Thought Tweet #983 Criticism is a contagious thing...it's the polar opposite of 'Pay It Forward'.

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

When we criticize others they tend to carry on the tradition by criticizing the people the encounter...they criticize the person in front of them in the Tim Horton's drive-thru or their children who are not taking homework quite seriously enough, etc., etc., ad nauseam.

All of us seem to be hard-wired to be critical of others...at least, the vast majority of us seem to possess and illustrate this human condition. Despite that fact, very few of us find value in receiving criticism. Very few of us indeed...

Regardless of how we deliver and receive criticism from others, most people - when you cut through their external facade: whether arrogant, or brave, or puzzled, or aggrieved most people - are quite critical of themselves. We should neither forget nor underestimate this aversion to criticism. Even people who are very tough on themselves don't like it when others treat them that way.