Look for solutions, not scapegoats

Criticism is something we learn to receive at a very young age.

As babies, our elderly aunts remark that we cry, sleep or eat too much or too little - and the critics never totally go away.

Through our teenage years we get it a lot, from our parents, who never really understood times have changed since they grew up, or teachers, who wanted us to be scholars even when their subject of choice bored us to tears.

Then as we get older and take up careers, we get criticism from our bosses, co-workers and maybe even those people we serve or provide services to.

We have learned to receive this criticism as well-meaning suggestions to improve our work, our methods or the way we do business.

Some of us are criticized publicly for what we do and we can accept that, since it is part of our job.

Newspaper editorialists and columnists regularly get or receive feedback on their opinion pieces. Most of us look forward to that, since receiving those comments are the reason we present our opinions to our readers. Encouraging public debate and dialogue is what we expect.

Other groups and individuals expect to be criticized on a regular basis in public forums. They are people who have been given the public's trust to develop rules, laws and public policy on our behalf. If a politician cannot accept criticism, or misinterprets public scrutiny as personal attacks, then that elected official should either grow thicker skin or get into another line of work.

But other people should not be criticized in public.

Recently, the work of pathologists and those working in hospital laboratories in our province has again been the subject of very public criticism.

The matter of the mistakes made at Eastern Health is something that should concern us all greatly, however the resignation or termination of positions there is an internal matter. The fact these people are gone is the only thing that is important. There were obviously mistakes made - public humiliation of these individuals is not necessary. Leaving their job should be enough - they do not need to be tarred and feathered, too.

Throwing public criticism at private individuals is not fair.

If a customer service rep of a department store is doing a less than adequate job, should they be berated for it in the lobby of a theatre?

If your mechanic installs your remote starter incorrectly, should they be forgiven the mistake this once without being jeered at across the coffee shop?

Hopefully these people would be treated with respect, since making a mistake occasionally is understandable.

It is when those mistakes are a daily occurrence or when they are constantly hidden that scrutiny should be stepped up.

No, making mistakes when other people's lives are at stake is not forgivable or something that should be overlooked.

But perhaps energy is better spent looking for solutions so it does not happen again than exerting ourselves throwing rocks after the damage is done.

David Newell

Advertiser