Lifestyle & Culture

The Value of Complaining

June 30, 2019

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THE REASON I often use this space to complain about something is because there’s just so much to complain about. And anything that’s not a complaint, like if something good actually happened to me or my family, would likely be seen as my being boastful. Admit it: there’s always someone around to find fault with anything.

For example, I recently wrote a blog post critical of the practice among betrothed young people of posting wedding gift registries online, wherein they ask for the moon, stars and in particular a dish drainer with teak handles for $70. One crabby lady, possibly a relative of the bride or groom, left the following comment: “Didn’t your mother ever teach you that if you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all?”

First of all, no. Next, that’s ridiculous! What if that policy were followed by members of the media? Goodbye CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and the editorial pages of every newspaper in America. The ladies of “The View” would be left speechless. Don Rickles and Joan Rivers would never have become famous. There would be no late-night TV, and the writers at “Saturday Night Live” would be left high and dry. Ditto Larry David, Jerry Seinfeld and just about every comedian who ever told a joke. In fact, there would be no jokes.

No joke.

—Andrea Rouda

Andrea Rouda blogs at The Daily Droid



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