Why do people reject freely offered help?

@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
May 7, 2019 1:50am CST
I have been having a protracted discussion on another website with somebody who writes poetry. I have made a few criticisms - constructive ones I might add - and just had them thrown straight back in my face. I find this difficult to understand. The poems in question were good, but could have been a lot better if the poet had paid more attention to the scansion and rhythm of his lines. It would have been so easy to recast some of the lines and produce something that read more easily. But no! I was instantly accused of trying to impose my own standards on someone else's creativity, and why were my standards better than anyone else's? In fact, all I was trying to do was point out some obvious flaws that could be corrected very easily. Given that the poet had proved in some of his stanzas that he was perfectly capable of writing rhythmic lines, it struck me as very odd that he also chose to write unrhythmic ones and did not appreciate the difference. Why do people do this? Why write poetry on a public website that is clearly going to be open to criticism and then object when the criticisms are made? If you can write something that's good, why choose to write something bad? As I say, I find this attitude very difficult to understand!
9 people like this
9 responses
@Kasjnak (4489)
• Romania
7 May 19
Criticism? 9 out of 10 people reject criticism, constructive or not. It's not unusual, it's our nature to behave like that . And not only when dealing with constructive criticism, I often try to help people and fail, mainly because they don't want to help themselves. It can be frustrating, but that's the way it is.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (502316)
• Italy
7 May 19
It is a fact "free help" is never appreciated, if people have nothing to pay they take this more as an offence than a help. I know that this happens and it happens all the time.
5 people like this
@Sreekala (34312)
• India
7 May 19
Most of us feel difficult to welcome criticism. However, if it is constructive criticism I always welcome the same. I believe that kind of criticism will help us to improve.
3 people like this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
7 May 19
I agree. I belong to a writers' group because I want people to tell me what's wrong with my pieces, so that I can do better next time. People who think that everything they do is perfect will never improve!
2 people like this
@Fleura (34962)
• United Kingdom
7 May 19
They only put stuff there because they want everyone to tell them how great they are!
3 people like this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
7 May 19
But not everyone does so - awkward buggers like me come along and spoil the party!
3 people like this
@Fleura (34962)
• United Kingdom
7 May 19
@indexer And they don't like it!
3 people like this
@JESSY3236 (22246)
• United States
7 May 19
Sometimes I get defensive when someone gives me free help. I did get mad at a teacher who wanted to change my poem one time. It messed up the meaning of the poem for me. It was not a rhyming one.
2 people like this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
7 May 19
The teacher may have had a point, but then so did you. As the author you are perfectly entitled to have your say, but it is always worth listening to other people's points of view.
2 people like this
@Aansh13 (11433)
• New Delhi, India
7 May 19
Firstly, not everyone can take criticism with an open heart. It's never easy to face such things, but yes... This also points how have you put up your opinion, sometimes that also makes a difference. Lastly, anyone who choose a public platform should be open to any kind of comment.
2 people like this
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
7 May 19
That last point of yours is very valid!
2 people like this
@allknowing (153544)
• India
7 May 19
May be one accepts it if it is sugar coated.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23739)
• Australia
12 May 19
I think that criticism given honestly, truthfully, should be accepted by most people willing to improve themselves as writers, but it will probably not be received nicely, or well, if the person receiving it has an inflated ego about their own writing, or if the person giving the criticism has that same type of ego too, about their criticism. A clash of ego always causes problems, and creates trouble.
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
7 May 19
I have a friend that always says I accept all criticism as long as it is outright praise!
2 people like this