The Fear of Criticism

Criticism is indicating the faults of someone in a disapproving manner. Or it can be expressing a sophisticated judgment. Perhaps when one offers a critical comment, knowing it is going against the popular or personal belief of someone, one thinks it is a sophisticated judgment.

But is it? What exactly is a sophisticated judgment? Does a movie reviewer get away with critical comments due to the fact that she has seen hundreds of movies? Or because one is a writer, whether or not in the category of talented, does one get to critique the literary works of others?

No one likes to be criticized. And as Aristotle knew all those hundreds of years ago just the thought of criticism can paralyze. Either the "doer", one will not do certain things for fear of being criticized, or the
"critic", one will not speak up for fear that the comment will not bode well for all listeners.

And this, I think, is the problem. No one wants to speak up.

Any observation of our politicians will prove this point. Every politician says exactly what they think their constituents want to hear. It's not often their real opinion or in the end how they will vote, because they can be swayed, it is just what they need to say to avoid critical comments at that moment. Is that really serving us well?

And any observer in a business meeting will find the same. How many people actually speak up? There is a constant fear. Fear they could be fired, demoted, ostracized. And yet how many times have creative or even safety issues been neglected because someone chose not to speak up.

It's sad that critical comments are not met with acceptance. People take such comments far too personally. The atmosphere in any conversation, be it one on one or one to millions, should be one of openness. It's just an opinion. It is not gospel, it is not a fault, of either speaker or listener, that the two disagree. They just disagree.

It's the time after the comment that gets complicated. Feelings are ruffled, words are internalized, interpretations are unspoken and stored, implications are passed on. And relationships are broken.

All just because someone gave an opinion.

I wonder if during the time of Aristotle criticism was accepted. As his quote implies there must have been some concern about this thorny human issue or he would not have uttered the words.

I just wish presently we could all get to the place where critical comments are allowed, but not personalized. We just listen and move on. Over. Done. Next. And nothing lays heavy in heart or stomach.