Main Entry:crit·i·cize
Pronunciation: ‘kri-t&-“sIz
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -cized; -ciz·ing
intransitive senses : to act as a critic
transitive senses
1 : to consider the merits and demerits of and judge accordingly
It’s funny how some words get used. Take criticize, for example. It often gets used in a way that would imply that being critical is inherently bad, yet by definition the act of being critical is neutral.
Since judge is another “hot” word and it’s used in the definition of critical, let’s look at that one too:
Main Entry: judge
Pronunciation: ‘j&j
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): judged; judg·ing
Etymology: Middle English juggen, from Old French jugier, from Latin judicare, from judic-, judex judge, from jus right, law + dicere to decide, say—more at JUST, DICTION
transitive senses
1 : to form an opinion about through careful weighing of evidence and testing of premises
Nope, nothing inherently bad or negative there either. In fact, it sounds like we’d all benefit from a little more judging in our lives.
So let’s stop using these words in ways that imply inherent meanness or negativity. Criticism and judging can be constructive. The Emperor really was naked. Surely it was better, at some point, for both the Emperor and the town to admit it.
Donchathink?
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