What is the definition of "complaining"?

[bluestateguy]

Is it complaining to simply say that it is hot outside, or that it is cold outside? Or that this is hard work?

Is it complaining to simply state an incontrovertible fact, as in you are at a restaurant and you say that you ordered your food 45 minutes ago?

I know, the tone of your voice matters a lot, as does your facial expressions.

I ask this because I had this one elementary school teacher who always accused me of "complaining" when all I was doing was stating a fact like "it's hot outside" (in a very neutral tone of voice).

"Stop complaining!" she would squawk at me.

Or one other time I remember I said very politely that one of my textbooks had torn pages."If you're going to complain then you can just go sit on time out!" She barked at me.

The day I left that classroom on the last day of school was the happiest day of my life.

[defacto7]

1. What's wrong with complaining either way?

She probably came from a time or culture where people had less to live on and had to "make do". Those people lose the subtle difference between stating fact and complaining because of their own experiences.

In any case, I don't see complaining as a problem as long as the complainer can put up with the outcome.

[democratisphere]

2. That's NOT complaining......

It's a classic case of BITCHING! "The day I left that classroom on the last day of school was the happiest day of my life." No wonder!