Positive Community Mentality

I have noticed a trend in recent years for skilled software developers to criticize and point out problems with software, software development practices, and trends in the community technically. I agree with many, while others not so much.

It seems to me that such commentary and discussions are fruitless and destructive. Their purpose seems to be to get a feeling of annoyance off the chest of the poster, and less about constructive criticism or improvement of the community.

There are clearly problems with many software projects, with many development teams, and many methods of creating software. Despite this, complaining about things does not seem useful. If something is bad, is it not more meaningful to create something good to replace the thing that is bad? If people are doing bad things, should we not lead by example and create better things?

Please understand I am not adding on to the bunch and criticizing people who criticize. What I am asking is if there is really any meaningful point to constantly attack what people do and how they do it. Am I off base in thinking any energy complaining should be spent figuring out better ways?

To continue this notion, I would like to see people applauding things they see that are done well. It would be great to me if people not connected to a software project pick it up, find it interesting, and provide commentary on how things are helpful for them.

There seems to be a large group of developers, skilled ones at that, who are grouchy people who wish for the "good old days". Whatever days those were are gone now. All we have is the days in front of us. I for one would like to see a 2015 year where the whole community here is more positive overall.