The right to complain

[defcon 1]

Something has been troubling me lately. Many times someone will do something, someone else will make negative criticism, then a third person would tell the criticizer "hey, you can't even do that, so you can't complain."

I'm sure we have all heard it, or maybe even said it ourselves. However, we criticize things all the time, but should we be aloud to if 'we can't do any better.' For example, I can't act as good as Keanu Reeves or play as well as AFI, but I let people know I didn't like them. To what extent is it ethical to criticize when we're no better.

 

[drummond13]

Hey, you can't criticize those who criticize the people who leave negative criticism!

I feel the right to criticize is a right we have as consumers. I can't make games at all, but I play them and consider myself an authority on what makes crap.

Acting as well. I'm an actor and CAN act better than Keanu Reeves, but even if I couldn't I should still be able to lament the fact that he gets cast constantly despite an utter lack of talent. I watch enough movies to know.

At the same time there is criticism and then there's needless aggressive negativity. People that say all Xbox owners are stupid or that the PC is a dying system; all those that say Halo sucks and all who play it suck too. This stuff is pointless. I dislike Halo personally and am happy to list the many reasons why but I'm not going to be disrespectful of the many who disagree or the things that the game actually does do right.

 

[jim_doki]

one, shut the hell up, nobody likes a complainer
two, if you dislike something, do something about it. abscond from buying AFI's albums. No more Keanu Reeves movies, that sort of thing

 

[stompy]

Well, why can't you just give constructive criticism? Course, like Khell said, if they suck, you can say that. Especially if they charge.

 

[Undeed]

It's very simple:

You have a right to an opinion.
This does not create an obligation for me to listen to it.

Sounds kind of douchebaggy, but it's the easiest way to explain it, I think.

 

[stompy]

It's very simple:

You have a right to an opinion.
This does not create an obligation for me to listen to it.

Sounds kind of douchebaggy, but it's the easiest way to explain it, I think.

That actually sounds pretty plausible.

 

[Rooster Cogburn]

My take is that people open themselves to criticism when they start making presumptions about themselves. For example, I am no plumber and lack all proficiency in that area. But if some other plumber does shoddy work on my home that costs me money, I'm going to criticize him (into the ground). He is open to this criticism because he presumed to call himself "plumber", a title which carries connotations of skill and proficiency. Conversely, you would not criticize your neighbor who attempts the repairs at your request, explaining, "I'm no plumber, but I'll do my best."

You can apply this anything. If Keanu Reeves wants to call himself an actor, he should be expected to act competently and criticized for failing to do so. I, on the other hand, have assumed no airs, and thus cannot be criticized for poor acting. I'm not an actor!

Sorry for the length, but I had fun writing it.

 

[Larenxis]

You always have a right to say your opinion. I can complain about how bad the food is, because even if I can't cook better, the food is still bad.

 

[TheMadDoctorsCat]

An opinion can't be right or wrong, unless it's mine. Then it's automatically right.

Happy?

 

[Anarchy In Detroit]

bah! the ol "well let's see you do better" defense. the last ditch response of a fool!

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Send a thief to catch a thief, but it's the pot calling the kettle black.

Complaining about something is an Olympic Sport for us (Where we're only beaten by the Scots); but there's a big difference between:

a) Complaining : "This is shit"
b) Constructive Complaining : "This is shit, but..."
c) Jealousy : "I didn't make it, so this is shit."
and
d) Emo : "Everything is shit."

There is also e) "This is shit becoz I sas so." but that's only left for Youtub comments.

 

[MRMIdAS2k]

If I've paid my money to see a film, play a game or whatever, I have the right to criticise it if I don't like it.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

everyone has a right to complain and criticize except for one occasion and that is if you can vote and don't vote

this is because you had a chance to try and make a change (sorry yoda one of few tries), but you said "screw this" and didn't even bother

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

everyone has a right to complain and criticize except for one occasion and that is if you can vote and don't vote

The basic problem is that your often, if not always, voting for the lesser of two evils.

No politician in the history of mankind has ever done what they intended to; because the sheer enormity of the task is beyond one man.

That, and to become a politician, you have to leave most of your morals at the door.

 

[Girlysprite]

The problem is when people complain about something that they could have done themselves. For example, when I cook and I do my best, and my bf would give me shit over what I've done, I think I'm quite entitled to say 'If you think you're better, do it yourself!'.

 

[MRMIdAS2k]

The reason I don't vote is because I believe most (if not all) politicians are crooked.

It doesn't stop me slagging off a govornment if it's done wrong, and even if I did vote, how would just my opinion on a matter change the entire opinion and/or the actions of said ruling party?

 

[Larenxis]

Hey MRMIdAS2k, you not voting for them isn't going to change that.

 

[MRMIdAS2k]

Hey MRMIdAS2k, you not voting for them isn't going to change that.

No, but I cannot vote for what is essentially a cheating liar and have a clear conscience about it.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

The basic problem is that your often, if not always, voting for the lesser of two evils.

No politician in the history of mankind has ever done what they intended to; because the sheer enormity of the task is beyond one man.

That, and to become a politician, you have to leave most of your morals at the door.

but the thing is if you don't at least put forth the effort to vote, how can you really say "this government sux" when you could have at least tried to get it changed

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

but the thing is if you don't at least put forth the effort to vote, how can you really say "this government sux" when you could have at least tried to get it changed

Because all Governments suck. Even if I got 100 of my friends to vote here, my village has remained Conservative holding off the BNP for decades.