# How would you interpret the term critical? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 28, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-interpret-the-term-critical/825211 "2018-11-28T15:51:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-interpret-the-term-critical/825211/21 "2018-11-29T13:55:59Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I was recently asked to provide feedback to a peer, that was done through a set of survey questions. One of the questions, IMHO, was poorly worded. It asked: > > Is this person critical? > > One could interpret this question in two ways. Does this person make disapproving comments or judgements? or Is this person vital to the company’s mission? > > I chose the former interpretation. > > How would you have interpreted? I would have picked the former as well as the latter would require some qualification. Although… depending on the context, I might not see being critical as a negative. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-interpret-the-term-critical/825211/22 "2018-11-29T14:21:13Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > This is difficult. You said a “peer,” so I take it that this is not a person you’re in some way supervising? “Peer” in the business world generally indicates someone on the same level, for instance if I am a director then my peers are the other directors. A supervisory relationship is usually noted by referring to the folks as reports/direct reports/directs. In any case, I would ask for clarity before answering, as the word “critical” has at least 3 distinct definitions that could apply - disparages others, thinks judiciously, is indispensable. I doubt the other common uses - danger of death or of sufficient mass to sustain a reaction - would come into play in this case, but one never knows. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-interpret-the-term-critical/825211/23 "2018-11-29T14:34:45Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > … > One could interpret this question in two ways. Does this person make disapproving comments or judgements? or Is this person vital to the company’s mission? > … I would read it as the former and I’m fairly confident that’s how it was meant. I would agree, however, that it could have been worded better to avoid confusion. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-interpret-the-term-critical/825211/24 "2018-11-29T21:31:26Z")
This was a standardized survey developed by a third party. This was not part of a performance review, but part of a leadership development program. I provided feedback on the question to the company that generated the survey, indicating that it was poorly worded in my opinion. - - I also indicated the third possible interpretation, that the individual could be in dire need of medical attention. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2018, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-interpret-the-term-critical/825211/25 "2018-11-30T02:30:44Z")
Vital to the company’s mission is the best guess. We don’t know what people are thinking or not, so someone could be critical without actually critisizing. How would we know? Poor question in any case. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-interpret-the-term-critical/825211.md?page=1)