Experience versus Qualifications

[bustagasket]

this forum seems like it needs a good group hug. I hate conflict and will always try to resolve it where i can be of help.

My own feelings on the point of if this is healthy or not, are from the forums point of view. Bickering among ourselves does not encourage new viewers to become more than guests and to actually join in the discussion boards.

I have lead other forums before and have seen this kind of thing really erode everything good about it, and also wears our much needed admin and moderators out as they end up mediating.

You cannot expect to get along with everybody all of the time. Human nature just doesnt allow it, and i am sure there will be more than one occasion where a debate gets heated. But anything that involves a personal matter should be taken to the pm system. NOT made into a situation where the whole forum gets involved. THATS when it gets unhealthy for our forum. This is by no means aimed at anyone in particular, we all have to try to remember that we are those human creatures, because we all get upset by stuff which might not have been said intentionally to hurt us. Please dont let us ruin such a wonderful place.

OK I have said my bit, i have had my serious few minutes (yes i can do it) now lets go back to having THE most enjoyable forum on the web. Where we get to view other work and enjoy it, and get to discuss techniques and allow the noobies like me to learn stuff in an entertaining and friendly atmostphere.

I am not trying to say any anyones point has not been valid, or that their hurt is not real, of course it is, but i just hate seeing people getting upset, and and i want u all to accept our differences and agree to disacgree on some things, .....................and i want world peace and a sash and a crown and a nice ball gown and pretty hair and and.......oh wait wrong stage

[MuranoSilver]

Ahem - folks I've been reading the thread with a "two hat" interest (member and mod) and can honestly say that it's a testament to how wonderfully equitable all us folks are that we can have such a "lively debate" and be so open and honest with our feelings.

I feel quite shamed sometimes (like today) when you re-examine your thinking and say "Oh my goodness I'd started to think of myself as somehow on the next rung" Bearing in mind beading was where I started but it didn't suit me (i.e I wasn't very good at it) so I moved to PMC & traditional metal skills...

I actually feel that experience vs qualifications is not that different a debate to the past 10 or so posts which come down to "does quality = experience...." Another bloomin difficult question.

Lets use an example of a Master Goldsmith who makes Museum quality pieces but then acquires a health issue which prevents him from making that quality...is he any less experienced?

I have no doubt at all that all on the forum are interested in developing their skills and make things to the best of their abilities.
Except (being honest) I often make things to the medium of my abilities because it's faster and the price works out better for my customers....

Also everyone has different strengths and weaknesses - one of my favourite quotes by Khalil Gibran is:
"You are also as strong as your strongest link. To measure you by your smallest deed is to reckon the power of ocean by the frailty of its foam"
JasonJohn - Your stone setting is far better than mine and you know more about it too!
Di - The way you think about colour and transform ideas from thought to reality is amazing (like taking an old story of your mothers and making that inspirational bracelet)
Su - You too! I've sat next to very experienced people on workshops that use the same idea over and over again and couldn't for the life of them come up with a new idea off the cuff. So what if you think your skills don't match your ideas...they will one day and then the work that will flow from you will be truly awesome! Even your first pieces are better than mine were
Oh and all you other folks too - come out of the closet, we're a nurturing lot who love to share our skills while learning from yours!

On the topic of Experience vs Qualifications -
I've just enrolled in something called the Masters Registry it wont give me a formal qualification (well not a currently recognised one) but it will provide me with a challenge. It will also probably frustrate me to tears and as the judging is for Masters level the "critique" will probably have me like this again, lol

I figure I need a boot up the rear sometimes though and I can keep going and re-submitting until I'm good enough!

Nic x

[Di Sandland]

Nic said:

I figure I need a boot up the rear sometimes though and I can keep going and re-submitting until I'm good enough!

And that, my friend, puts everything into a nutshell! There are those who are happy to stagnate and there are those who push against boundaries - they might be their own boundaries and many others may have surpassed them. Their strength is in their push.

I'm remanded of a poster on the office wall of my training hospital. It said 'be kind to your junior because one day she might be your boss.' I never forgot it and when I was boss over some of the folk who had given me a hard time as a student I took great pleasure in an occasional quiet and private 'nah nah na na nah.'

I think this forum is fantastic.

[bustagasket]

I think this forum is fantastic.

I second that

[Petal]

Hi Lindsay,

I prefer the idea of short, intensive courses and experience, rather than going to college/uni. and gaining a qualification (and a load of debt!) any day. Apprenticeships should be brought back for all the trades. Failure should be encouraged, because failure makes you want to learn and find out why and grow on to success!

Most of the problems associated with Education, National Health, etcetc is that everything is 'target' driven by a succession of interfering governments, some more so than others. If a target is not achieved, then establishments will not get any more money.... so what do they do, some of them follow by the rules and get less money, but an awful lot of them cook the books and it means they get more money in! I worked in an office where someone was retiring and when he left he was replaced by another 8, yes 8 people, (at rather inflated salaries too) who were all there to 'benchmark' what had previously been done by 1 person and fill in lots of targets, which then went to Gov., which then went onto a list, and then, well you know the rest!

BTW, this forum is fantastic, I agree entirely with MuranoSilver’s post and an enormous big hug to Barbara, for her wonderful posts too – we couldn’t live without you guys. My rant is over now and am off to do stuff.

Oh by the way, I have made my first wire wrapped loop yesterday and do you know what, its not bad for a newbie!

Keep those posts coming !!!

Love Jules xxxxx

[bustagasket]

Oh by the way, I have made my first wire wrapped loop yesterday and do you know what, its not bad for a newbie!

Keep those posts coming !!!

Love Jules xxxxx

excellent!!!! care to share with a piccy or two?

[Petal]

Oh, all right then! I wasn't going to, as they are so amateurish, but here they are:-

http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/album.php?albumid=39

The grey bead is being taken apart, as that was my first attempt. The loop is too big, the tail is not tucked in properly and the oval stone is cracked. Apart from that its OK haha

and now I MUST do some work today....


Jules x

[bustagasket]

they all look pretty good to me!

[MuranoSilver]

They look pretty good to me too (see we're always our own worst critics)
Nic x

[Di Sandland]

Oh, all right then! I wasn't going to, as they are so amateurish, but here they are:-

http://www.cooksongold.com/forum/album.php?albumid=39

The grey bead is being taken apart, as that was my first attempt. The loop is too big, the tail is not tucked in properly and the oval stone is cracked. Apart from that its OK haha

and now I MUST do some work today....


Jules x

They look good to me Jules