mbroberg
IAP Activities Manager, Emeritus
Another thread that started out about a discussion about the meaning of "Quality" was derailed into the ongoing and seemingly never ending debate of "Pen Kit" vs "Component Set". I do not want to further pollute that thread so I started this one. This is not an invitation to argue. It is a plea to stop!
I am constantly amazed and amused at the passion, effort and time that is spent debating whether that little plastic bag of pen parts we buy should be called a kit or a component set. Truth be told, one could make a strong argument for either term. But why should we care? I really don't think that most of us do care and the argument is no longer a matter of which term is right, it is a matter of "I'm going to win this debate!" or "I'm going to stir the pot!"
Call it a pen kit if you want to, or a component set if you want to. But know this, IF there is a juried, upscale art show that you wish to participate in and you apply with an application that says you assemble kits you will NOT be participating in that show as anything other than a spectator. While it should not matter to US what the collection of parts is called, it DOES matter to those who decide whether or not you are going to be a vendor at that show. That is beyond OUR control. So in that setting, make your choice. Call it a component set and get in or call it a kit and go home. It just depends on how bad you want it. Other than that, why worry about what anyone else calls it?
There are some who may disagree with my opinion about the terminology to use on an art show application. That's fine. More power to you. I respect your right to your own opinion. Lets not debate it.
Can we just call this whole debate a wash and move on? Please? Trivial stuff like this detracts from all the good things to be found on the IAP and, more importantly, this is an unimportant issue that will never be agreed upon anyway. There are many, far more interesting and important things to discuss that relate to the advancement of Penturning as an art form than what the pieces are called before they are incorporated into the finished product.
Hopping off the soapbox now!
I am constantly amazed and amused at the passion, effort and time that is spent debating whether that little plastic bag of pen parts we buy should be called a kit or a component set. Truth be told, one could make a strong argument for either term. But why should we care? I really don't think that most of us do care and the argument is no longer a matter of which term is right, it is a matter of "I'm going to win this debate!" or "I'm going to stir the pot!"
Call it a pen kit if you want to, or a component set if you want to. But know this, IF there is a juried, upscale art show that you wish to participate in and you apply with an application that says you assemble kits you will NOT be participating in that show as anything other than a spectator. While it should not matter to US what the collection of parts is called, it DOES matter to those who decide whether or not you are going to be a vendor at that show. That is beyond OUR control. So in that setting, make your choice. Call it a component set and get in or call it a kit and go home. It just depends on how bad you want it. Other than that, why worry about what anyone else calls it?
There are some who may disagree with my opinion about the terminology to use on an art show application. That's fine. More power to you. I respect your right to your own opinion. Lets not debate it.
Can we just call this whole debate a wash and move on? Please? Trivial stuff like this detracts from all the good things to be found on the IAP and, more importantly, this is an unimportant issue that will never be agreed upon anyway. There are many, far more interesting and important things to discuss that relate to the advancement of Penturning as an art form than what the pieces are called before they are incorporated into the finished product.
Hopping off the soapbox now!
In harmony with Mike's idea, just think of the bene's...how much less strain we will collectively be putting on the internet.
