Is being "critical" of someone the same as "bashing" them?

Question

I see this all the time: I'll pose such and such question, ("Why is Bush condoning waterboarding?") and receive a response along the lines of, "You're just a Bush basher!" in reply.

To a lesser extent I'll see something like: "Why is Hillary a corporate sell-out?" and might see "Hillary basher!" as a response.

Seriously. Think about this question before you reply. Do you, as answerers, ever stop to consider that these questions are not meant as an attack, but are asked to encourage a critical reply?

I'm not partisan. I cannot believe that among all the people on this board I am the only one who can be objective!

Answer 1

That's the Republican way of playing "victim." It's also how they squash dissent. God forbid the American people actually hold our elected officials accountable! But Republicans wouldn't know anything about that. To Republicans, their candidates and representatives are as infallible as Jesus Christ Himself. They can do no wrong. It's always some liberal conspiracy thought up by those wearing "tin foil hats" or liberals who "hate facts." But the Republicans don't provide any real facts from unbiased non-partisan sources. It's always a Fox News article, or a Bill O'Reilly link or an Ann Coulter quote. Never solid FACT. And though we are all entitled to our own opinions, we are not entitled to our own facts. The TRUTH is that if the Republican party of today presented their agenda (which doesn't include poor and middle class Republicans, if such species exist) and their legislation to the American people without misleading, half-truths and distortions, no American would ever vote to elect a Republican ever again...unless they were a rich American.

Answer 2

Being partisan is perfectly fine. I have an opinion and so does everyone else. Through the lens of your own experiences, observations, prejudices and fears, you see a political path that is the closest to your own beliefs. And everyone will have a different way of seeing it. That's a very healthy thing, and it helps to foster debate.

I might be a "liberal" in some areas, but I'm most assuredly conservative in others. And I am also of the opinion that no one political philosophy has all the answers.

There are those that do this to be pure trolls, and some are nakedly unobjective. There are plenty of people that are like broken shopping carts; no matter what way they are pushed, they go to the right (or left). The odds of any one political candidate being wrong 100% of the time is 0%, however the logically challenged will continue to act that way. They are funny.

There are those, like me, who want a debate. But, you get the screed manufacturers instead. Oh, and be careful about how you respond to the screed manufacturers. If you respond to them in kind, expect to get banned. I have been for precisely that reason.

Answer 3

FabMom, you raise some good points about criticism being bashing sometimes. There are people who do this with the intention of trying to help the person out somehow, but somehow crossover into bashing or they'll intend to actually do both.

Now to answer the question, it's not the same as "bashing" someone. When you criticise someone, normally people do so as a means of trying help out the person improve on something next time around. Usually, this means people will point out where they may think you went wrong(even though you may be aware of it or not.)and maybe back it up with some things they may have noticed you do that could've lead up to your mistake or something like that. Then they suggest what you could do to improve upon the error the next time around or have a better way of doing so.

Like I previously mentioned, criticism is seen as bashing when they point out not only where you messed up, but also some other imperfections that aren't related to whatever it is they're criticisng you about, but reflect on you as a person or they don't like what they had to say. Sometimes it's a matter of the way said criticism is worded, meaning that it wasn't intended to be an insult to someone, but maybe the way it's been worded or the critic's tone that cause others to feel as if they were bashed.

Bashing is intended as an insult to someone whether it be their flaws or something else of the nature. Usually said bashing often involves fabrications as to who the person is and whatnot, even when the person being insulted knows whatever the bs being said about them is false.

I do realize that there are some questions out there that actually encourage you to have a critical reply. Then again, there are answerers out there who are incapable of that somehow.

Answer 4

Well, there are several issues wrapped up in this.

Obviously, political partisans will be likely to try and discredit any question that might reflect poorly on their candidate.

But just as obviously, a question can be asked in such a way as to make a candidate look bad, no matter how it's answered ("Have you stopped abusing your kids yet?").

So... It all depends on the context and manner in which the question is asked - yes, it CAN be 'bashing." But it doesn't HAVE to be bashing - it may instead be merely so uncomfortable for the partisans that they must try and discredit the question.

Answer 5

Now if you want to get a different kind of response you need to ask your questions differently. "Why is Hillary a Sell-out?" or "Why is Bush condoning Water boarding?" is just begging for a negative reaction. It is always best to ask a question that seems to be seeking information not making an accusation. For instance"Hillary said this then she did that. Isn't that selling out to the Corporations?" Or "This water boarding seem immoral to me, why doesn't the President forbid its use?"

But if you ask a question that already has made assumptions the answers have not conceded you may well be guilty of bashing.

Anyway,

Merry Christmas!

.

Answer 6

I usually try to give critical replies to honest questions. But a lot of people aren't really here for an honest debate, they are here to bash one side or the other, which usually results in dumbing down the discourse to the extent where nothing of value can be gained by posting here.

But you will get real answers, you just need to sort through the snappy one-liners.

Answer 7

actual Bush bashing is really only about 1% of what people think it is. Bush supporters have come up with this name to deflect Bush's failures and make it look like it is all about people hating Bush rather than a an actual reaction to something Bush has actually done.

this "bashing" thing has taken on a whole new life (unreal as it may) of it's own. One responder even talked about the Libera Media doing Bush Bashing.... I would love to have seen him give examples of that.

Ironically, they don't consider what Limbaugh and Hannity do day after day as bashing... why is that??? hipocrisy???

There are "Liberal Trolls" that are not concerned with a critical reply, but they are easy to spot and account for less than 10% of the "Conservative Trolls" who are also easy to spot.

Answer 8

No It's not. Don't use these boards as a clue to how the American political system works either.

Why is Bush condoning waterboarding is because it is legal.
Why is Hillary a corporate sell out, well she knows who feeds her.

There 2 answers to 2 questions without bashing.

Answer 9

There is a new trend where bloggers are paid to make a campaign appear more "grassroots". Just thought I would point that out. People are more apt to listen to "real" people so they are using youtube and sites like these. The more we bash the less we know about the real issues. There are plenty of wackos that will follow suit. Just my intuition. Try to ignore them.

Answer 10

You are so right. The people who answer your question the way you say are people of extremes. With them it is all or nothing. If you are being a little critical of someone they see it as an all out attack on who they perceive as their Savior.