Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!genrad!decvax!harpo!floyd!cmcl2!philabs!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!trw-unix!suhre From: suhre@trw-unix.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Criticism without Solutions Message-ID: <312@trw-unix.UUCP> Date: Tue, 14-Jun-83 11:45:15 EDT Article-I.D.: trw-unix.312 Posted: Tue Jun 14 11:45:15 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jun-83 01:05:12 EDT Lines: 18 I believe that it is OK to criticize or point out shortcomings without having solutions. Some examples: 1. If you are about to step off a cliff, I would say I think you shouldn't step off the cliff. I do not have to know whether you should go left, right, or backwards. 2. If you showed me a theorem and an erroneous proof, I would point the error(s) in your proof without feeling that I had to have a correct proof available. It seems to me that if someone has a problem and proposes a solution, it is better to point out that the solution cannot work rather than let them flounder around with it. Or if it has some serious shortcomings as well as some merit, then pointing out the shortcomings should at least aid in having realistic expectations of the outcome. Maurice Suhre