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The Pathological Inability of Americans to Accept Criticism
by russ Saturday, Mar 4 2017, 1:01am
international / prose / post

Remember the little rhyme most of us learned as kids, “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Indeed, it was a form of inoculation to verbal abuse learned around the age of five! However, Americans, particularly those in politics, seem to have missed this form of early socialised inoculation, as is clearly evident with Trumple-thin-skin and former president Obama. The verbal slanging matches that characterised the recent presidential campaign were crude, insulting and direct; both Obama and Trump took great offence when exposed to any form of verbal criticism, which extraordinary responses from adults reveals much about American culture, it just can’t take it! Both Obama and Trump visibly trembled with rage over words that most mature adults would have dismissed as ineffectual, but not so those that live in the land of emotional insecurity -- ‘we just can’t take it here, in America.’

Notice the responses, youtube is replete, uncontrollable rage/trembling, and this from persons that have their finger on the nuclear button.

Now, not to target America alone, Australia is currently reviewing its anti-discrimination laws in relation to race. Particularly those that relate to taking offence; now note that offence is a subjective response, language indicates as much, for example, we TAKE offence, or the expression, ‘no offence meant,’ and ‘none TAKEN,’ from the respondent. The result of Australia entering into subjective realms was that the courts were flooded with racial discrimination claims. Which hopefully should be easily sorted with some minor adjustments to the law. Though clearly most claims were opportunistic, most Aussies have hides like Rhinos. But to return to the point.

It is clear that a culture or person that is incapable of accepting any form of criticism is sick.

I recall in writing production classes at uni, my poetry was torn to shreds by the class and lecturers, my work was considered “purple” by one lecturer, hilarious, NOW that I reflect on it, my preciousness, particularly in relation to my poetry and other creative genres was soon eradicated and replaced by a highly professional approach. Being ‘torn to shreds’ from the inside out in my youth did me the world of good as now I am able to write any form of text expertly, including specialised legal letters, which are so convincing crooked lawyers run when they receive one of my legal bomb shells inferring they are not acting in the best interests of their client; of course in Oz lawyers making deals with each other is commonplace and so accusations from outside the ‘fraternity’ are usually ignored as the club protects its members, however, accusations that are expressed in professional legal terms are noticed and have the desired effect; one legal company (of many) caught out doing its usual deals to the great cost of the client, couldn’t run fast enough, “We note you may have received advice from other legal representatives, if so please ignore our demand for the monies required to pursue your case.” Furthermore, monies owing for work done, was not invoiced/demanded, which of course was the objective, to detach these criminal, sellout, legal parasites from their host, a friend of mine.

My point is, I would not have been able to develop advanced skills if I had not been able to overcome my personal subjective fears and vulnerabilities in favour of high quality professional output early in life, notwithstanding that the ‘crucifying’ process, the entire class got it, made me a much better person. Now think, if a personality is unable to accept fair (and unfair) criticism, development is forfeited, the individual becomes emotionally stunted which leads to pathological behaviour in adulthood, as is clearly evident with most Americans, particularly those in high office, Americans either over-react/retaliate or ‘escape’ into denial, another pathological condition.

And so we are faced today with emotionally stunted infant mentalities leading the western world; the outcome, take a guess!