Have you ever faced criticism online? Ever received negative comments on your social media posts?
‘Critic’ is a professional who communicates his opinion on various forms of work such as, art, film, fashion, or on a subject. Review may be positive or negative. But just like a professional Critic, anyone can post opinion on any particular subject. Since we are living in the age of machines, almost everyone has a smart phone and is active on social media. More or less, everyone participates too. People do comment, post, tag, re-post on social media.
'So, does everyone qualify to be a critic?'
It’s very difficult to say that, still I believe everyone in itself is a critic to an extent. Let us take an example of a democratic country, where one person/party is elected by common people simply by voting. Voting itself is a result of criticism. When a citizen goes to submit his vote, he/she is sure who he/she would end up submitting vote for. That means a voter already has his view point and opinion. The method they express their opinion is – by voting. Similarly, if voting is a way of submitting opinion, submitting comment/posts on social media is also one way of submitting opinion.
In fact, who do we listen to? Our favourite celebrity, friends, family. But are they professional critic? No, yet we listen to them and take their advice which is based on their opinion. Technically, a professional who is entitled to review or share opinion on any particular field, especially via magazine, newspaper or TV show is a Critic. But I believe every human is a critic in itself who has an opinion or voice.
Now, it’s not the end of story. There are lot of factors causing criticism and causing difference in opinion. There is always background to someone criticising someone or someone’s work
Here are some of the factors affecting one’s opinion:
i) Gender
If you are a female and you see a news of domestic violence on TV, would you accept that? What will your opinion be on that? On the other hand, if you’re man and watching same news, would the concern be equal? Some will immediately reach to conclusion, where some will want to know the case in depth before reaching a concluding. For women it could be more concerning than men.
ii) Religion
In a country like India, where debates on religion, cast, gender is always high on TV. Be it election, pandemic, growth there is always categorisation basis religion. Even in the world’s largest Democracy, India faces communal riots every now and then. Buy why? Is it that people are too sensitive taking their religion and rituals? I don’t know that, but I have seen that opinion does varies from person to person with different religion. When two religions all together have different believes and ideologies, it naturally develops difference in opinion as a whole.
iii) Cast
In India, there are more than a thousand casts, each one is different from one another. People from different casts have different lifestyle & believes. In a country where there is always a dispute basis religion, also has foot-prints of cast biasness. People will always judge you from your cast, no matter how educated you’re or what position you hold. Sometimes it is not more than a stereotype to say ‘Education eradicates cast barrier’ (yet stay motivated. Not intended to demotivate). Hence, opinions are subject to Cast people belong to.
iv) Colour
Discrimination basis colour is a global issue. Even in the most developed Nation discrimination can be seen, and sometimes result in violence too. We all post messages of equality on Facebook, but should always take self-inventory before we post. How can people be loving to one another when they differentiate one another by skin-tone. It is an ideology that impacts our thinking.
v) Feminist/Anti-Feminist
Ever since term Feminism is coined, the whole world is divided into two pieces. Here some are true believer of feminism; some are anti-feminist. In this division there is another group that believes in equalism. The way you think, does reflect in your opinion.
vi) Married/unmarried
No doubt, we all enjoy bachelorhood, but we have to admit that our perception and responsibilities and mind-set changes after marriage.
vii) Age
Age has its role in maturity, and maturity has its role in opinion. A mature opinion and an immature opinion can be easily differentiated.
viii) Upbringing
Our upbringing defines who we are. We go by what we’ve been taught during childhood. And it has long lasting impact on our way of thinking which reflects in our opinion.
ix) Personal nature
Even sailing through ‘upbringing’, ‘teachings’, ‘school/collage education’ we have our own nature that defines our overall behaviour. Personal nature is something that apart whole population from one another.
x) Liking
Liking or disliking is very personal. There can’t be said much on this. It’s as simple as some like pizza some don’t! Why? Ask them personally! :😉
xi) Experience
‘We learn from our experience’- we’ve heard this a lot of times. Everyone in any situation reacts differently. And we all gain different experiences. Experience does contribute to Personality development in general.
Not every criticism is right, not every criticism is wrong! A criticism may be illogical too. And big question is – Is everyone posting comment is educated enough? Does everyone know the difference in right and wrong conduct? Possibly No, yet everyone has an opinion and can submit it. And it’s their right. But think of all those illogical posts that has gone public (via social media) and gets viral, re-tweeted, forwarded. What impact can it cause?
Thing is that, an absolute illogical advice will also have a reach and a certain group of people will still related to it.
Irrespective of all this, we humans are meant to exchange our thoughts with each other.
We can say that every person on social media is a critic somehow!
-The End-
Comment your thoughts in the comments section. Thank you.
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