Why do we criticise?

Trollheart · 06-15-2017, 12:55 PM

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, 01:23 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, 02:00 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?

Plankton · 06-15-2017, 02:01 PM

Your Mom is a coping mechanism.

Trollheart · 06-15-2017, 02:04 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, 02:51 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.

LoathsomePete · 06-15-2017, 03:02 PM

We criticize art as a way of determining to what degree the art (and to a lesser extend the artist) in question did its job of evoking an emotional response in the person who experienced it.

As for criticizing others for non-art related things like religion, political beliefs, etc., it's probably to do with the idea that we think we are right in our beliefs (or lack thereof) and that others are not and that we can enlighten them if we state (or yell) our reasons as to why we are right for believing (or not believing) in something. The more people that believe (or don't) believe in the thing we do, the more we can silence any nagging of self-doubt.

Anyways that's enough pop psychology from me in this pointless thread.

**Frownland** · 06-15-2017, 03:05 PM

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introspection_illusion

OccultHawk · 06-15-2017, 04:10 PM

I either feel strongly about my opinion or it's ****s and giggles.

Dylstew · 06-15-2017, 04:21 PM

To troll trollheart

06-15-2017, 12:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,992	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, 02:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Plankton Just Keep Swimming... Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: See signature... Posts: 7,765	Your Mom is a coping mechanism. __________________ See location...

06-15-2017, 03:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
LoathsomePete Cardboard Box Realtor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Hobb's End Posts: 7,648	We criticize art as a way of determining to what degree the art (and to a lesser extend the artist) in question did its job of evoking an emotional response in the person who experienced it. As for criticizing others for non-art related things like religion, political beliefs, etc., it's probably to do with the idea that we think we are right in our beliefs (or lack thereof) and that others are not and that we can enlighten them if we state (or yell) our reasons as to why we are right for believing (or not believing) in something. The more people that believe (or don't) believe in the thing we do, the more we can silence any nagging of self-doubt. Anyways that's enough pop psychology from me in this pointless thread. __________________ Last.FM 101 Albums That May Not Change Your Life, But I Really Like And You Might Too

06-15-2017, 03:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Introspection_illusion __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

06-15-2017, 04:10 PM	#9 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	I either feel strongly about my opinion or it's ****s and giggles. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

06-15-2017, 04:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dylstew Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 1,366	To troll trollheart