  I guess I am anxious not to sound like a school ma'am when I comment.  Of course, the folk I left snarky comments with have not posted here.  (Comments such as "did your cat type this?" or "How long does it take you to cut and paste this stuff from other sites?" or my favorite, "Nice hub.  Except for the bits I actually read.")
    
    So PLEASE let this thread wither out and die, now -- and expect much hub-love from me at every opportunity.  THANKS!

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