What do you think

[urogard]

It is foolish not to question the efficiency of the current system
However it is just as foolish to criticize the system when faced with a lack of viable alternatives

Discuss, there's a good number of topics this would apply to

[agapooka]

Everything ought to be questioned, even your own existence.

Proper criticism can only come where there is an understanding of the current situation and such an understanding often requires questioning and yielding to analysis. Alternative solutions can be defined, refined, questioned and analysed by proper argument, once these steps have been followed.

[urogard]

Everything ought to be questioned, even your own existence.

Proper criticism can only come where there is an understanding of the current situation and such an understanding often requires questioning and yielding to analysis. Alternative solutions can be defined, refined, questioned and analysed by proper argument, once these steps have been followed.

ok, topic got misunderstood

didn't intend this to go down the "philosophical" way about existance, life the universe and everything but more the practical way

was more directed at systems at the micro level (small companies, families, village communities) and the macro level (scientific exploration of history and/or revisionisn when misinterpreting clues and "evidence", global economic system, governmental organisation, "society's rules", etc.)

[agapooka]

Not misunderstood - you weren't specific, so I mirrored the generality of your topic by making an equally general response. Since I claim that my point holds for everything, I obviously claim that it holds for every item that you mentioned, as does my prescribed method for dealing with the questioning.

I posit that it is never foolish to question and that it is foolish to hold a position on something that one has not questioned.

In terms of criticism, the complete process of criticism if never foolish, as it is an objective, analytical process. It is only problematic when a claim is made that there is a problem, but the one making that claim fails to demonstrate their understanding of the problem or even support their claim that there is one. But that isn't criticism; it's sharing an opinion. Criticism is the application of critical thinking to a situation to expose aspects thereof, the alteration of which may benefit the progression of the aforementioned situation.

Furthermore, offering a solution, or an alternative is welcome, but it is not necessarily foolish not to offer one. In a way, it can only be construed by some to be frustrating. If I can build a case that clearly establishes that there is a problem and then define that problem, it may enable someone else to find an alternative, whereas his or her non-awareness of said problem would have inhibited them to do so. Taking this further, I may not be confident enough in my understanding of the alternative(s) to share it with others and need time to question, analyse and refine it.

[urogard]

Not misunderstood - you weren't specific

I intentionally wasn't. although i should have hinted to the direction i wanted to walk into.

Anyways, but even though the purpose of criticism is to identify flaws about the issue in question it is only useful when it is done with the intention of using the knowledge of the existance of these flaws in order to develop and evaluate an upgrade to the issue.
If criticism is made only for the purpose of attacking person/people in charge and lacking the intention of improvement, what use is such criticism really?

[agapooka]

Pride.

But look at my definition. Attacking someone is usually an emotional, irrational thing to do. Exposing the flaws in their ideas can help them refine their ideas, and that is what criticism is.

Of course, there will always be those who feel that it is an attack when someone does the latter, but there will always be those who are not guided by rationality.

[Thriller]

but there will always be those who are not guided by rationality.

perfect example

[agapooka]

Is that an attack?

You can have whatever opinion you want. I just don't believe in making assumptions and coming to conclusions based on those. *shrugs*

That's my only true point of view. I'm up for arguing anything, though.

[Thriller]

Is that an attack?

couldn't resist the irony

[Cole]

You mean eco system?