Yep - I said it -

Feeling a little tense?

Has the copywriting neighborhood gotten a bit meaner these days?
I would vote yes...not because people are nastier, ruder, and more arrogant as a whole. Yes we've had notable exceptions but the hood is still civil. No, I would say that the forum has an edge because our culture is changing.

In my experience, a culture is built on a shared belief and agreed upon goals and incentives. As for this forum, it seems that our culture has lurched toward a shared belief that Copywriting is "Art" and the goal of a critique is to "criticize that art".

Now, add the money-making incentive to the mix and you get a especially virulent form "King of the Hill". So now our blood sport is shredding victims who happen to drive into our neighborhood. And, in the absence of salesletters and squeeze pages to devour we sometimes turn on ourselves.

Our intellectual hostility isn't because we are mean people, it's because we have a forum culture rigged to pursue the wrong goals.

So after spending about 15 minutes examining my own navel I decided that I would crusade for a different culture.

Now, at least in my own world - I will view Copywriting as a Process. I will encourage visitors to our neighborhood to seek out "teacher/mentors" who specialize in teaching the process of great copywriting.

Wouldn't it be nice to be regarded as the sub-forum that BUILDS great direct response marketers. Imagine how big the "potential client" pie would get if we didn't scare everyone off with or "Criticize first, ask questions later" credo?

In the end, I propose that We become a village of exceptional craftsman who love to teach.

In the end, I recognize that It's all too easy for me to criticize and tear down someone - devilishly hard to build someone up. In the end, I believe I will be better off for it.

You will too.