The other day in my Professional and Technical Writing course we were scheduled to do some peer editing. My instructor said that withholding feedback on work is rude, that "it is actually quite Machiavellian in that if you do you are trying to ensure that you (the student withholding feedback) will get a better grade than the person you are offering to edit." It was a beautiful moment for me and I took great pleasure in the reference to that fine writer from renaissance Italy. Machiavelli is most well known for writing The Prince (not the song covered by Metallica from Garage Inc), an outline of what a leader would need to unite Italy and end the wars between Spain/Holy Roman Empire and France that had been fought on Italian ground for generations. It is a very interesting work, and worth some time and consideration. Machiavelli really outlined the Divine-Right Kings era before it actually happened, ie. Kings like Louis XIV could have been poster boys for The Prince even if they weren't around when it was written. So here's to teachers that can use Machiavellian in a sentence and still make it apply. Write on.
R.
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4 comments:
We both knew this day would come. Your intellect has reached the point where we can no longer communicate.
Whatever.
R.
Atleast you didn't marry the guy. And you should be proud Gretchzilla man, I think he and I hit that point about 2 years ago. You crack me up!
E.
You are, Mama, you are.
R.
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