this post was submitted on 22 Feb 2024
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Please let's all remember that these are child actors, and they are no responsible for the poor writing or direction in the show. We can be sure they have worked extremely hard and poured their lives into this show, and the ones we should be disappointed with are the showrunners.
If the acting is bad, we can be mad at the casting director as well. It doesn't really matter if they're child actors, that doesn't make them immune from being called bad actors. They don't deserve to get dunked on or solely blamed for the show, but let's not pretend they don't play a part in its quality. If they were amazing actors, I'd assume you'd have no issue giving them praise? Why is the opposite not true?
Because they're children dude. Praise does not have harmful psychological consequences. There is no downside to giving a child credit for doing something well. There is tremendous harm in attacking a child over something they did objectively correctly, but inevitably not to the impossible standards of armchair critics whose entire presence on the Internet is built on giving exaggerated and heartless criticism.
Giving praise when it's not warranted can be bad.
It should be shown that there is nothing wrong with doing something poorly, and it gives a chance for constructive criticism. I've always (kindly mind you) helped the creative kids throughout my life by showing them where they can improve and why. Feel like that gives them more agency and respect than a constant "Of course you did great! You always do great!".
Feels good to give praise, but kids pick up on the bs.
Of course don't be cruel, and attack and exaggerate (which I don't think the person you're replying to was suggesting), but be honest. Kids are people and grow in their abilities the same way. Only getting praise is not the way to grow.
That's like saying drinking water can be bad. It's technically true, but not really relevant to this context.
Let the kids family, friends, directors, whatever people are actually involved in those children's lives handle the constructive criticism. The scrutiny these children face is monumental already. There's no reason for some rando online to give unsolicited acting advice to child actors, and we both know that's not even remotely how the vast majority of armchair movie critics are going to express their opinions.