Gift of God

[ScottRadom]

Agree about the perception being the thing.

Is it arrogance, innocence, naivety, or none of them to make someone who\'s distinctly average refer to their skills as a \"gift\" from anyone?

Obviously depends on the context (Spill! Spill the beans Reverend!). Having a genuine love for something would seem to be the true gift in any instance.

It all reminds me of the \"Idol\" singing shows where they get someone to proudly announce that they themselves (or usually a deluded and supportive parent!) declares their singing to be a \"gift\". Then they get in front of the judges and fart out of their mouths singing that can be compared to my greatest drunken Karaoke renditions of \"Freebird\".

You feel embarrased for them, and I usually ask \"How did they get this far with nobody gently telling them that they need more work\". Could be the same with the mini painting? Maybe instead of calling to question the veracity of their feelings a constructive comment would not only help ground them, but aid at the same time?

HEY! What this harkens me back to was the comment heard round the forums about a year back. I know Reverend remembers.....

\"I have no idea why this model is rated higher then a 6\"!

HA! Those were times indeed! Maybe Reverend, and I know you\'ve stated not much interest in interacting with the guy (but I might, SPILL!) a comment that was more constructive might help accomlish so many goals at the same time!

\"The abrubt transitions of the models hair colors make it hard for me to give this model a score higher than a 6\".

How about that for a diplomatic and constructive solution? Waddaya say!

 

[WeR138]

Interesting posts.

I can\'t speak for why this person attributed his average performance to God, because obviously we have no specifics on the situation.

I will say that I don\'t believe that every \"gift\" that a person could receive from God has to be some mind-blowing talent or attribute. It could be something as simple as being healthy enough to get up every day and go out and work to earn a living. To someone whose health is poor, that would be an awesome \"gift\".

If it was stated with a tone of gratitude, not arrogance, I don\'t think you necessarily have to call him out on it. Tone is a tricky thing to read sometimes.

 

[johnboyjjb]

Originally posted by sanctuary13
agnosticism is a gift from god.

Hmmm. Don\'t know how to take that - it\'s slightly humorous and yet could also be rationalized as quite deep.

From my standpoint I would classify a gift from God as anything that somebody can achieve through practice and learning and yet the gifted person has little practice. I would classify my brother in law in that category - he very rarely practices piano and yet can walk over and play by ear some rather complex pieces. That is an unnatural talent. Not unlike supervikes ability to show up in a thread shortly after boobies are mentioned.

 

[ScottRadom]

My take on it is that the real gift, or special attribute, whatever is to do ANYTHING that brings joy and peace into your life in a constructive way. Do you guys know people without hobbies, interests etc.? I know WAY too many people who\'s life is dictated by what time their fav TV shows are on and little else. That is such a hollow existence to me.

So just having the virtue of being able to have something in your life that you get to control that you can do to make yourself happy is the real gift I think. Talent, ability, results are all great but it\'s the enjoyment I think that precludes all the rest.

 

[supervike]

Maybe some God\'s gifts just suck.

Nothing to worry about, I suppose. People are full of themselves in all sorts of ways.

 

[ScottRadom]

NICE!

 

[Dragonsreach]

A couple of days away and Reverend comes up with a cracker of a philosophical question.

Area of thought number 1 :
\"Gift from God\"....Hmmmmmmmn I\'ve heard that applied to so many things, from Kids, to someone talking about their experiences with Cancer. (That was an interesting discussion on life priority changing.)
My veiwpoint is well known on the basis of the subject, so I\'d automatically state that I regard it as an innate ability which with practise the person will help to maintain.
If I was in \"Evil Mike Mode\" I\'d be suggesting that the should have looked after the gift a bit better as they\'ve let it Tarnish. lol

Area of thought number 2:
Do we have a right to \"Burst someones bubble\"? Now this is a very difficult path to express (Especially as I\'m still tired from Salute) but part of me says why should I destroy someones Worldview, just because I disagree with it? But another part of me says \"You put your stuff up for viewing, you have to accept the criticism along with the plaudits\".


Anyhow \"Gift Horses and Mouths\".

 

[sanctuary13]

Originally posted by johnboyjjb

Originally posted by sanctuary13
agnosticism is a gift from god.

Hmmm. Don\'t know how to take that - it\'s slightly humorous and yet could also be rationalized as quite deep.

I thought that right after I posted it.

\"That\'s rather deep.\" I thought.





Obviously, my depth is a gift from god.

 

[freakinacage]

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
Reverand - I detach myself from the ongoing fights and such. HONESTLY, I\'m simply curious....REALLY - you bring up God, faith, religion and such with regularity. Be curious to hear the story behind that.

please, don\'t ask him that. we\'ll be here all day!

 

[JesterzUSMC]

In my not so humble opinion:

Gifted does imply given not earned.
If their \"gift\" is average, maybe it is because they paint to an average level, but this is the first attempt?

Otherwise, I\'d say burst their bubble.

Unless it\'s an innate, unpracticed, but still phenomenal result, I\'d say screw their tender feelings.

I mean Mozart was \"gifted\".
You hear all the time about \"gifted\" youngsters.

I think if they are that conceited, they may just need to hear it.
Sparing someone\'s feelings when they\'re stating falsehood, that doesn\'t help them.


:twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted::twisted:

 

[Infidel Castro]

Right, some clarification:

The person does not appear conceited. I will NOT being telling them what I think about their level of skill or the \'source\' of the skill/talent. No bubbles will be burst as no telling will be done. I don\'t WANT to burst bubbles.

I just want to talk about the IDEA of it. It\'s all hypothetical.

And Vike is quite right about people appearing full of themselves whatever their outlook and I\'m also aware that some folk will see me in that light (maybe Vike himself - who knows?) when I raise this kind of point. I\'d like to be able to challenge that view, but as it\'d have to be done over a pint I\'m sure it\'s never going to happen so you\'ll all have to take my word for it that I\'m a normal bloke who backs his mates to the hilt! :beer:

 

[Shawn R. L.]

Originally posted by freakinacage

Originally posted by Shawn R. L.
Reverand - I detach myself from the ongoing fights and such. HONESTLY, I\'m simply curious....REALLY - you bring up God, faith, religion and such with regularity. Be curious to hear the story behind that.

please, don\'t ask him that. we\'ll be here all day!

I find it facinating to find out the connections and history of people and how they/we have ended up who we are.

It\'s like me ending up doing all that I do now with wargamming. I had NO interest in it. Mini painting - never heard of it.........one day I was at work at a T-shirt production shop in a small business park. I went on a walk for lunch and one of the businesses had it\'s door open and I looked in and saw the place was CRAMMED with robots, monsters and such. I was immediatly captivated. I was able to get them to, begrudgingly, give me a shot at making something and the rest was history......the company was Armorcast.

I\'ll stray a bit further here. Many years ago a very crazy/gutsy teenager named Mattias Rust flew a single engine private plane from Finland to Red Square. Top heads of the Russian military rolled and Russian history changed due to this kid\'s lark.


Sometimes our lives and the world are molded by a big event or small events that have a big impact.......that type of thing facinates me.

 

[Infidel Castro]

I have a religious history. I\'d hardly call it fascinating, but I\'m simultaneously open and closed to the idea of religion

 

[Aliengod3]

I always thought that talent was inherited. I got my drawing, painting, and musical talent from my parents.

 

[Infidel Castro]

Are you sure it wasn\'t a case of just being opened up to it earlier in life due to their fancies?

 

[JesterzUSMC]

Originally posted by reverend
Right, some clarification:

The person does not appear conceited. I will NOT being telling them what I think about their level of skill or the \'source\' of the skill/talent. No bubbles will be burst as no telling will be done. I don\'t WANT to burst bubbles.

I just want to talk about the IDEA of it. It\'s all hypothetical.

And Vike is quite right about people appearing full of themselves whatever their outlook and I\'m also aware that some folk will see me in that light (maybe Vike himself - who knows?) when I raise this kind of point. I\'d like to be able to challenge that view, but as it\'d have to be done over a pint I\'m sure it\'s never going to happen so you\'ll all have to take my word for it that I\'m a normal bloke who backs his mates to the hilt! :beer:

LOL!
Okay, hypothetically, my post stands.

 

[JesterzUSMC]

Originally posted by Aliengod3
I always thought that talent was inherited. I got my drawing, painting, and musical talent from my parents.

I too have some natural talents.
I found out early on that I can pick up most any medium and do a better than average job.
This proves to be problematical sometimes, though.
I feel I might actually have to try harder than average to surpass the level I begin at.

 

[demonherald]

not quite sure I am fully following this but fom what I gather if hypothetically a person truly believes they have a gift from god it\'s my experience that wether you tell them they haven\'t or not they won\'t listen..

Should we try ..well if we can offer a genuine reason why the work isn\'t as good as they think or offer ways for improvement then I think absolutely do it... It can be difficult because more often than not the person offerin a different opinion is perceived as being cocky arrogant or out to cause trouble.

It\'s like all the reality music shows where you get people who are indeed shite but have been told by all around them they are the best thing since sliced bread.. Then in steps a judge who says sorry but your crap..The judge is called all kinds of bastard but they really are trying to do this person the best service..

same with minis I see so many times people jumping on the this is great ..enter it in GD your bound to win train.. when often it is not the case and without actually experiencing the event and appreciating what makes a winner up close and personal a person can be filled with over inflated opinions of their work and it\'s chances of winning falling back on the judges decisions were poor excuse post event. More often than not false praise although often the easiest way out ..(most people dn\'t like to offend peple) does more harm than good in the long run.


anyone who puts there work up for public crit and opinion should have the shoulders to bear the rough with the smooth.

 

[freakinacage]

Originally posted by reverend
Are you sure it wasn\'t a case of just being opened up to it earlier in life due to their fancies?

now, if you can answer that question you shall be a rich man

 

[Infidel Castro]

Originally posted by freakinacage

Originally posted by reverend
Are you sure it wasn\'t a case of just being opened up to it earlier in life due to their fancies?

now, if you can answer that question you shall be a rich man

My answer is \'possibly\'. Can I have the cheque made out to Ensor Holdings, Inc. Huzzah!