I agree. The most common example for me is visual design. I know when something is ugly, but that doesn't mean I can actually create something better.
Re:Criticism, Cheerleading, and Negativity
by lovskogen on Monday December 07, 2009 @07:10AM
(#981066)
You might find the answer after 5 Why's.
Re:Criticism, Cheerleading, and Negativity
by whatusername on Sunday December 06, 2009 @08:52PM
(#980520)
"This truly does suck. Does anyone smarter than me have a way that we might be able to fix this?"
"The only thing I've been able to come up with is ...."
Something like that perhaps? Slightly more eloquent (or perhaps just verbose) and showing an interest in a fix, not just in bashing the problem.
As long as you have the "here's why," I think the "here's how to fix it" can be deferred- either to someone with domain expertise, or until you've had time to think of a better solution.
"That sucks" is negativity. "That sucks, here's why, and here's how to fix it" is criticism, and it comes from a place of love. That's the difference.
I agree with this in general, but sometimes I don't really know how to fix the thing that sucks. Yet I'm still passionate about the thing I'm criticizing and I'm not doing it as an expression of negativity. It's just that I can plainly identify and explain what is wrong, but the fix is beyond me.