Why do we criticise?
 

A huge and open question, and I'm not just talking about this forum. Why is it that we, as a race, feel the need to judge and criticise things we don't agree with? Whether it's music (duh), literature, religion (or lack of it), political beliefs, where we holiday, what sports team we support ... we seem to all have this innate need to say "no you're wrong. You should be listening to this/reading that/thinking this/supporting that" etc.

Why?

Is it to make ourselves feel better? Is it to (hopefully) improve the life of the other person? Is it an inferiority complex? Are we that arrogant that we think we know it all? Is it just for the kicks? Do we want to be seen to be more intelligent than we are, or is this just another part of humanity's desperate and constant need for combat and competition?

I'd like to have a serious discussion on this. I'm sure that's not what I'll get, but I'd really like to see what people think. In essence, why can't it all be good and why do we have to try to sway others to our point of view?

Teenagers need to use music, their fashion sense, their politics, their choice of social groups, their rebellion against their parents, etc as a way to assert themselves as distinct individuals out of fear of losing their sense of self, and I suspect adults never truly get over that instinct.

Hmm. When I saw you were the first response, I expected a pithy "Your mom" sort of reply, so fair play; that's a decent answer. Anyone else?

Your Mom is a coping mechanism.

My mom was very much a coping mechanism: she raised five of us on her own for over ten years. That's some machine.

Bless her soul.

I was just combining the above posts into one snappy quip, btw. Kind of a "To sum things up..." moment for me. I don't know.

I need some air.

...and beer.

We criticize art as a way of determining to what degree the art (and to a lesser extend the artist) in question did its job of evoking an emotional response in the person who experienced it.

As for criticizing others for non-art related things like religion, political beliefs, etc., it's probably to do with the idea that we think we are right in our beliefs (or lack thereof) and that others are not and that we can enlighten them if we state (or yell) our reasons as to why we are right for believing (or not believing) in something. The more people that believe (or don't) believe in the thing we do, the more we can silence any nagging of self-doubt.

Anyways that's enough pop psychology from me in this pointless thread.

I either feel strongly about my opinion or it's ****s and giggles.

To troll trollheart

There are so many different reasons that this happens but I won't talk about the ones that were discussed already.

There is sometimes a hive mentality that you end up hating/disliking something just because others do. There is also the direct opposite of that where you feel compelled to like the specific thing that is hated by the larger group either to be a devil's advocate, just to be a contrarian or because you genuinely like it and aren't affected by outside influence of wanting to fit in with the hive mind.

We criticise because some things we don't like or agree with.

We criticise because people are dumb.

That's sounds like something someone would say in a John Hughes movie. I can't tell if you are serious or not, or giving a stock answer. Sorry, but I don't buy none of it. If you choose to be in a "social group" I hate to inform you but you're not asserting you're pal, you are just following the crowd. Rebelling against their parents through fashion? What does that entail? Acting snotty to mom as she takes you out to Walmart to buy you new clothes. Politics? Kids don't do their homework, I can't imagine them brushing up on politics to find the potential candidates that they might vote on in four years. When it comes to politics teenagers are like Chula, "CNN told me not to like the president, so I don't." Not much thought going on there. But just to be fair teens and young adults do watch talking heads on YouTube give their opinion on political issues. So there might be a fraction that are more political minded then others. Sorry I brought up CNN that is like scrapping the bottom of the barrel. I should stop. I don't want to sound critical in a "Why do we criticize?" thread.

Your point was weak but good job throwing in the Chula dis.

Now it's going to be "Oh no! He did a Chula! How could he?" :laughing:

I thought my point was really strong and Chula dis was weak, but it had to be cause I was afraid he would go Full Metal Jacket on me like he does Frownland.

All I know is he gets really upset when you make fun of nutjobs.

This entire post is trash. I know it has been a long time since you were a teen but you are so off base it isn't even funny.

I can't tell if this is a troll post or just a stupid post.

Not to sidetrack Trollheart's interesting thread, but I thought CNN had a pretty good reputation and I often visit their website. Is there a more unbiased news outlet I should be using for American news ?

CNN is fine. They were just under fire by Trump and some on the right as being "Fake News". It is a b.s. claim. The only thing I would stay away from is the shows that have guests come on. They barely let them speak and end up talking over each other and it just turns into a **** show. It is like they don't know how to be adults and let people speak before jumping in.

Can't it be both?
Fox News :laughing:

CNN isn't so bad you can't tell whether it's satire or not, but its far from a good or reliable source. As news sources, NPR, Forbes, Reuters, BBC, and Way Street Journal are all top notch.

Avoid every publication's editorial pages like the plague.

^ Thanks, dj - I had the impression that it gave pretty reasonable news coverage. :) I briefly watched one program called "Hardball" which was exactly as you describe, with the host interupting and talking across the poor invited guest.

EDIT: thanks, Frownland
__________________________________________________ _____________

On topic, I was reminded of a dialogue in a book by C.S.Lewis, which went something like:-

"What do you enjoy in life?"
"I enjoy weather."
"Yes, I like nice weather too."
"No, I like weather. I don't mind what sort of weather it is; I just like any kind of weather. Every day is a little different, you see."

Not many of us are so even-handed about our likes, especially as we are encouraged to choose favourites from an early age; favourite color, favourite food, favourite tv prog. And of course by choosing a favourite, by implication you are finding fault with the other options.

Some people are content just to celebrate their favourites, but others take a lot of pleasure from criticising their non-favourites too. Why that is, I'm not sure though. So my answer to Trollheart's intriguing question is "Don't know." :o:

I don't know, why does anyone do anything? Overall I agree with what LoathsomePete said.

My perspective on all this partly depends upon the thing being criticized; I feel it's perfectly fine and good to be able to analyze and criticize art, media and one's aesthetic tastes without also automatically criticizing those (their entire being and character, even) who enjoy the things you're criticizing in such a dismissive way. As for why..? I don't know, I'm sure it varies quite a bit. I'm sure many just like to demonstrate their supposedly superior taste, but I doubt that's the case for most; I don't think most of us have one specific reason or motive when we express criticism of any given thing in our day-to-day life. (If I'm going on and on about a movie I like for instance, usually it's just expressing my love of it for the sake of it, but other times I do it in hopes of someone else reading it and relating to it/offering other different perspectives.)
But there are those condescending types who act as though they're giving a TED talk to a completely clueless audience whenever they present even a minor criticism or opinion of anything. (There's usually one of them at every party or social gathering. If someone mentions liking something they have to one-up them immediately, as opposed to just being genuinely enthusiastic about sharing something they think others would like.)

I'm glad that I can enjoy a wide spectrum of less than stellar media while being aware of its glaring flaws. I try not to allow my entire identity/self-worth to hinge solely upon what I consume, but others do exactly that, (and might be more likely to severely criticize things which are different than the ones they're passionate about) and are proud of it even, which I don't fault them for, seeing as we all develop our identities and self-confidence in different ways.

Regarding politics, societal norms and religion, (and also literature) I think criticism is good and healthy (though I think many can overboard when it comes to demonizing religious people) seeing as our daily lives are majorly affected by such things-- it makes sense to criticize and question them. Obviously, if I encounter a neo-nazi, or someone who goes out of their way to excuse, coddle and defend those people and systems which directly or indirectly exploit or harm others, I'm going to be a bit critical of them as a person.

When it comes to criticizing another person's physical appearance, though... Even though it's often done in a joking way, I still hate it (especially when it's done with that awful, patronizing type of faux concern)-- that is, when it's a criticism of some aspect of their appearance that they have no control over, or their weight. When someone does that frequently and relentlessly to just about everyone, I'm sure it's just due to their own festering self-hatred. People tend to think horrible things about their own looks in their head all the time, after all, which I guess can make them feel it's okay to talk to others in the same way. (And yes obviously there's a difference between a lazy joke and real actual criticism.)

There's no problem with editorials as long as one knows that that is what it is. I like editorials as a genre of writing. They can be interesting and thought provoking, even if frustrating.

As a reply to the original question, I'd say we often critizise simply because we, as humans, want to express ourselves. If I just saw a bad movie, I want to tell someone about it. If there's no friend nearby, it might end up as a whiny Youtube comment. Then someone who likes the movie will read that comment and take it as a personal attack and the whole cycle of silly internet mud slinging commences.


Criticism isn't really inherently negative in my opinion. It's just that some people can't seem to play along and have fun with the conversation.

NPR and WSJ are notorious for the false equivalency of opinions.

I didn't realize you were specifically talking about CNN. You're totally right.

^ May I say what a remarkably sensible post this is? :clap:
I think you are the first person in the thread to mention the many positive effects of criticism, which is a reminder that in academic circles "criticism" really just means "analysis." A critical essay on the novels of Dickens, for example, may conclude that they are among the finest ever written.

^ Yes, those kinds of undeclared, sleight-of-hand deflections are very worrying. So easy to miss if you're not paying attention.

We're all gonna die of climate change pretty soon let's enjoy the end of the world

I deny this.

Would you mind if I turn the question around and ask you why you criticize?

I remember one time you wrote highly critical response to me about the Genesis album. I was taken aback cause I didn't excepted such a response. This goes back to one of the first time I brought up the album, not the last time I brought up the album. I remember anticipating a positive response but it did not pan out that way. I was shock to say the least cause it wasn't what I expected. I thought since I was a Genesis fan other fans would (you include) would carry some if not most opinions I have of the band, and their music. I play the album every time I bring it up to you, to catch something I don't like about it. I haven't found fault with it yet.

If I knew the answer to that, I wouldn't have made this thread. I'm as much in the dark about why I do it as anyone else. I feel there's definitely a sense of superiority - "I am right and you are wrong" - whether justified or not - about it. That does not make me proud, but if I'm honest, yes, I think that's where I come from, at least.

Are you opposed to constructive criticism in general Trollheart? Do you view that as negative as well.

I hate you.
Discuss.

Interesting. Do you feel a sense of superiority when it comes to matters of Genesis, or in music general? If you feel superior over me in music, I would have no problem with that. I go back to what Aristotle said: 'The more you know, the more you know you don't know.' I realize there is so much to know about music.

I figure why people are critical is that they have a "right and wrong list" (in their mind) about everything. They consciously (or subconsciously) check-off or compare what they see or hear to that list. They have a mental image what an ideal world should be like. They have opinions on how people should act or how something should be. If they see something they believe is wrong they say so, and if they whole-heartily agree they say so too, and they usually do with intend to harm the other persons feeling. To me that is them sharing what they think. I guess some people like to chit-chat, other people like to instruct. I know criticism can become aggressive, or at least seems aggressive even though it was not intended to be. It all depends on the people in the conversation. How people handle themselves goes back the their personality. How and why people act is such a large topic ...

To improve.

Duh...

No I won't.