Constructive criticism can recognize me as a person. It’s as simple and complicated as that. I’ve had all sorts of criticism that doesn’t do so, ranging from, “You should be able to pull a rabbit out of hat, no matter what your personal circumstances, because the situation demands it!” to “You’re not conforming to my understanding of a perfect gender stereotype and that is wrong. You have to do it.”
People need to have an implicit theory of general personhood if they are to criticise me constructively. That is the very least requirement.
Secondly, if they ignore facts about me — stuff I’ve actually told them — and yet then attempt to criticise me personally, their criticisms are disqualified.
Too much criticism makes idealistic and unrealistic demands. ”I want you to go back in time to make everything perfect, and then once it has become perfect, adopt a perfect attitude and tone about everything. You need to stop acting, thinking and behaving as if history had anything to do with you.”
Other forms of criticism that don’t take personhood into account are those that demand one should not be angry in response to extremely infuriating situations: “You can get ahead better if you are not angry.”
Yes — perhaps so. But it remains that I’m a person -- so, I am angry.
No comments:
Post a Comment