To: ml1954
[criticism <> mockery
Since we're parsing and splitting rhetorical/definitional hairs, mockery is certainly a subset of criticism.]
I disagree entirely. I could criticize someone's performance, which they could then alter, and that would be an improvement for them. But if I just laugh and make faces I'm not offering anything beneficial. I would say constructive criticism is unrelated to mockery, while destructive criticism could be interpreted as being similar to mockery, when one is only taking a swipe at something.
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Actually, after typing up the above argument, on second thought I think you're right. But then mockery is certainly a very juvenile form of criticism, there are much more effective methods I think. Maybe I should have said:
constructive criticism <> mockery
pointless vicious criticism = mockery
185 posted on
11/25/2005 7:03:52 PM PST by
starbase
(One singular sensation.)
To: starbase
"constructive criticism <> mockery
pointless vicious criticism = mockery"
I think one can also say that criticism at least tries to be reasonable, while mockery is just a form of persecution.
187 posted on
11/25/2005 7:12:35 PM PST by
dsc
To: starbase
constructive criticism <>
mockery pointless vicious criticism = mockery
I'd say that some of the most effective (even if vicious) criticism is mockery: for example, political cartoons. It cuts through pretense and hypocrisy. Satire can be extremely vicious, pointed, accurate, and constructive.
189 posted on
11/25/2005 7:20:06 PM PST by
ml1954
(NOT the disruptive troll seen frequently on CREVO threads)
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