far from being a harmless piece of advice. It is inevitable to feel hurt or offended when criticized, no matter how positive or helpful the criticism may be, because behind the good intention is the magnification of a mistake, regardless if it is intentionally committed or not.
Throughout my journey as a journalism student, I have been exposed to the rigors of extensive critiquing by my professors. Our compositions have always been scrutinized, corrected, and sometimes even scrapped—all in the name of pushing us to do better. Red-inked paper trails have become part of our system as wouldbe journalists. Though done with purest intentions, I later discovered the pitfall behind these “positive” criticisms.
Looking back at what I have been writing for the past years, I suddenly realized how easy it is to lose oneself in the process of improvement. As you take the criticisms and put them into good use, you see yourself growing better, becoming wittier and wiser. But what others do not know is the unfortunate consequence it
ignites—it comes with the sacrifice of losing your original self.
Writer Chuck Gallozzi once remarked, “When we criticize another, we do not expose them, we expose ourselves.” This rings true for everyone for it is unavoidable to put a little of yourself to the criticisms you give. Hence, you rub off a little of who you are in those you criticize and in turn, they unconsciously become who you are.
In a nutshell, I saw how little of myself stayed in my writings. For the most part, it seemed like other people wrote them for me.
Just as any kind, constructive criticisms fail to become unbiased. Most of the time, the should-have-been educational and professional criticism grows into something personal. Unintentionally, we reveal ourselves in our own criticisms and that is when it meets its downfall.
Even in looking at the good parts of somebody else’s work, it is highly inevitable to notice the negative ones, too. In the process of trying to point out the parts that are working, one does not fail to see the parts that are not. Hence, this boils down to what Gallozzi said—that the best type of criticism is the one that has been selfimposed. His principle also echoes the famous adage of stepping
into someone’s shoes and walking miles with him to truly know how it is to live their lives. Consequently, he reminds everyone to be careful on criticizing, whatever kind it may be.
In any case, the fault may be on my part. The art of learning to accept and to apply criticisms take explicit mastery. We might tend to overlook the fact that the critic aims to help someone do better, and not to solely overdraw errors. Nevertheless, I have yet to sink my teeth into the real principle behind this sublime reminder.
Constructive criticisms will remain unscathed—its only fault is that it reflects our own personality and consequently comes out in others. The concept is one of the many ironies that serve a good purpose. Nonetheless, it helps us measure how far they should go to remain laudable critiques. The only thing worse than having your mistakes pointed out is being unable to retain your individuality for the sake of doing something better. As far as these “positive” suggestions go, I say take them but do not lose yourself in the process.
Throughout my journey as a journalism student, I have been exposed to the rigors of extensive critiquing by my professors. Our compositions have always been scrutinized, corrected, and sometimes even scrapped—all in the name of pushing us to do better. Red-inked paper trails have become part of our system as wouldbe journalists. Though done with purest intentions, I later discovered the pitfall behind these “positive” criticisms.
Looking back at what I have been writing for the past years, I suddenly realized how easy it is to lose oneself in the process of improvement. As you take the criticisms and put them into good use, you see yourself growing better, becoming wittier and wiser. But what others do not know is the unfortunate consequence it
ignites—it comes with the sacrifice of losing your original self.
Writer Chuck Gallozzi once remarked, “When we criticize another, we do not expose them, we expose ourselves.” This rings true for everyone for it is unavoidable to put a little of yourself to the criticisms you give. Hence, you rub off a little of who you are in those you criticize and in turn, they unconsciously become who you are.
In a nutshell, I saw how little of myself stayed in my writings. For the most part, it seemed like other people wrote them for me.
Just as any kind, constructive criticisms fail to become unbiased. Most of the time, the should-have-been educational and professional criticism grows into something personal. Unintentionally, we reveal ourselves in our own criticisms and that is when it meets its downfall.
Even in looking at the good parts of somebody else’s work, it is highly inevitable to notice the negative ones, too. In the process of trying to point out the parts that are working, one does not fail to see the parts that are not. Hence, this boils down to what Gallozzi said—that the best type of criticism is the one that has been selfimposed. His principle also echoes the famous adage of stepping
into someone’s shoes and walking miles with him to truly know how it is to live their lives. Consequently, he reminds everyone to be careful on criticizing, whatever kind it may be.
In any case, the fault may be on my part. The art of learning to accept and to apply criticisms take explicit mastery. We might tend to overlook the fact that the critic aims to help someone do better, and not to solely overdraw errors. Nevertheless, I have yet to sink my teeth into the real principle behind this sublime reminder.
Constructive criticisms will remain unscathed—its only fault is that it reflects our own personality and consequently comes out in others. The concept is one of the many ironies that serve a good purpose. Nonetheless, it helps us measure how far they should go to remain laudable critiques. The only thing worse than having your mistakes pointed out is being unable to retain your individuality for the sake of doing something better. As far as these “positive” suggestions go, I say take them but do not lose yourself in the process.
YR 47 Issue 1 2011
Perspectives
Touché ANGELICA CLARISSE R. ESMERNA
“LEARN to accept constructive criticisms.”
Throughout my stay at the University, I have probably heard this advice a hundred times. The statement is not new to me, and surely the same goes to most people. Whether in school or at home, it has seemingly become the life principle humans are supposed to learn.
As people are given constructive remarks, they are urged to change for the better and to go beyond their limits. Nonetheless, the concept remains elusive, at least for this writer. After all, criticisms have always been negatively perceived for emphasizing the mistakes present in one’s work.
Despite all those years relentlessly spent hearing about how healthy it is to accept such criticisms, I have always remained doubtful. Seeing the faces of those who have been “positively criticized”, ranging from the poker to the tearful, has evoked something different in me—something
Throughout my stay at the University, I have probably heard this advice a hundred times. The statement is not new to me, and surely the same goes to most people. Whether in school or at home, it has seemingly become the life principle humans are supposed to learn.
As people are given constructive remarks, they are urged to change for the better and to go beyond their limits. Nonetheless, the concept remains elusive, at least for this writer. After all, criticisms have always been negatively perceived for emphasizing the mistakes present in one’s work.
Despite all those years relentlessly spent hearing about how healthy it is to accept such criticisms, I have always remained doubtful. Seeing the faces of those who have been “positively criticized”, ranging from the poker to the tearful, has evoked something different in me—something
On the downside of constructive criticism
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Year 47 | Issue 1 | 2011
