A Critique of Criticism

In our world today the masses seem to have lost the ability to offer fair, well reasoned, and well-informed criticism. Worse than this is the reality that the most people lap up the thoughts, ideas, and ideologies of a few critics. Rather than scrutinize what they hear and read, they accept the information put forth as fact.

As this blind acceptance increases, the ability to form one’s own opinion decreases. The masses become tape recordings playing back the thoughts and opinions of others. I have heard many say, “I think for myself.” After listening to those people, however, I have come to believe otherwise.

What is needed is not more arguments for one way of thinking over another. What we need is a criticism of criticism. So, if you will, allow me.

First, Criticism does not offer all the needed information. Book critics will use one quote by an author that can be easily dismantled. In attacking political legislation critics share a small piece of a larger whole. Their audiences take the incomplete information presented and trumpet the criticism, thereby spreading an abbreviated reality. What they are saying is true, but without the full picture it can be horribly misleading. If a critic insists on using a few sound bites, it may do us good to ask why they are unwilling to display the full picture.

Second, criticism does not stick to the issues. In our world of opinion and spin what often bears the brunt of the harshest criticism is not an idea, but the person or group sharing the idea. It’s the whole “discredit the witness” gig. If we can make someone out to be a moron, then we do not need to listen to him. It has become commonplace (to a sickening degree) to mock, parody, name call, and spread false information about a person. This kind of behavior tells us little about the person being criticized, but can tell us a great deal about the emotional maturity of the critic.

Third, critics are often unwilling (even when given the chance) to speak directly to a person or group they criticize. It is rather easy to say what we want about a person when we believe we will never encounter that person. There are few who have to conviction and courage to criticize a person face to face. Critics who deserve attention are the ones who are willing to sit with the very people they criticize.

We need criticism, but we need more scrutiny than ever when it comes to listening to critics. We ought never be quick to jump to conclusions, but should always be quick to listen doing our best to understand what the other is saying. Perhaps if we are more critical of our criticism we may actually stumble into healthy conversation that will provide needed solutions to problems that are far more serious than our lack of good criticism.