Criticism

In Asia, I often feel that we are to a great extend Enosiophobic or Enissophobic (Fear of having committed an unpardonable sin or of criticism).

Whenever I voice my views on how something is not good, some one will definitely come to me and say: let's be nicer to people, they have their reasons for doing so, we don't have to criticise them, we don't understand their situation. More than often, while the act or situation is "understandable", it is well... just not RIGHT. There's still a problem that exist in the situation. However, because it's understandable, the situation should be tolerated and one should not criticise about it.

When we're young, we're told, often by adults, to never criticise other people, because it's not a nice thing to do, or because it upsets the "peace" that exist. However, in school, we're also asked to do "critiques". In critiques, we well... criticise. Of course not without basis, but with logic and facts. The skill of doing a good critique, is to look at the situation from an objective point of view and to make a fair and honest evaluation of it. Your personal values and beliefs will definitely shape how your critique ends up. It really doesn't matter which side you take in a critique, or whether you take sides at all... it's about putting the topic up there and making a good discussion about it so that everyone involved can have a good clear overview of all points of view to make their own decisions.

Criticism against ourselves can be perceived in two ways. The ideal situation will is for us to take it as a good suggestion and make necessary changes. Sometimes, things take a turn and people get upset about being criticised. To think about it... criticism can also be made in two ways. One is to only criticise without true basis with the intentions to hurt. The other, is to criticise because you care and hope that changes can be made. And well... both ways of criticism can be percieved both ways! At the end of the day... it's how we look at it.

But ok... let's now look at the importance of criticism. I personally am a believer that good criticism is benefitial. The Asian classroom is often a one way delivery system where the teacher teaches and the students sit at their seats and take up all they hear like a sponge. One fine day, the teacher decides he needs to hear what the student thinks and asks: any comments? The silence that follows is often deafening. So, are the students too afraid to say something? Well... maybe not... they just have not thought about it enough to say anything, let alone criticise. To criticise is a skill. You need to be trained to do it: to be able to take in a situation, analyse it, process it with your own knowledge and beliefs, then make a decision on whether you like it or not and most importantly, know why you made that decision to voice it out as a criticism. It's a really complex process! AND... the Asian society discourage it! Why? Because we don't want to disturb the "peace".

Indeed, voicing out criticism will lead to people reacting both ways. Hence, it's almost unavoidable that the peace is disturbed. But honestly, who says that's a bad thing? Why should we put total trust and obedience to superiors for example? Why can't we question? I believe that to human being's ability to question and challenge is the key to progress. So if we all refrain from criticism to maintain peace... nothing is going to get anywhere.

Yet another observation... When I was in Japan... people are often just too worried to voice their views to disturb the "peace". So... can tolerance get them anywhere? Actually... it doesn't. They just bottle it up and make their unhappiness grow. Then they go to a dinner party with some close friends, drink a lot, and voice it all out! Without confronting the source of the problem. The next day, the go backto work with a hang over and well... face the same problems that they just got drunk over the night before all over again.

So... what do YOU think?