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| We all have the capacity to think critically |
Recently a fair few companies and individuals have actually asked me to look at some specific things critically, and tell them what I think. You might think that it'd be easy for me, what with all the reviews I do. I'd certainly think most people who know me well enough would confirm that critical thought is one of my 'strong suits'. However, with the things I've been asked to cast my critical and beady eyes over recently, the people doing the 'asking' weren't asking for a review as such. Thing is there are many different types of critical thought, despite what certain academics and business management guru's might have you believe. When the critical thought requires you to actually solve a problem, or asses a system it's very different to simply giving my reasoned opinion. While I'm not claiming my reviews are anywhere near as profound in their deliberations as many scholarly thinkers, I do take my time and seriously consider my deliberations. While not everyone will agree with my reviews, and indeed many will disagree with them vehemently, I believe I articulate my views well. I state my case and give responses to the products that end up on my reviewing desk. I think I'm good at it too.
I'll be honest here though and say it's not always as rational as all that. I've had the odd product I've just liked, or disliked from the outset. My gut response has been instant. 100% emotional. This really frustrates me. I feel the need to find out why I believe what I believe, and think the way I do. Maybe this is just me attempting to hide my emotional response to a product behind a badly disguised veil of faux rational thought. If it is though I take my subterfuge seriously, very seriously. If I've had an emotional response to a product then you can rest assured that I'll take even longer than normal to commit my thoughts to print. I've never denied though that I've had emotional responses to products, whether they've been released yet or not. Over the last few months though I've had people send me rules before games are released, or supplements yet to be announced. Or even 3D concepts of gaming scenery and other paraphernalia, and simply ask me 'so what do you think?'... that is never an easy question to answer when it's somebodies hard work you're critiquing. Somebodies business, they're livelihood. Plus they're after something a little bit more in-depth than 'yeah it's alright' or 'I think it's crap'. They're actually after qualified opinions, and reasons behind the opinions. Hell, in some cases they're after actual solutions to perceived problems and detailed responses.
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