Creative people don’t need to be trolls

Photograph by Ruth Hametz.

I recently received an email from a random member of the public (well, the design profession) in response to an article I wrote about a house. Doesn’t matter which house. He was an understated troll, keen to demonstrate his knowledge, in that way that some men with a bachelor’s degree in architecture feel the need to do.

The message was not openly hostile, but it was just a bit off, a bit nasty. It left a sour taste in the mouth. It was faintly sarcastic, made a stab at being clever and ‘cutting’, and was just a bit sharp.

Anyway, that’s enough oxygen given to that person. Into the junk folder with that email.

People who exhibit those qualities possess something that I have not seen evidence of in any of the interview subjects I have encountered in 23 years of interviewing: a jaded, bitter cynicism. I’m not interested in conducting dialogue on those terms, and won’t do so.

I have not just interviewed architects in my time so far. I have also interviewed interior designers, landscape architects, urban designers, graphic designers, ceramicists, artists, lighting designers, other writers, publicists, event managers, visual merchandisers - all manner of creative individuals. They have been, without exception, invested in putting both themselves and their work out there, without being guarded, without being rancorous, and without being burdened by an unseemly ambition.

These people are not perfect, far from it. They are certainly self-interested in the most literal sense. After all, by talking to me, they are promoting their interests directly. But there is nothing intrinsically negative about that fact.

In my experience, people who do interesting work don’t seem to be particularly angry about it. People who send unsolicited emails sometimes seem a bit angry about - well, who knows what? I know who I would rather have a coffee and a chat with.

Oh, and the photo of the smiling girl is just to brighten up what would otherwise be a dull post. Look at that smile!