One of the things I always find very curious about life is the competitive nature of people. For example, people that are involved in the same sort of thing or lifestyle or whatever, quite often, in place of supporting those individuals who follow a similar life path, instead, they insult, denigrate, and try to bring down those other participants and/or organizations. This has, of course, been rampant in the martial arts, as far back as I can remember. And, I would imagine, that this has taken place throughout time, one teacher, one school, or one system against another. But why?
 
You know, from the point I opened my first martial arts studio, and even before, way back in the way back when, I would hear stories of people or other studio owners saying bad things about myself, my martial arts tradition, the teacher who taught me, my students, and all of that kind of nonsense. In fact, it seems that from time immemorial a certain mind-type of martial artists would talk trash about everyone else—anyone who wasn't from their style, from their school, trained under their teachers, or someone who had achieved something that they had not. But, when it all came down to the truth of the truth, what they were saying was all completely false.
 
Personally, I never let myself get involved in that kind of stuff. It’s just wrong! It doesn’t help the art(s) in any way! All it does is to convolute the truth, and the true benefits that the martial arts have to offer. In fact, I was always just the opposite. When somebody would come to me from another school, thinking that they wanted to learn a different system or learn what we had to teach, I would always suggest that they go back and discuss that with their own teacher. Then, if they did, and they still wanted to transition, I was happy to take them on as a student. But, only after I was sure that all things were set right and made honorable. And, I think that’s the main point of all this; honor.
 
Certainly, I’ve seen this in the film industry, as well. Like I have long detailed, what is the number one rule of filmmaking? The number one rule of filmmaking is, everybody lies. They lie about all levels of their production, what they have done, what they can and can’t do, their budget, who’s attached to their project, their storyline, the greatness of whatever it is they’re creating. Plus, whomever they can insult and take down to make themselves appear somehow higher in the process. It’s all based on a bunch of bullshit. Because, the fact of the fact is, it all comes down to the finished product. But, this being said, and even more to the point, that does not mean that an individual should attack another filmmaker simply based on what they do or do not like.
 
This is why I’ve always questioned the profession of film criticism—particularly those who focus on the low or the no budget genre. You’re either supporting something, or you’re not. And, what does it do, what betterness does it create, if you are insulting somebody, or trying to bring them or their project down? By doing this, all you are doing is hurting the overall industry on the whole; period. You’re not helping the filmmaking community. You’re not helping the low or independent filmmaking professionals. Maybe you’re hurting the individual you’re insulting or their project. But, what does that really equal? Does that make you a better person because you can insult them? I think not. I think that just shows that you’re operating from a very low level of human understanding.
 
Now, I’m just using the martial arts and the film industry as examples because I’m obviously deeply involved in and with both of them. And, I’ve had a lot of experience with this kind of mindset. But, all this being said, I’m really addressing this to the greater humanity as a whole. The question you must ask yourself is how is what you are saying making anything any better? Not just for yourself, because if it’s just for yourself, then that’s a very selfish act and you should really rethink your drink. What I am questioning is how, on the greater whole, is what you are saying affecting the larger understanding of knowledge? Does your criticizing or insulting make anyone’s anything any better? Does it help the greater whole of the industry you are talking about? Does it truly make you any better? Does it truly make anything any better? My belief is that the answer to these question is, no. Criticism is only that. It never makes anything any better.
 
So, the next time you’re thinking about saying something, in whatever venue you have, large or small, you really need to reflect on what you’re about to enact. Because if what you’re enacting, if what you’re saying is creating any form of negativity in whatever realm you’re discussing, nothing has been made any better; period. All you have done is made yourself look bad and made the entire everything of whatever you’re talking about brought down to a lower level.