We live in a pretty competitive, judgmental society. People get rewarded for being negative because if they can put someone else down, they can get ahead. For a lot of people, that has become their "strategy." I also think we're a society that has become progressively more alienated from others, resulting in a lessened sense of empathy, compassion, and connection to other human beings. It's easy to be mean when you don't connect emotionally to those around you.

Personally, I'm with you in that I've gradually gotten a lot of those people out of my life. I'm also more willing now to say something if someone is being negative about someone not in the room, or if someone is criticizing me and I don't want to hear it.

I think we're losing the art of helping each other grow with constructive feedback because being nasty is easier.

I agree with you completely. I had to cut many people out of my life over the years, even family members. What upset me the most about some family members is that they were very judgmental. If things were not done a certain way, you were looked down upon. I always felt like the black sheep. I have an open mind and try to not believe others need to do as I do. I do what I want to. Why should we judge? Who is to say our way is right or wrong?

Family had butted in to anything I did. Any house we bought was not good enough. My husband and I started with nothing. Everything we have we worked hard for. Nothing was handed to us. So our first apartment was "in a bad area" so they thought. We were by no means in a bad area, just not as good of an area as they lived in. Our first house, they visited before we bought and had so many negative things to say. It was not like "their new homes." It needed work, so what.

Why judge others? Why look down on people? Why think your way is right? I do not get it. I think people that judge are very close minded and cruel. I may have pushed many people out of my life. But I am happy to report that I have raised my kids with open mindedness. They feel comfortable being themselves and not judging others. It is just sad.

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I think it depends on the style of criticism. Personally, I want to see my own faults so that I can improve. If someone is criticizing to avoid viewing their own imperfections, then that's obviously not a positive thing.

Wallowing in negativity can be positive in certain circumstances. It can allow you to vent, and it can also allow you to get a complete understanding of a bad situation before deciding what to do about it. However, once you're done, you should definitely make some changes so you don't continue to go around in circles.

Getting negative people out of your life is understandable. I don't think there's really anything wrong with your viewpoint at this time. If people aren't constructive, kick them out. You have goals to meet and the last thing you need is someone who is in your way.