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Apollia · 07-04-2009, 04:58 AM

Thanks for the explanation, Angela. That might help me not get my feathers so ruffled in the future when people complain about complaining.

I think the main things that have always bothered me about condemning whining/complaining are:

1. The possibility that some people might think they're better off suffering in silence than seeking help by voicing their grievances, and risking being branded "whiners".

2. The possibility that people with legitimate grievances might be falsely condemned as "whiners" and then ignored and dismissed, because of people using an overly, unfairly broad definition of what "complaining" or "whining" is.

I wouldn't be surprised if King George would've been about as biased as my joke. I can easily imagine him saying, and believing, "What a bunch of irresponsible whiners and victims those colonists are, ignoring their responsibilities to pay taxes and obey me, and then whining and playing the victim when I do perfectly justified things to try to get them back in line!"

It seems way too easy for anyone to abuse the labels of "whiner", "victim", and "irresponsible" to supposedly justify and rationalize the continuation of tyranny and oppression.

3. I know a lot of people mean well when they say things like "stop whining" and "take responsibility", but to me, it still sounds cold and authoritarian even when I know the intention behind it is good.

Maybe this all just my own problem, though. Anyhow, sorry if I'm whining.

Thanks again, and happy Independence Day to you and everyone.

Best wishes,
Apollia

07-04-2009, 04:58 AM	#21 (permalink)
Apollia Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: USA Posts: 305	Thanks for the explanation, Angela. That might help me not get my feathers so ruffled in the future when people complain about complaining. I think the main things that have always bothered me about condemning whining/complaining are: 1. The possibility that some people might think they're better off suffering in silence than seeking help by voicing their grievances, and risking being branded "whiners". 2. The possibility that people with legitimate grievances might be falsely condemned as "whiners" and then ignored and dismissed, because of people using an overly, unfairly broad definition of what "complaining" or "whining" is. I wouldn't be surprised if King George would've been about as biased as my joke. I can easily imagine him saying, and believing, "What a bunch of irresponsible whiners and victims those colonists are, ignoring their responsibilities to pay taxes and obey me, and then whining and playing the victim when I do perfectly justified things to try to get them back in line!" It seems way too easy for anyone to abuse the labels of "whiner", "victim", and "irresponsible" to supposedly justify and rationalize the continuation of tyranny and oppression. 3. I know a lot of people mean well when they say things like "stop whining" and "take responsibility", but to me, it still sounds cold and authoritarian even when I know the intention behind it is good. Maybe this all just my own problem, though. Anyhow, sorry if I'm whining. Thanks again, and happy Independence Day to you and everyone. Best wishes, Apollia __________________ Astroblahhh.Com Last edited by Apollia; 07-04-2009 at 05:37 AM.