We’ve all run across people who seem to take pleasure in finding flaws in others’ work. And then they seem genuinely surprised when the recipient isn’t overjoyed at their feedback.
But this shouldn’t surprise anyone. Finding faults, picking things apart or complaining about things — even if one attempts to do it in a funny way (which most often comes off as mocking) — is one of the easiest things to do.
Some people seem to make a sport of it…
“I found a problem with that quote you shared. It doesn’t apply to every.situation.ever!”
Really? A person’s words taken out of context of the larger whole — and shared for the wisdom or implied lesson within — don’t apply to every conceivable situation? What a surprise.
So rather than acknowledge or consider any inherent wisdom — or the general essence of what is being expressed — you would rather point out or make a joke about how something doesn’t apply to every situation?
People who do this are missing (or ignoring) the point in order to give themselves the false impression that they are being clever or adding something of value. But where is the value in that?
Problem finding generally takes very little creativity, cleverness, originality, effort, or risk.
Other the hand, it is much more difficult to create something new or to improve upon an existing idea. It is much more difficult and courageous to be a creator.
“Creativity takes courage.” — Henri Matisse
The next time you or someone you’re with thinks they’re adding something of value or being clever by poking holes in something, ask this question:
“How can I make this better?”
Answers to that question are helpful.
Finding a way in which an established quote doesn’t make sense in every case, isn’t particularly helpful. Drawing attention to the fact that a quote is wrongly attributed to someone, is.
If you can find a way to improve upon an existing idea or creation, it’s not only clever, it will likely be much more well received than criticism and feedback that is often made at someone else’s expense.
We’ve all seen how sides of the government will find flaws in the opposing side’s proposals, but then fail to come up with any real solutions of their own. This doesn’t help anyone.
Want to be helpful and add value, find ways to make something better by asking yourself how that would be possible.
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