Because criticism is the process of sitting square in the middle of the "sourest spot" of our failings and faults, and staying there for a few moments. It's nev

Because criticism is the process of sitting square in the middle of the "sourest spot" of our failings and faults, and staying there for a few moments. It's never fun. So if someone who needs to shove something we're doing incorrectly in our faces so we can re-prioritize, and they don't do it kindly, that's kind of abusive, and very imbalanced. In that moment there needs to be acknowledgement and recognition of universal imperfection and vulnerability, and not "you're the worst person in the world right now." Comparing ourselves with others is incredibly toxic. It makes the condemner think they've truly "made it" (which in itself is a gigantic lie) and get complacent, and it makes the condemned think there's no point in going forward. So it slows both parties down! -- NB. Written because I compared what I was going to say with the two comments that were written, and I decided what I was going to say was more interesting and insightful and would attract more comments. Karma is an incredibly unhelpful digital sugarcube, I don't take it well (ref: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15634577 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15634577, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16384194 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16384194).