.jpg)
Research Provided By:
American Psychological Association / Professional Services & Consulting
I get tired of seeing know-nothing armchair critics post bad things about my very talented musician friends, and my friends who are in the show business world on social media platforms!
Here are my thoughts, and the thoughts from psychology professionals and doctors about this abnormal behavior.
Every musician who’s ever posted a killer clip, a glowing review, or a packed‑house photo knows the pattern: the better the performance, the louder the know‑nothing critics get. These aren’t industry pros, fellow musicians, or even informed fans. They’re armchair commentators who contribute nothing yet feel compelled to tear down people who are actually doing the work really well!
So why do they do it? The answer is a mix of psychology, insecurity, and the strange incentives of social media.
🎠1. Excellence Exposes Insecurity
Great performers trigger something uncomfortable in people who’ve never taken a risk, never stepped on a stage, and never put their talent on display. When someone sees a musician thriving, it highlights their own lack of achievement. Instead of being inspired, they lash out.
Criticism becomes a shield — a way to pretend they’re above the thing they’re actually afraid to try.
📱 2. Social Media Rewards Negativity
Platforms amplify comments that spark reactions, and negativity spreads faster than praise. Armchair critics know this instinctively. A snarky jab or dismissive comment gets attention, replies, and engagement.
For someone who has no real voice or audience, stirring up conflict becomes their only way to feel relevant.
🪞 3. They Mistake Opinion for Expertise
The internet has blurred the line between having a thought and having knowledge. Many critics genuinely believe their uninformed opinion carries the same weight as years of training, rehearsal, and live performance experience.
They don’t understand the craft — but they’re convinced they do.
🎤 4. They Want the Power Without the Work
Performers earn their spotlight through sweat, discipline, and vulnerability. Critics want the feeling of authority without any of the responsibility. Commenting is easy. Creating is hard.
Tearing down someone else’s work gives them a temporary illusion of superiority.
🧩 5. They Don’t See the Human Being Behind the Art
Distance makes cruelty easier. When a musician is just a face on a screen, critics forget they’re talking to a real person with real effort behind every note. The lack of empathy fuels comments they would never say in person to their face!
⭐ The Truth: Their Comments Say Nothing About the Performer
Toxic know-nothing critics don’t reveal flaws in the artist — they reveal flaws in themselves. Great performers keep growing, keep playing, keep winning crowds. Armchair critics stay exactly where they are: on the sidelines, shouting into the void.
The best musicians know this: the louder the critics get, the more your work is reaching people. And nothing frustrates a toxic know-nothing commenter more than seeing an artist succeed anyway.
{My Take}
In the end, toxic know-nothing armchair critics aren’t a threat to real talent — they’re background noise. Great performers keep creating, keep improving, and keep winning over real fans, while the know‑nothings stay stuck in the comment section, shouting into the void. The smartest artists understand this simple truth: criticism from the unqualified is just proof that your work is reaching people who could never do what you do. Let them talk — you’ve got a stage to own!
Gary England
