Monday, December 14, 2009

Criticism of the Critics from on High

First, I'd like to offer my heartfelt wishes for Joe Vitale's father to have a speedy recovery. Joe tweeted at approximately 12:00 Wimberley time that his father had a stroke.

An hour later, he posted the blog post entitled "Kill off P.T. Barnum." Something must have empowered him to criticize the criticism that has been spiraling around the Wimberley Mafia lately.

He writes:
Too many people are criticizing others who are achieving success. Instead of focusing on their own goals, they spend their time and energy writing negative posts and reviews. They don’t seem to see that (a) their work isn’t stopping anyone and (2) their work is a distraction from their own calling.
Wait, what? Did the man who doesn't like criticism criticize the critics?

Should I let Roger Ebert know that his entire career was a waste? Maybe I should make a mailing list of art, restaurant, movie, and literary critics and let them know that Joe Vitale feels their work is a waste of time and that they should really get some psychological help in order to find their own calling.

There is nothing wrong with criticism. Please see my previous post. Criticism is actually helpful, except to those who cannot handle it or those who have something to hide. I'm not going to stop criticizing ridiculous assertions just because Joe thinks it's a distraction from my own calling. He has no idea what my calling is. My inspiration now is to be a critic and satirist, and I am following that inspiration.

Are you not grateful for this? I'm following my inspiration, just like you've taught! Do you have no gratitude for what you have in your experience now? I'm grateful, especially for how easy you've made it for me to follow my satirical inspirations.

And here's some questions... so any criticism or discernment isn't helpful?

What if I buy a car, and the engine doesn't work. Should I resist that compulsion to criticize it?

Where would the U.S. be if nobody had criticized "the Divine Right of Kings?"

How about this, let's say I buy, oh, I don't know, an Awakening Course from "Dr." Joe Vitale, but it's just the same information in a previous book recycled. Oh, right, now we're getting somewhere, aren't we. I shouldn't say anything, I should be grateful that I paid $67 for something I already knew, because if I say anything else about it, I am just distracting myself from my calling.

I suppose if my calling is to pay money to people for nothing whatsoever, then perhaps you're right. I respectfully disagree.

There is an industry here, self help, where certain individuals feel their words are more important than others' words. Joe Vitale feels that his criticism of the critics is completely valid, while the critics are just wallowing in their inability to find their own path. It's like a put down wrapped up in a cloak of superiority.

Some criticism is hypocrisy. That blog post of yours, Joe, is teeming with it.

Just like Pat did with his little "experiment" gone wrong this weekend, Joe tries to turn criticism of his products and tactics around and attacks the lives of people who have the NERVE to look critically at him. And he does it with a trademark superiority complex. Anyone who takes umbrage with his factual inaccuracies and ethical considerations in his marketing and products must have something wrong with them.

Because apparently, in Joe's world, Joe is always right.

Sorry, Joe, not going for it. There's a whole other world out here where people actually think critically and would rather not be hypnotized into buying something they don't need just so you can experience abundance.

I'm sorry your dad had a stroke, and I hope he heals rapidly. But that doesn't give you free reign to criticize the critics from on high.

EDIT: Here's what RevRon has to say about Joe's dismissive missive.

6 comments:

  1. Excellent post.

    I just posted a comment on Mr. Fire's critical blog post which is unlikely to pass out of the purgatory of comment moderation:

    "Why bother writing a post criticizing the critics, especially if you imply it will simply aid in your success?"

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  2. Duff is right; 'tis another excellent offering from you, Oh Burned One. IMO, Mr. Fire's basic premise is flawed, as was that of his buddy Pat in his December 9 post. In various ways both Joe and Pat have stated that the critics' chief purpose is to destroy the self-help industry and its gurus. (And Pat went so far as to declare that the critics don't want anyone to be successful or happy. Joe has implied this too in some of his writings.)

    Perhaps this latest post of Joe's will remove all doubts, for those who may have had any, about Pat's motives for completely sanitizing his own blog post. Since these guys seem to believe that all publicity is good, they don't want to give the critics any publicity at all, except to make a vague mention here and there of the existence of critics or "naysayers."

    The truth is that critics are not all out to "kill off Barnum," just make him a little more honest. It may be a losing battle, but it's still an interesting one.

    PS ~ Duff, I noticed Joe did publish your comment, and even thanked you for it. I wonder if he'll publish Ron's and thank *him* as well. That would be a sign of progress.

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  3. Ah, but the reply to Duff's post got the classic "blessings." We all know what THAT means. I wonder if Mr. Fire has a firearm named "blessings" that he rubs oil on every time he answers a critic's post.

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  4. Mr. Fire also seems to equate criticism with complaining in his reply to Duff. I would think he'd understand the distinction.

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  5. Something I don't understand is why Joe and Pat get so upset if someone criticize them. It is apparent on his blog, like you pointed out. And I saw what Pat did on Saturday.

    I am in the creative field. I get critical review of my work at least once a week by clients. Hey, it's their business, and they know their audience better than me. You learn to develop a sense of separating out the criticism that will help the project work better and a way of communicating dissent when the criticism won't. But you stay focused on the end goal: a happy customer.

    Apparently, Joe and Pat haven't had to go through that rigorous review in the development of their projects. That right there scares me.

    Do they test their stuff? I mean, they have work that is designed to mess with people's brains. Do they just slop it together and market it without any rigorous review? I'd be really wary of putting that stuff in my head.

    Criticize away, BbF. You've got my attention.

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  6. LOL now we get to the heart of it. Your just pissed that you bought a course and it didnt meet your expectations LOL. get in line dick head that is the internet for you. The only fool is YOU

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