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You may have a very skewed perspective if you think that anyone who is giving criticism is trying to make themselves happy at others' expense.

pjc50 10y ago
That's .. not what that post said at all. Maybe your perspective is the skewed one? There's a difference between constructive criticism, and people for whom criticism is the dominant mode of conversation.
- jsprogrammer 10y ago
  That's exactly what the post said. Maybe you can provide a different interpretation? >In subtractive, a person tries to add happiness to their life by taking it away from other people around them - putting people down, criticizing, picking on people, name calling, etc.
  - yequalsx 10y ago
    It's clear from the "putting people down" and "name calling" part of that sentence that the criticizing is not meant in a constructive sense. The poster is clearly talking about a situation in which a person feels lifted up, happier by bringing others down. Such a person, in that capacity, is not providing constructive feedback.
    - jsprogrammer 10y ago
      You can argue that they are not providing constructive feedback, but the claim was: >a person tries to add happiness to their life by taking it away from other people around them
      - striking 10y ago
        There's an ambiguity in the comment, but reading the comment charitably can dispel the notion that the person claimed any form of criticism is a form of maliciously bringing people down. Read it however you want, but taken in context I disagree that that's their intended claim. I think that poster meant that malicious criticism is something that can make unhappy people feel a little better about themselves.
        jsprogrammer 10y ago
        There is little ambiguity. The space of happiness was divided into two mutually exclusive groups (subtractive & additive) with the listed qualities.
        deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
  - munificent 10y ago
    Criticizing a person is negative. Criticizing something they have done or created can be helpful. In the sentence, there is no mention of what the person did, so the verb naturally applies to the person. Also, "criticize" as a verb tends to be more negative and imply a more direct attack than "criticism of" or, even better, "critique" which both shade towards implying giving the person more useful feedback.
danielvf 10y ago
I don't think he said that ALL people who give criticism do so for evil reasons, but that some do. That's entirely consistent with my experience in life.
sprucely 10y ago
Not necessarily anyone. Personally, I am becoming more aware myself that when I'm criticizing someone, even indirectly, it's often coming from a desire to elevate myself above them. Think about all the other idiots on the road when you're driving. They're terrible. Thank the heavens you're so much better than them.
- jsprogrammer 10y ago
  You may want to look at why you desire to be elevated above others. To me, thinking about others is not criticism. Criticism requires communication with the other party whom is the object of your thought. Criticism was opposed to compliments in the lists, as if not agreeing (and actively making it known) with someone was a "negative" thing to be avoided (with the seeming implication that compliments should be given, regardless).

pjc50 10y ago

That's .. not what that post said at all. Maybe your perspective is the skewed one? There's a difference between constructive criticism, and people for whom criticism is the dominant mode of conversation.

jsprogrammer 10y ago
That's exactly what the post said. Maybe you can provide a different interpretation? >In subtractive, a person tries to add happiness to their life by taking it away from other people around them - putting people down, criticizing, picking on people, name calling, etc.
- yequalsx 10y ago
  It's clear from the "putting people down" and "name calling" part of that sentence that the criticizing is not meant in a constructive sense. The poster is clearly talking about a situation in which a person feels lifted up, happier by bringing others down. Such a person, in that capacity, is not providing constructive feedback.
  - jsprogrammer 10y ago
    You can argue that they are not providing constructive feedback, but the claim was: >a person tries to add happiness to their life by taking it away from other people around them
    - striking 10y ago
      There's an ambiguity in the comment, but reading the comment charitably can dispel the notion that the person claimed any form of criticism is a form of maliciously bringing people down. Read it however you want, but taken in context I disagree that that's their intended claim. I think that poster meant that malicious criticism is something that can make unhappy people feel a little better about themselves.
      - jsprogrammer 10y ago
        There is little ambiguity. The space of happiness was divided into two mutually exclusive groups (subtractive & additive) with the listed qualities.
        deleted 10y ago
        [deleted]
- munificent 10y ago
  Criticizing a person is negative. Criticizing something they have done or created can be helpful. In the sentence, there is no mention of what the person did, so the verb naturally applies to the person. Also, "criticize" as a verb tends to be more negative and imply a more direct attack than "criticism of" or, even better, "critique" which both shade towards implying giving the person more useful feedback.

danielvf 10y ago

I don't think he said that ALL people who give criticism do so for evil reasons, but that some do. That's entirely consistent with my experience in life.

sprucely 10y ago

Not necessarily anyone. Personally, I am becoming more aware myself that when I'm criticizing someone, even indirectly, it's often coming from a desire to elevate myself above them. Think about all the other idiots on the road when you're driving. They're terrible. Thank the heavens you're so much better than them.

jsprogrammer 10y ago
You may want to look at why you desire to be elevated above others. To me, thinking about others is not criticism. Criticism requires communication with the other party whom is the object of your thought. Criticism was opposed to compliments in the lists, as if not agreeing (and actively making it known) with someone was a "negative" thing to be avoided (with the seeming implication that compliments should be given, regardless).