CROWDCTRL

AN APOLOGY.

I feel it’s time to respond in a more formal fashion to the discussions about my latest posts about Shaun Inman and Jeff Croft.

First and foremost, I want to apologize to these fine gentlemen. Neither has deserved the kind of attack I’ve given them on this site, not to mention the childish way I chose to deliver those messages. Both are excellent designers and near the top of their game, and I respect them both as far as I know them personally and professionally.

Shaun Inman has been on my radar for a number of years, from when I first discovered his work with ShortStat and the early versions of IFR. I have been a Mint user for almost 2 years, I own licenses for 3 of my sites, and I’m responsible for at least 10 referrals. I love it. I use it constantly, and it is a fine piece of software.

I regret the word choice I used in my latest post criticizing Shaun and his launch of Mint 2. Criticism is best served constructively, and my post was not so. Rather, it was highly destructive, immature, and written more for shock value than to express an honest opinion. Shaun, I apologize for that. It was not my intent to offend you or your friends, but I realize I have and I am sorry.

To prove my apology, and as an olive branch of sorts, I’ll be ordering Mint upgrades for my two active sites as well as upgrades for three friends of mine who have Mint.

To Jeff Croft, Greg Storey, Dan Cederholm, Cameron Moll and any of Shaun’s other friends and associates who were offended, I also apologize to you. My site is a forum for opinions, not childish attacks. I assure you that in the future, when I have something critical to say about your work that it won’t be said in way that attacks you personally or is written for shock or entertainment value. All future critiques will be made with respect for you and the work that has garnered you the attention you have.

Apologies to all who have been offended. I sincerely hope we can move past this and study each others’ work in a way that is constructive and respectful. I know I will be doing so.

(In related news, I have now enabled comments. Please feel free to let me know what you think below.)

12 COMMENTS

COMMENT #1 by Jeff Croft about 1 hour later

Well, man, I give you a ton of props for this. I’m not entirely sure it was necessary—I certainly don’t have any kind of personal problem with you. But, it does a big man to apologize publicly, so mad respect for that.

I don’t think anyone doubts that you’re a nice guy and you’re certainly a talented designer. I think your skills can stand on their own. There’s no need to knock other people down in order to prop yourself up. You’re good enough without that. And I think that’s what was most disappointing about some of the stuff you wrote. Usually when we see people bashing other people for their work, it’s coming from people who are pretty lousy themselves. But you’re not—you’re quite good and simply don’t need to resort to that.

For the record, I never mind constructive criticism of my work. I just get annoyed when people insist on making it personal, rather than keeping it about the work. I never really felt like you were attacking me, but it did seem like you went after the people that read and comment on my site, and I felt a bit of a need to stick up for them. Maybe I shouldn’t have, as I actually agreed with some of your thoughts on that matter—I think it was just the tone that got me on the defensive about that one. :)

Bottom line (for me, anyway): apology totally accepted, no hard feelings at all. Keep up the good work here and at NorthTemple.com, and I look forward to meeting you at SXSW.

COMMENT #2 by Matt about 2 hours later

As Jeff said, it really shows your strength of character that you can take a step back and admit that you were in the wrong. I applaud you for that.

Regarding your previous comments about these fine individuals, I can’t say that I agree. But that’s neither here nor there.

Best of luck.

COMMENT #3 by Shaun Inman about 10 hours later

Like Croftie the Softie said (extremely well), no hard feelings and good on you for making a public apology. I don’t really do wedgies anyways. ;)

COMMENT #4 by Greg about 12 hours later

As someone who is known to piss off crowds for writing with the wrong words and/or tone-~~sometime accidentally and other times blatantly~~-I can relate to this circumstance and the response, though I am not sure why I have been included in the apology link list. Anytime I go through this, which history has shown to happen about every third month, there are lessons learned that helps me get past the drama and move on to craft better writing, though I have this habit of reverting and have to go through this Opus Dei thing with my English skills.

Where I come from we have this saying: If you’re not falling, you’re not skiing hard enough. So get back up go find your skis and get back up the hill.

COMMENT #5 by Greg about 12 hours later

Damn Textile formatting.

COMMENT #6 by Jeff Croft about 12 hours later

“Croftie the Softie?”

I hate you, Shaun.

COMMENT #7 by Dan Cederholm about 16 hours later

Ditto what the others have already said. Clearly what you’re saying is sincere, and no hard feelings at all.

I misinterpreted your post re: Hivelogic logo, so for that, I apologize.

Onward and upward.

COMMENT #8 by Matt about 16 hours later

“Croftie the Softie”. Shaun you crack me up :D

COMMENT #9 by Mike 1 day later

It doesn’t take balls to take shots at someone else online, but it does take a big set of balls to publicly apologize like you did here. Respect for that, man.

COMMENT #10 by jason lynes 1 day later

@jeff, thanks for the kind words, accepted apology, and for setting the tone of the comments. we’ll def meet up in austin. prolly to make fun of other people.

@matt, thanks too, and word to your nice little writeup..

@shaun, you’re the man. i upgraded to Mint 2.0, and i’m seeing both good and bad so far. critiques will be coming..

@greg, i included you as one who responded to shaun’s aid and was one of the eight million blogs reporting Mint 2. thanks for your advice and interest.

@dan, forgiven, naturally. and thanks for the accepted apology.

@mike, thanks for the (highly accurate) compliment..

COMMENT #11 by Luke B 2 days later

I´m sorry you apologized. Shaun deserved all the criticism he got for charging his customers $19 for a visual upgrade.

COMMENT #12 by jason lynes 2 days later

@luke, i am apologizing here more for the way i chose to word my criticism and less for the point i was trying to make. i’ve got a few articles brewing in the head for how to best articulate those in a less personal way.. i’m also mulling a mint review, once i’ve had a chance to fully use it..

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