You can almost set your watch by it these days.
Someone shares a bit of good news, celebrates an achievement or announces something positive happening in the community. And before anyone has had much chance to say “nice one!”, along comes the inevitable response.
“Yes, but what about…?”
What about the potholes? What about the money being spent elsewhere? What about something that happened five years ago? What about this, that or the other?
And just like that, something worth celebrating turns into yet another argument.
I’ve noticed it more and more, particularly on social media, and I do wonder why we seem to find it so difficult to acknowledge something good without immediately looking for something bad to throw into the conversation, however completely irrelevant.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with asking questions. In fact, it’s what we do for a living here at the Gazette. Those in positions of responsibility should be challenged, decisions should be scrutinised and legitimate concerns deserve answers.
But there’s a difference between constructive criticism and simply changing the subject because you have a grievance about something else.
If somebody has worked hard to improve a public space, does the fact that another area needs attention somehow make that achievement less worthwhile?
If money has been raised for one good cause, does that mean we should criticise those involved because another equally deserving cause needs help?
And if somebody has finally managed to get something done after years of trying, surely it’s possible to congratulate them without immediately producing a list of everything else that hasn’t been achieved?
The trouble with constant whataboutery is that it creates a rather miserable atmosphere in which nothing is ever quite good enough.
Every success comes with a qualification and every positive story becomes another opportunity to complain.
And that must be pretty disheartening for those who are actually getting on and doing things, often in their own time and for no reward.
I’m not suggesting we should ignore the problems around us or stop holding people to account. Far from it.
There’s plenty that needs improving across our towns and villages, and we’ll continue highlighting those issues.
But we don’t have to drag every single one of them into every conversation.
Perhaps we could all make a little more effort to recognise what’s been achieved before immediately pointing out what hasn’t.
After all, saying “well done” to somebody doesn’t mean you’re suddenly satisfied with everything else in the world.
Sometimes it’s simply the right thing to say.
