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Criticism

 
Ranch Hand
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Who needs a critic! Or is it enough that I am my own critic ? Should approval be sought all the time to function? Does it follow that taking criticism means that one is well-qualified to give as good as they get ?

On the inner front covers you often read tributes

"To my greatest critic..." Surely, there was a time when there were NO critics.


The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n.
-John Milton



So who thinks another person's criticism is worth anything? There must be some philosophers who do not hold with inter-personal criticism. Criticism doesn't seem to work well between people in relationships.
spouses, boss-employee, parent-children...
So how can it work elsewhere?

Criticism seems so much part of how Society or people want to control other people whereas a point of view gives an opinion.
[ January 10, 2005: Message edited by: Helen Thomas ]
 
mister krabs
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Surely, there was a time when there were NO critics.

Caveman 1: So what do you think of my bison?

Caveman 2: You call that a bison? Looks more like a fish! Who told you that you could draw?
 
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In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

... and no one criticized.

IMHO... criticism's importance is directly proportional to the source.

Some people criticize to lift themselves up, others sincerely want to help. The bottom line is your choices and decisions must ultimately be a product of your own convictions and beliefs, no one else's.
[ January 10, 2005: Message edited by: Ray Marsh ]
 
Thomas Paul
mister krabs
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Originally posted by Ray Marsh:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.



And the head angel said, "You call that a universe? You can't even see it. You could have at least created some light."
 
pie sneak
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For work in the arts, I say it is critical for most to often ignore internal criticism to ever get anything done.
 
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If there isn't anybody interested enough to critize what you are doing (either good or bad criticism), it probably isn't worth doing.
 
High Plains Drifter
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There's a (rather self-serving) school of thought that says creating is simply the first in a series of events, all of which are critical the preceding event. Thus artistic creation is a criticism of nature/man/self. And so it begins.
 
Leverager of our synergies
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"The Talmud relates a story about the great scholar Rebbe Yochanan and his study partner Reish Lakish. The two learned together for many years, until one day Reish Lakish got sick and died. Rebbe Yochanan was totally distraught over the loss. His students tried to comfort him, saying, "Don't worry, Rebbe. We'll find you a new study partner -- the most brilliant man in town."

A few weeks later, Rebbe Yochanan was seen walking down the street, totally depressed. "Rebbe," his students asked. "What's the problem? We sent you a brilliant study partner. Why are you so sad?"
Rebbe Yochanan told them: "This man is indeed a scholar. In fact, he's so brilliant that he can come up with 24 ways to prove that what I'm saying is correct. But when I studied with Reish Lakish, he brought me 24 proofs that what I was saying was wrong. And that's what I miss! The goal of study is not to just have someone agree with me. I want him to criticize, question, and prove to me that I'm wrong. That's what Torah study's about."
URL
 
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Theres a difference between quality constructive critism and just plain old "slagging-off":

Me: How's this new function in your new timesheet system I'm developing for you?
Customer: Its useless.. doesnt work right.. no good

or.............

Me: How's this new function in your new timesheet system I'm developing for you?
Customer: We need to have stronger validation to ensure that the users cant select invalid codes on their timesheets, oh and the colour of the reports is horrible, why did we pick nasty brown? can we change it to a tasteful blue?...

Both customer responses are critism, (and the criticism in invited), but one will help degrade the working relationship with the customer and do nothing to improve things, the other will help us to work together more effectively and improve what we are trying to produce.

I *love* a good bit of criticism. If people are criticising me then at least they are paying attention!
 
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Originally posted by Adrian Wallace:
quality constructive critism



My english teacher always gets annoyed when he hears the phrase "constructive critisism." Everytime he hears it he tells us that such a thing is a contradiction. Critisism is inherently a dig at the work. Nothing gets done if you can't make this inherently destructive comment. The trick is to take this critisism and use it to construct.
 
Alan Wanwierd
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Originally posted by Nick George:
.. Critisism is inherently a dig at the work. Nothing gets done if you can't make this inherently destructive comment...




constructive defn (from dictionary.com):
1) Serving to improve or advance; helpful

I think taking this definition of constructive that the phrase "constructive criticism" is perfectly valid. see my previous post for an example!
 
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