Criticism is a two-edged sword that cuts two ways. When administered with sharpness, it can cut to the quick. When administered with kindness and love unfeigned, it can be a teaching moment like very few others. Criticizing someone isn’t always just to find fault with them or what they have done, even though that word has come to mean that to most people. If the fault finding criticism is the motivation, a person should take the advice of Frieda Norris, who said, “Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes.”
That would be an especially good idea if you expect some kind of retribution.
There is a term called logical criticism, meaning to carefully evaluate a proposal or a proposed project to determine if a person or a company would be wise to invest or not to invest time or even money in it. There are engineers and other professional people who are hired to make those kinds of critical recommendations. In reality, there are many kinds of critics whose job it is to evaluate art, music, literature, plays and movie productions. In some cases their critical analysis will make or break an artist or a movie production. If they, for example, gave a movie a bad rating based on a pre-release viewing, possibly fewer people would see the movie, and as a result the movie could lose money. In reality, if the critic did not have a taste for that particular type of drama, maybe there would be thousands of people who would disagree and may have really enjoyed the movie, had it not been assailed by the critic. Critical analysis can’t help but be biased toward the likes and dislikes of the critic.
Critical reports have to be analyzed and evaluated as only one aspect of a person’s decision to go forward or not; it should never be the only consideration. Criminal investigators have to learn to critically evaluate different facts and testimonies about a crime.
The presentations of fact are often biased, or important detail is often left out. Seasoned and well trained investigators can sense deficiencies, as well as false testimony. They learn to listen with a ‘critical ear,’ and they pick up clues in a suspect’s testimony that may lead to other questions which will eventually bring them much closer to the truth.
Each of us must learn to detect false or tainted information during our conversations with others, especially those who are trying to sell us something or possibly take advantage of us in some other way. We should all have a critical analysis tool bag to help us do that, without which we could be taken in and could lose much of what we have. Naivety is a common weakness of the young and inexperienced, as well as the some of the elderly, they have a tendency to believe too readily and therefore are too easily deceived. It is very common to voice an objection to something a friend has said, simply to show that what they said is wrong, false, nonsensical or objectionable without offending them. A good friend would not be offended. Frank A. Clark said, “Criticism, like rain, should be gentle enough to nourish a man’s growth without destroying his roots.” I would like to believe that that kind of criticism is constructive criticism, as the purpose was to teach or inform in a respectful way. To point out an error that may prevent them from making a major mistake in their life, that is the kindly thing to do. Some criticism is just plain practical in nature and purpose. If a backyard mechanic is trying to take a nut off a bolt by screwing it to the right (tightening it) then by informing him that he needs to turn it to the left to unscrew it, is constructive criticism and may save him time and trouble later. That is just plain, practical criticism.
Moral criticism deals primarily with young people who may be doing things contrary to their family’s ideals. Every young person has a need to belong, and the group that the parents would like them to belong to may not encourage or accept them. The pressure that comes from those that accept them causes conflicts with their parents: the behavior that’s required to “belong.” We all tend to support those who are friendly and supportive of us. The need to prove we belong, once we are accepted, means that we are willing to take upon us, the look and language of the group. I referred to it another time as the ‘Chameleon-effect.’ We have a tendency to change colors, (behavior) with each change of groups or people that we associate with.
There are many different types of criticism and/or critical thought, and some are geared to correct behavior, while some are designed to make projects or programs better, etc. Critical comments can cause tension when it may be difficult to determine if it is friendly support and useful criticism or a harsh and unfriendly jab at someone or their project. It has been said, “Pick your friends but never pick them to pieces.” (Anon) The same goes for critical evaluations of all kinds, for constructive criticism can be valuable if presented in a kindly way, without the intent to pick the person or the project apart (to pieces).
Along with all criticism, there should be an equal amount of praise for the portions that are of value and praiseworthy. Charles Schwab said, “I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism” (not that fair and kindly criticism is not important from time to time). God bless us to to be fair in life and willing to receive and to give fair and appropriate criticism, when warranted, with a spirit of kindness, compassion and loving concern.