I think acceptance of personal criticism is an essential part of self development. I think being able to automatically accept criticism is better than automatically rejecting it.
When someone criticises me the first thing I do is take note. I don't get moody, I just accept it. I enjoy self reflection and meditation, and I spend time thinking about the negative things people have said about me. I think about them with the aim of finding to what extent they are true and I never let myself conclude that "it isn't true".
All personal criticism is true to some extent or other.
Our task in life is to find out what we can do to make our shortcomings less obtrusive ... none of us could honestly say we'll ever be perfect and to try that is to fail in a futile cycle of low self esteem. Strangely, the more we can auto-accept criticism the more self esteem (and maturity) we have.
"I welcome criticism because it enables me to make my web pages better. And to learn more. I don't get insulted by arguing. You cannot annoy me by having a differing opinion. Even if you can't "prove" something, but have a different point of view I like to hear it"
This doesn't mean we take criticism to heart too quickly, but I believe that we should reflect on criticism more than we reflect on praise.
My page on British Trash Culture traces the rise to acceptance of mass ignorance and stupidity. These traits that were once commonly derided are now hailed socially as the norm; intellectualism has become sidelined and resented. As a result of this, the populace of the UK and the West in general no longer accept productive criticism in a healthy manner. The USA leads this trend, but the UK is not far behind.
"As a result of the lack of understanding of issues and facts, the populace hold "ideals", meaning thinking, to be useless. Debate of ideas is frowned upon, distrusted and disliked. The rejection of intellectual methods of debate, argument and active learning are all rejected; instead it has become taboo to question peoples' opinions and beliefs on issues. Frank Furedi writes insightfully that "a strong argument has been redefined as a form of mental intimidation", I quote him in full below. This modern trend is also eating away at the superiority of British Universities, the once bastions of worldy knowledge and wisdom!""Vexen Crabtree on British Trash Culture", 2004 Nov 26
Return to Vexen Self Development
By Vexen Crabtree 2002 Sep 01
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