Indifference To Criticism Or Praise?

Are you indifferent to criticism or praise? If so, don't you worry that your nonchalance, if noticed by others (perhaps threatened or jealous) will only cause them to ramp up their crap, i.e. steal from you?

I'm indifferent to both. When people compliment or criticize they may as well be telling me their favorite or least favorite color. I take what I'm told seriously in that if I'm told I should do something differently I may consider changing it if it's easier or better in some way. That's about it though.

In regards to how most people react...they either have a look like they don't know why I responded so well to critique, or they think I have low confidence and that's why I don't take compliments properly. This usually results in a situation where they awkwardly try to further convince me that I have what they think of as a great quality. I've never thought of them as being jealous or threatened but more confused.

I usually view both with suspicion. The exception would be when I request feedback/opinions on a creative project I'm doing, and in that case I usually ask someone whom I know will be objective and have enough knowledge on the medium to provide a fair assessment.

Unsolicited criticism or praise is just a big eye roll to me.

Seconding the feel of suspicion.

Yes. It's either what's your angle, exactly? or what do you want from me?

CityMouse wrote:Are you indifferent to criticism or praise? If so, don't you worry that your nonchalance, if noticed by others (perhaps threatened or jealous) will only cause them to ramp up their crap, i.e. steal from you?

I don't see how these two things relate.

naps wrote:Yes. It's either what's your angle, exactly? or what do you want from me?

CityMouse wrote:Are you indifferent to criticism or praise? If so, don't you worry that your nonchalance, if noticed by others (perhaps threatened or jealous) will only cause them to ramp up their crap, i.e. steal from you?

I don't see how these two things relate.

Like if someone criticizes you harshly, and don't you seem to care, might they "up the ante" by stealing from you or something, to get a reaction out of you?

I don't like criticism because I am already on top of my faults and I am already beating myself up over them. As for criticism of being me and not who they think I should be, there is definitely indifference. Praise makes me smile inside but I don't require it. I know what I am good at and if someone wants to acknowledge it, so be it. If it's monetary praise, no complaints and I'd prefer it that way over words.

As usual, I don't have much interactions with most people so my experience is a bit limited. My paranoia and suspiciousness is in my own mind and usually not due to others actions. It sure would be easier if I had reasons to really be suspicious.

CityMouse wrote:

naps wrote:Yes. It's either what's your angle, exactly? or what do you want from me?

CityMouse wrote:Are you indifferent to criticism or praise? If so, don't you worry that your nonchalance, if noticed by others (perhaps threatened or jealous) will only cause them to ramp up their crap, i.e. steal from you?

I don't see how these two things relate.

Like if someone criticizes you harshly, and don't you seem to care, might they "up the ante" by stealing from you or something, to get a reaction out of you?

If you give off an impression of passivity people will assume they can get over on you. But if people are stealing from you in order to get a reaction they couldn't otherwise, that might be a sign that they're trying to find a way to get closer to you. Or they're just assholes.

I've always disregarded praise and criticism both because I'm already monitoring my own progress. I'm incredibly analytical already. I am aware of how I am doing, intimately, and most familiar with my own situation, so, unless I'm self-delusionally barking up the wrong tree, I'm going to have the most informed perspective. Plus, people are manipulative. Usually if someone compliments me, I ask what they want, because it's just easier than wading through the BS to get there.

I've never had a true mentorship relationship, though. I suspect it might be different in that situation. Once a biology professor made a comment on a minor grammar mistake I had made, and I was so grateful to be informed.

smirks wrote:I've never had a true mentorship relationship, though.

I never really correlated the two but I believe this is the majority of my "problem" with praise. I don't see indifference to praise as bad in the sense that I'm not needy for acceptance. At the same time, I know that I'd probably be more motivated and enjoy accomplishment if I felt something towards it.

I remember my 5th-grade teacher and how she was my first teacher who seemed to know what she was doing. She actually cared about her students and their struggles versus how their grades affected her appearance. She let me stay inside during recess when she knew other kids bullied me. A couple few months or so in she had to get gallbladder surgery. My class had a revolving door of substitutes for the rest of the year.

I don't know how different things would have been if I had one smart caring teacher to be around for 1 year (maybe one more if you count seeing her in between classes the next year). I started homeschooling in 7th grade so it's not like she would have been around much more than that.