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I recently read an article and left a well-considered response. The answer to this was: Amen.
That 'amen' bothered me. What did the author mean by that?
Anyone who says 'amen' to a response (to us in the Netherlands it's not considered positively it is equivalent to _shut up, I don't want to hear you preaching_) makes me think. So this time I asked what is meant by this word, and how to understand it.

<center> ![_11912446-6f4b-40fa-9f51-a79d12fdb731.jpeg.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/wakeupkitty/AKxoWMUDEBVCzp5fSjHS53EFEGG3s6o6WaVrn8yFiUUPEzWZ5D6i4Cn6u489UiB.jpg) [source bing.com/search](https://www.bing.com/images/create/negative-idioms-pink-robot/1-65db477695c64bb38f67c6377de1a3e4?id=hOuPxSO2yAke4LvxGEoToA%3d%3d&view=detailv2&idpp=genimg&thId=OIG1.BqLFevuLHN5iBlnM5ej.&FORM=GCRIDP&ajaxhist=0&ajaxserp=0)   </center>

### Criticism
Do you feel deeply offended or does this word make you angry because you are 'always' misunderstood?

In recent decades, criticism has acquired a negative meaning, just like the word dictator and certainly a long series of words whose meaning I used to have to learn (memorizing the dictionary was the punishment I received because the Dutch teacher did not teach me left the class).

However, criticism is nothing more than sharing your personal disagreement with a certain statement or opinion. Criticism is not necessarily negative or intended to destroy someone.

**Constructive criticism**, a response that is useful to the recipient, does exist.
Without criticism, the world of experience is a lot smaller. Smaller, more boring, more monotonous and not very creative, which means that little is learned or to be learned for the human soul.

It doesn't hurt to wake up from time to time and think about whether there is some truth in the criticism given. Thinking out of the box is not easy for everyone and it can be good to be triggered from time to time.

Anyone who criticizes has a realistic attitude, and the courage to give his opinion and these people are _not_ by definition doom-mongers, suffer from a phobia and are idiots or boring.

>There are slow and fast thinkers, extroverts and introverts, people who live in a dream world, optimists, realists and indeed pessimists.

Let's be more careful about labelling someone a pessimist when he gives his opinion.
BTW "[Don't be so negative"](https://peakd.com/@daily.prompt/25-february-2024-mariannewests-freewrite-writing-prompt-day-2293-dont-be-so-negative), is a killer for me, a sentence said by someone who has no answer or does not want to face the truth.
Moreover, it is a sign that **A**: you don't know me and **B**: you are not interested in my opinion, are unsuitable for conversation and are not too eager to learn. Conclusion: this phrase says way more about you than it says about me.

So you see again how depending on who we are, words can be interpreted differently than intended.

_P.s. If you feel the urge to write 'amen' as a comment, I hope you will just leave quietly after reading. With this single word I can't do anything if it comes to criticism._

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Picture: bing.vom/search 
25-2-2024 
Prompt: don't be so negative 
I'm a mobile user only

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See @daily.prompt for a prompt!