Why do we criticise?

Trollheart · 06-15-2017, 11:55 AM

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?

The Batlord · 06-15-2017, 12:23 PM

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.

Trollheart · 06-15-2017, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

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?

Neapolitan · 06-15-2017, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

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.

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.

OccultHawk · 06-15-2017, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

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.

djchameleon · 06-16-2017, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

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.

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.

The Batlord · 06-16-2017, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neapolitan

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.

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

Plankton · 06-15-2017, 01:01 PM

Your Mom is a coping mechanism.

Trollheart · 06-15-2017, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plankton

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.

Plankton · 06-15-2017, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

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.

06-15-2017, 11:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	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? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

06-15-2017, 01:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	Your Mom is a coping mechanism. __________________ See location...