Cheap Criticism
For far too long I felt wise in finding faults and levelling criticism. But that on it's own is cheap.
My wise friend tweeted this:
Real wisdom is shown in finding solutions and gaining insights.
My wise friend tweeted this:
This is a absolutely perfect way to sum up the difference between being critical and using critical thinking. It is easy to be critical, and easy to feel smart in finding faults and problems.Critical thinking helps us become wiser.— Mark D. King (@theMarkDKing) June 20, 2016
Fault finding only makes us feel wiser.
Focus on insights gained, not faults discerned.
Real wisdom is shown in finding solutions and gaining insights.
I agree with the notion that criticism must be undertaken rightly. I would add that a fault finding, or cheap criticism is based from ones own displeasure with an idea and not with the value of the idea itself. If an idea is true or false, it stands regardless of how I perceive it. Furthermore, even if one finds a valid fault and only presents a negative argument against the fault and doesn't not bring a positive alternative argument, the job of "constructive" criticism is only half complete and it remains merely a "fault found." On a similar note, we can be come so emotionally involved with our ideas that we identify with them and equate our worth with the success of them. When we have an unhealthy relationship with our ideas, any valid criticism will appear as harsh, vindictive, and personally offensive. I think it is valuable to teach each other that we are all made in the image of God and equally valuable regardless of how rightly or wrongly we think. A person or community with ideas that are closed to all criticism will stagnate and die. Only when we have a healthy self-image can we grow as a community through constructive criticism.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agreed. For most people, I think it is almost impossible to admit you have been wrong about something. But I think that is the purest form of honesty.
ReplyDeleteSteve Jobs was known for abandoning ideas he stood for in the instant a better idea was given. But I think that made for the company Apple has become.
Same principal applies for us. The best idea should always win, regardless of what is disrupts, no matter the amount of history or tradition the previous idea has. It is how we purse excellence. Knowledge, wisdom and truth is progressive. You do not fully attain at any given point full knowledge, wisdom or truth.
I'm afraid of stagnation and death in my own personal development and need to be open to change.
Well said, gentlemen.
ReplyDeleteMay we continue to learn and grow from one another. With pure hearts and pure intentions.