{"id":914,"date":"2024-10-01T07:48:33","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T05:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/roladesocietalblog.com\/?p=914"},"modified":"2026-05-12T01:43:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T23:43:29","slug":"we-all-criticise-even-ourselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roladesocietalblog.com\/?p=914","title":{"rendered":"We all criticise, even ourselves!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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On 8 September, I invited my friends for coffee in my place after our usual Sunday afternoon walk. One of the things we discussed was how politicians always criticise quickly their opponents without providing alternatives. French Pres. Macron\u2019s choice of Prime Minister attracted not only criticisms but also demonstrations. In last month\u2019s US presidential debates, Harris and Trump traded blows. Harris was criticised for laughing too much; who didn\u2019t? I did when Trump said, “In Springfield, they are eating the dogs. The people that came in, they are eating the cats. They\u2019re eating \u2013 they are eating the pets of the people that live there.” (Interesting read – Trump repeats baseless claim about Haitian immigrants eating pets<\/em> by Merlyn Thomas & Mike Wendling. BBC News https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/c77l28myezko<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I should not have laughed because that false assertion can cause prejudice, victimisation, and division. Surely, the targeted people didn\u2019t laugh.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we hear the word \u201ccriticism\u201d, we associate it with negativism. However, any dictionary describes \u201ccriticism\u201d as an opinion or judgment about the good or bad qualities of someone, something, or an activity. Criticism isn\u2019t only destructive. Constructive criticism provides useful feedback for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to be a psychologist, philosopher, or any relevant pundit to know that when we criticise people negatively, we anger the latter and make them defensive.  They don\u2019t change their behaviour to please us or respect us more; it\u2019s more likely the contrary. How do we know that what we give or receive is constructive or destructive criticism?  When we\u2019re criticised in a manner meant to belittle or hurt us, it\u2019s the latter. In this situation, we should stay calm, breathe deeply, and pause before responding with factual words in a polite tone. Some people are stuck in a rut, reflecting more about themselves and their beliefs than those they criticise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We all experience criticising and being criticised. Hence, how\/whatever we do, we\u2019re likely to be criticised. We even criticise ourselves openly and in our minds. How many times have we said to ourselves, \u201cIf only \u2026\u201d, \u201cIt\u2019s my fault \u2026\u201d, \u201cI should have \u2026\u201d, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cCriticism is something you can easily avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.\u201d<\/em><\/strong> ~Aristotle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whereas, constructive criticism should be everyone\u2019s business. If we want to provide positive criticism or feedback, it has to be with good intentions and supported by specific examples delivered in a friendly manner. This might include having a respectful formal or informal discussion or brainstorming session to find out ways for the person to improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of constructive criticism:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n