The Key to Criticism

This is a world where secrets are easy to come by but harder too keep. This world where social media is king we take our private lives and make them public. Putting ourselves out there completely, begging for honesty from others but swiftly shutting down whenever their honesty is colored with criticism and personal bias. We become judge, jury and mental executioners of others, finding utmost pleasure in tearing them apart in the courtroom of our mind, where they can’t fight back. It taints us so much that the minute they criticize something we do, rather than be rational human beings with critical thinking skills, possibly searching ourselves deep down to see if maybe their observations just might be able to help us change ourselves for the better, we lash out at them and defend ourselves. After all this world is one where there is nothing more important than how you feel. Where despite all evidence to the contrary, we are still believe that the world revolves around us. That it owes us something just for us existing. Rather than allow ourselves to see criticism as an opportunity to progress and change or stay the same based on careful consideration, we become content to fester in who we are now. We are satisfied to stand back and say, “I am owed this because the world isn’t fair” It’s a world where we become so terrible that we can’t wait to log in to our Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and the like just to lash out at other from the safety of our own homes and computers. Where we are free to say what we want and if someone responds in a way that differs from how you think they should we can just call them stupid and others just like us will give it a thumbs up to reassure us that it’s totally okay. Maybe we should take the time to stop and realize that in this world where everyone is fundamentally flawed in some way or another all we really have is each other to help make the world a better place. The only way to do that though, to really change the world, is to start at home and work on changing the things about us that might be holding us back from really being apart of something bigger than ourselves. Only then can we really make any kind of difference.

Comments (5)

Zihan Zhang

March 4, 2015

I think this article is very interesting because I related this to my recent conversation with one of my professors. The social media tends to be a platform for people to release their negative emotions. The criticism is no longer something objective, and people now are more likely to treat criticism with hatred and anger.
Ruth

September 24, 2014

This article is a very accurate representation of the era of rapid dissemination of digital information and its impact on individuals’ fragile emotional states. I certainly believe the article touches on a great point in that people typically take criticism with disdain and discomfort, becoming upset and angry rather than looking inside themselves to figure out how they can improve. I also agree that since everyone possesses flaws and has made mistakes, we all ought to work together to make the world a better place.
Conrad Nicoll

September 10, 2014

It is interesting to notice my feelings as I considered whether or not to comment on this post because it proved some of the very points this article presents. I am a bit hesitant to comment because I know that my remarks will be made public, free for anyone to criticize or make fun of. Observing comments I’ve personally seen on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites makes me worried to think of what others may say of me and my opinion. I agree that most people, including myself, are very afraid of criticism from others and so too many of us remain silent.

At the same time, we also don’t know how to effectively give criticism to others in a civil manner because we believe hiding behind a computer rids us of any personal responsibility.
Danielle Wesselink

September 9, 2014

I think criticism can be closely correlated to judgment. At first glance, when on social media it is very easy for us humans to judge and criticize one another without knowing the entire background or story to the picture/comment/post. As stated in Information Measurement Theory Textbook, “Events happen one way, but may be perceived as potentially happening in various ways by individuals with different abilities to observe and accurately accept the initial conditions” (Kashiwagi 2-8). People can make themselves look a lot happier on social media. By posting a selfie of how beautiful you are for the day gives the perception you are having a great and happy day. But if someone were to see you in person you could complain about how everything is going wrong in your life. Your picture post could be misleading and result in criticism or false advertisement to the public eyes, as they do not know everything going on in your day. I think, everything in life is easier when you don’t concern yourself with what everybody else is doing. Don’t post about your day or life on social media, as this is ultimately nobody else’s business. If you are having a bad day, it is up to you to turn that around. Don’t set yourself up to be criticized or judged by others.
Paulo Miro

September 2, 2014

This blog post addresses it’s main concern with a few points I thought were very interesting:

First, the idea that we as a collective, are far too arrogant and self-righteous to ever consider the criticism of a peer as valid. Granted, sometimes the criticism can be coming from a place of envy or hatred, but a lot of the time constructive criticism is misinterpreted by the receiver who is too quick to feel like the victim of a verbal assault.

Secondly, the tendency we have to use social media as a means of complaining or lashing out on others. It is evident through youtube comments, subtweeting, and even direct facebook messages that the need to put others down is very real. Of course, the easiest way to do this is through the internet, safely at home without confronting the person face-to-face.

People give others’ opinions too little thought and consideration, and esteem themselves too highly.

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