A World Without Criticism

SNL's "You Can Do Anything" with Daniel Radcliffe- NBC.com

Last weekend, Saturday Night Live aired a particularly prevalent sketch entitled, "You Can Do Anything. The only show that celebrates the incredibly high self -esteem of the YouTube Generation."

After the first guest fails miserably at juggling, one of the co-host's points out, "Now when people ask if you're a juggler, you can say yes." While guest #1 responds, "Because I have no shame or self-awareness."

After the second guest joins the group, he announces, "I'm what you would call Twitter famous." Then the co-host adds, " Meaning...?" To which Guest #2 replies, " Not famous."

Then the other co-host chimes in, "And I assume your self-esteem reflects that?"  Guest #2: " No, on the contrary my self-esteem is through the roof, because no one's ever been honest with me about how mediocre I am."

Host Daniel Radcliffe was the third guest who spouted the best line after he performed his unique talent of combining Irish dancing with Chinese calligraphy, " I tried, and therefore no one should criticize me."

Suddenly, my life flashed before my eyes; scenes of a friend of a friend's mother telling her daughter that she was the worst one in the school play. My best friend's cousin's aunt who was the last one picked for every team in gym class. My dermatologist's cat's vet's mechanic whose boyfriend only dated her for her hair. Why did they feel the need to criticize when every one of these nice, young ladies tried so hard?

Recently, I was watching an episode of The Wonder Years when Kevin's dad came home from a bad day at the office. The kids knew to stay away from him when he was angry, and that's exactly how we were brought up. Most of us feared, respected, and even loved our parents. I don't know how our roles became reversed, but many of us now fear that our children won't love and respect us.

Then I realized that many bloggers probably endured tough childhoods. Those of us who weren't beaten up at recess, may have been forced to take the garbage out more than our spoiled siblings. Some of us may have had to wear hand-me-downs right down to our grandparents' drawers.This is why as a whole, we are a kinder, gentler people who empathize, sympathize, and even fertilize our fellow bloggers' sites, so we may grow in harmony as writers.