Cary GraceJan 28, 2023

#ADHD is actually a lot more common than previously thought, and the following is one of its most debilitating aspects (IMO, anyway). Everyone probably knows someone who suffers from #RSD.

It drives some of us to continually strive for an impossible level of perfection in everything we do. It’s not enough just to be good at something; we have to be the best. Our work has to be beyond reproach before we allow anyone the opportunity to judge it. (1/2)

Show threadCary GraceJan 28, 2023

I think in some cases it can lead to incredible feats and amazing achievements, but…

…it really sucks.

It might suck less if there were more general awareness that this was a thing, so here’s a great article about it:

https://neuroclastic.com/living-with-rejection-sensitive-dysphoria/

(2/2)

Living with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is common in neurodivergent people and people with complex trauma. This article explains what it’s like.

NeuroClastic
Show threadKeith Handy
@carygrace what's kind of weird is that when I look at art or listen to music, I want to see and hear the flaws and the humanness. So it makes no sense that I should be trying so hard to eradicate those.
Jan 28, 2023 at 4:59pmWeb
Show threadCary GraceJan 28, 2023

@KeithHandy Interesting angle.

I personally don’t consider “human-ness” to be a flaw; nor do I consider flaws to inherently make something “more human”.

For example, rock/pop/related music has to have “feel” and “groove” in most cases for me to rate it. Usually, that means not rigidly adhering to a grid (but not always).

I don’t consider deviations from a particular tempo grid a flaw, unless it’s accidental/done in such a way that actually detracts from the feel and groove.

Show threadCary GraceJan 28, 2023
@KeithHandy similar considerations apply in regard to production values. Something can be made to intentionally have a certain sonic vibe, but it’s not really a flaw if it’s intentional and done by someone with a reasonable amount of expertise. (Which I guess is just a long-winded way of saying that you need to know the rules before you are authorised to break them 🤣.)
Show threadKeith HandyJan 28, 2023
@carygrace I guess "flaw" is subjective but there are certain tendencies, like anything that is mostly consistent but at some point deviates *for no apparent reason* is typically considered to be a flaw.
Show threadCary GraceJan 28, 2023
@KeithHandy perhaps? Depends entirely on the context for me.
Show threadCary GraceJan 28, 2023
@KeithHandy like, is it effective? Is it evocative? Is it just jarring and annoying? Yes, mostly subjective (up to a point).
Show threadCary GraceJan 28, 2023
@KeithHandy one person’s “flaw” is another person’s “character”.
Show threadKeith HandyJan 28, 2023

@carygrace it's worth pointing out that I might sometimes use the word "flaw" in a way that doesn't necessarily mean "bad."

I helped out with a friend's art class and referred to a jar of leftover pieces as a "scrap jar," and was told "we call it 'found objects' because 'scrap' has negative connotations." I thought, OK, maybe it does for you, but I never would take "scrap" to mean "useless," so aren't you choosing to reinforce the "negative connotations" of that word by refusing to say it?

Show threadCary GraceJan 29, 2023

@KeithHandy good point; yeah, the word “flaw” definitely has a negative connotation to me. I’d probably use “imperfection” instead if I wanted a more neutral term. (Not being perfect is not negative, since perfection is not achievable, but I’ve never thought of a flaw in any way except negatively.)

As for “scraps”, not negative at all, IMO. But that probably just comes from making things and knowing how much value leftover bits of materials can have.

Show threadCary GraceJan 28, 2023
@KeithHandy there’s definitely a point where I know something is finished, but it takes me *a lot* longer to get there than I imagine it does for most people.