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Man has always ridiculed his fellow man’s action. In his Spectator column of December 15, 1711, Joseph Addison wrote that many time this mocking of others is generally never put to good use and confuses a man’s sense of virtue, instead of helping him avoid a folly. I thoroughly agree with Addison; man can be destroyed by his others scornful comments.

I will admit that a every once in a while scornful laughter can be put to good use. It can raise the morale of others and build a sense of comradeship. However, most of the time, it only hurts the person who is being mocked. I know from personal experience that when a person gets teased by others, he will not take it lightly. Many times I have been teased about personal things such as my hearing loss, and I have not realized that I was supposed to laugh with my friends. Many others have been the subject of their subordinates’ ridicule, also. Galileo was severely criticized for his scientific findings; instead examining them carefully, the church through them aside and banished Galileo to a remote location. They punished Galileo for his willingness to help human kind through science, instead of praising the man for his contributions. Mankind has always mocked itself.

Second, history has proven that mockery has always been the knife that cuts man’s mind. Many people have been defeated, their ideas destroyed, through the ridiculing of their ideas. I myself have had many ideas destroyed by the ridicule of others. I would eagerly explain my new idea, usually some grand scheme to make money of perhaps and interesting robot, and my friends would greet me with such phrases as “It will never work” or “that is a dumb idea” instead of telling me what a great idea that is or offering words of encouragement. I was hurt by my subordinate’s need to ridicule man. Others have been hurt, too. Ferdinand Porsche tried for years to make a small car for the people. However, every time he tried to get corporate sponsorship, his idea was rejected because, according to his managers, “people did not want a small vehicle with so little power.” Porsche was forced to put his ideas in the back of his head; by the time the Volkswagen was produced, He was on his deathbed. He never got to see how great his car was, all because of the ridicule of others. Had his subordinates’ opinions been constructive and encouraging, he would have lived to see his “baby” into production. The ridicule of others destroyed a man’s dream.

Addison is correct; man never uses criticism as a helpful tool. It is always directed as mockery meant to mentally harm his fellow man. Man will always be critical, but he is only great when he learns to use it kindly.