Dumb Arguments

The argument du jour appears to be that you don't have the right to criticize someone's decision, because you aren't them and you don't know what they're going through. I am going to say this up front in the hope that someone will read it: Empathy is generally in order. Empathy is a good thing. We should have more of it and use it more often.

It doesn't mean that other people don't have a right to criticize. And people (including the targets of criticism) have the right and option to ignore that criticism, especially to the extent that it is uninformed.

But saying "You don't have the right to criticize because you don't understand" is a stupid slope to take a stand on. After all, how many of us really understand what the President of the United States goes through, just to pick a less-than-random example? We should all just stop criticizing the President, regardless of party affiliation, right? Other government officials too. I'm sure that they are doing their absolute best, all of the time.

Ok, I'll stop pulling your leg, because it's going to come off in my hand.

Criticism is an ok thing. Being mean isn't. There's plenty of mean out there. We don't really need to add to it. Stirring a bit more empathy into the blend when you're getting ready to criticize is frequently going to be a good idea.

This opinion is, of course, subject to criticism.