To offer a cop-out answer, this entirely depends upon context. The exact nature of the criticism, and the manner it’s delivered, very-much affect how it’s received and responded to.
I have in the past received what I regard as stinging, and unnecessarily cruel ‘criticisms’ from the radical religious right peanut gallery. Needless to say, the lack of constructive effort from the peanut gallery leads me to not take their criticisms (which are nothing more than insults) seriously.
Criticism should have a purpose. It should be used with the intent of gently helping someone to realise they’ve made a mistake, or to understand how to improve. The sort of deeply personal, blunt criticisms – especially in the form of unsolicited opinions (such as telling a stranger they need to lose weight) – can be quite wounding. They are in fact less criticisms, and more insults.
There’s no escaping the fact that no one likes criticism, and it’s more or less impossible to take it cheerfully. After all, who enjoys being told they’ve done something wrong? Who likes being told they can improve? Back in July, I received the news that I was underperforming with sales at work. This naturally wasn’t pleasing, but the manner in which that criticism was delivered was professional, and it served as a shot in the arm. The criticism was presented as a challenge for me to meet, and I met it. The rabid peanut gallery’s ‘criticism’ is best ignored for the vapid, mindless, cruel attitude it represents serves no practical purpose.
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I welcome criticism or interaction from people who disagree with me. Derrick Thiessen, instead, attacks, condemns, and insults. He’s gone after me personally, along with my wife and children. He slanders the people who read my blog. I can’t stop him from doing these things, but I can point out that his behavior is anything but Christian. If he was a member of one of the churches I pastored, we would have excommunicated him.
I’ve concluded that he enjoys inflicting psychological pain. A lifetime in Christian Fundamentalism has robbed him of the ability to respect and empathize with others (or anyone who is not just like him).
I have tried various approaches with him — nothing works. He steals my content and refuses to give proper attribution. The good news is that few people read his blog, so no one outside of a handful people read his daily posts about Ben Berwick and Bruce Gerencser. That said, no one wants to be belittled and slandered in public. Thiessen continues to do this because he likes to inflict pain on others. I just wish he would find others to obsess over.
Sadly, Thiessen’s brand of Evangelicalism breeds a lot of people just like him. Certainty breeds arrogance, and until Thiessen admits he possibly could be wrong, there’s no hope for him. He sees himself as a teacher/an authority figure; someone we should listen to under penalty of judgment and Hell.
Just remember, Thiessen wants you to quit. I hope you will never do so.
I agree that criticism is generally fine, as long as it’s provided in a constructive framework. David doesn’t do that. I don’t think he even knows how at this point. He clearly believes he is absolutely right, 100% of the time, and he’ll angrily lash out at anyone or anything that proves him wrong.
His personal attacks against us are exhausting me at this point. I have no idea how you deal with so much of this, from so many different people. If I had a hat, I would take it off to you!
Is this Thiessen character theologyarchaeology who seems to be chasing you over on CitizenTom’s blog?
Yeah.
Aaah .. is he / they a YEC?
Most definitely.
Lol .. such a shame he won’t open his blog to comments!
I love these nutters!
He hates to be contradicted.
Why does he write in the third person, using we rather than ‘I’?
That’s probably a private topic. I’m not gonna publicly discuss some of the more… colourful stuff, not anymore.
That’s left me scratching my head even more so.
I thought there may be several contributors to his blog.
Is this not the case?
Nope, just one.
So it’s a bit like the Royal ‘We’, or in his case, PPS …Pretentious Prick Syndrome?
I know several Fundamentalist Christians who references themselves in the third person in their writing and speech. I wrote a personal letter years ago to one such person. When referencing myself, I used the word I. The letter was returned to me with all the Is circled in red. She told me that my use of I was a sign of pride.
Wow. That’s an impressive level of… something! Not sure what that something is, but wow.
Hello Bruce!
Long time no read.
I thought a Sign of Pride was a multi colored/ rainbow flag?