9redwoods

What did you do that deserves empathy?

Okay, let's try it.

Let's say I'm you. I see Swift's dark wallpaper, I can't see anything. It's too dark for me. I comment to tell him that, thinking he might take it to improve. But then Ethan comes in and says he actually thinks it's completely fine, and he does give some other advice regarding the moon, which was well-put-together and even had a picture. Uh oh, no one can disagree with me! I'm right! My criticism matters, my point still stands! It's still too dark! I say a lot of that of course. But then people get hostile. Ethan still thinks it's fine. Everyone but my slave Mik seems to agree with them. But Ethan was never involved in the controversy between me and Swift. He's unbiased. So why does he disagree with me? It's too dark, and I know it's too dark. I can't see anything! I've gotta show him how well I should be able to see it. And so I do, I brighten up the image. But what's this? Now people are calling it ugly. It wasn't trying to look nice. I was demonstrating how well I should be able to see it. Now people are downvoting me! Why am I being attacked? Why don't they recognize what I'm doing? They're just being completely irrational, hope they don't say something they'll regret. Whatever, Dually mentioned the moon so I'll switch topics. I think it's too bright for such a dark scene, so I'll say it (and then this barrells into you-know-what all stemming back to you thinking the scene is too dark).

So let's run through what happened. You think it's too dark, so you say it. People disagree with you, and you feel like your opinion suddenly doesn't matter because someone has an opposite opinion. You get defensive, and start explaining yourself. Things start boiling. You couldn't be wrong, you couldn't see anything. That makes your opinion correct, of course. Now, there is one fatal flaw you made, which is that you didn't consider their point of view. From their perspective, you're not listening to a damn thing. You can't see it, which makes you right. People started criticizing your criticism because your abysmal misunderstanding of criticism prevents you from considering that you, yourself, are wrong. Of course, there is no wrong or right when it comes to whether or not it was too dark. But then you kept going at it. You cause problems and don't realize it, then assume it was because of other people, because you didn't realize it.

That'll be all.

If you @Rollo aren’t already either a psychiatrist or lawyer, I suggest you sign up for either one.

What are your suggestions for improvement?