Lern2Constructive Criticism - A Guide, ver. 2.1
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:17 am
It seems that a large majority of our new forumites come in with little or no idea on how to post constructive criticism. In an effort to better educate our community members, both new and old, and to encourage a better, more intellectually-driven atmosphere within the Custom Ships section of the forum, I have written a guide on how to post constructive criticism.
-----------------------Guide Begins Here------------------------------------------------------------------
What is constructive criticism? Constructive criticism is a comment that points out something wrong with something (usually a ship, in the case of this forum), with the intent of enabling the creation a better product.
As constructive criticism can look like an insult, care should be taken in both writing and reading it. An all too common cause of flamewars is someone misinterpreting a perfectly valid critique for an unprovoked attack on a creator of a ship (at least in this forum).
One of the common mistakes that can lead to such a misinterpretation is to not be clear enough on what is wrong with something. Always state exactly what you feel is wrong with something when posting constructive criticism. Saying "I don't like your ship" is not constructive criticism. It's barely criticism at all. Saying "I don't like those engine glows" is better.
But then there's something else. Note that it's called constructive criticism. Outright criticism has it's uses, but it's the constructive part that is usually missed. Take "I don't like those engine glows". What was failed to mention is why you don't like those engine glows. When posting a constructive criticism, it is important that you also state the underlying reason why you don't like something. "I don't like those engine glows because green doesn't fit in with the rest of the ship."
The final component of constructive criticism is posting an alternative. This is not necessary, but posting an alternative helps the creator to know how he/she can improve. Without this, constructive criticism has little use. "I don't like those engine glows because the green doesn't fit in with the rest of the ship. I would suggest you change it to purple, since it goes better with the blue".
"I don't like your ship" goes to "I don't like those engine glows because the green doesn't fit in with the rest of the ship. I would suggest you change it to purple, since it goes better with the blue". The former would start a flame war, the latter make the community respect you more.
See how much of a difference this makes? It's because knowing is half the battle. Or maybe a quarter. Possibly an eighth.
-----------------------New Update------------------------------------------------------------------
It seems that though the basics of constructive criticism are appreciated on this forum, the details are not. Thus is the purpose of ver 2.0
-----------------------Guide Begins Here------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that you have amassed enough knowledge to beat cobra commando... err... forum ignorance, it's time you began your second lesson. Constructive criticism has its finer points, some of which are so often missed.
Use only relevant examples, and explain them thoroughly. Saying "I don't like those engine glows because the green doesn't fit in with the rest of the ship. I would suggest you change it to purple, since it goes better with the blue" does have its merits, but if you give an example of a ship with red glows on a green ship, people will have doubts about your intelligence and the validity of your critique.
Do NOT gratify yourself with no cause. Saying 'look at my ships, they're prettier' is grounds for a warning if you do it often enough (it's called thread derailment, and being a general idiot). Unless if your ship has completely relevant details and is the best, or one of the best ships in your opinion to illustrate your point, do not bring them up.
[rant]
Constructive criticism is for one purpose, and one purpose only. To provide constructive. criticism. about. the. topic. you. are. discussing. I'm totally super-cereal. If you wish to make a sweeping argument about someone in your constructive criticism, then you are a whiny bastard. Come on. Be a man and make your own thread about it. Don't derail a ship thread just because you don't have the temperance to get over yourself and appreciate what is being discussed. The Custom Ships forum is a CUSTOM SHIPS FORUM. My fucking god. Leave your outside biases, OUTSIDE. If you don't like how someone acts, please kindly discuss it in our general nonsense forum, 3 links down. I may be a bit abrasive in this part (which is why rant tags surround it), but come on. You can't expect to blatantly attack someone and not expect them to attack back.
[/rant]
Lastly, remember that there are other people on the forums. It is not a one on one conversation. People can, and will react to your critique. If you are writing something stupid, you will be called stupid, regardless of who you are talking to.
-----------------------Guide Begins Here------------------------------------------------------------------
What is constructive criticism? Constructive criticism is a comment that points out something wrong with something (usually a ship, in the case of this forum), with the intent of enabling the creation a better product.
As constructive criticism can look like an insult, care should be taken in both writing and reading it. An all too common cause of flamewars is someone misinterpreting a perfectly valid critique for an unprovoked attack on a creator of a ship (at least in this forum).
One of the common mistakes that can lead to such a misinterpretation is to not be clear enough on what is wrong with something. Always state exactly what you feel is wrong with something when posting constructive criticism. Saying "I don't like your ship" is not constructive criticism. It's barely criticism at all. Saying "I don't like those engine glows" is better.
But then there's something else. Note that it's called constructive criticism. Outright criticism has it's uses, but it's the constructive part that is usually missed. Take "I don't like those engine glows". What was failed to mention is why you don't like those engine glows. When posting a constructive criticism, it is important that you also state the underlying reason why you don't like something. "I don't like those engine glows because green doesn't fit in with the rest of the ship."
The final component of constructive criticism is posting an alternative. This is not necessary, but posting an alternative helps the creator to know how he/she can improve. Without this, constructive criticism has little use. "I don't like those engine glows because the green doesn't fit in with the rest of the ship. I would suggest you change it to purple, since it goes better with the blue".
"I don't like your ship" goes to "I don't like those engine glows because the green doesn't fit in with the rest of the ship. I would suggest you change it to purple, since it goes better with the blue". The former would start a flame war, the latter make the community respect you more.
See how much of a difference this makes? It's because knowing is half the battle. Or maybe a quarter. Possibly an eighth.
-----------------------New Update------------------------------------------------------------------
It seems that though the basics of constructive criticism are appreciated on this forum, the details are not. Thus is the purpose of ver 2.0
-----------------------Guide Begins Here------------------------------------------------------------------
Now that you have amassed enough knowledge to beat cobra commando... err... forum ignorance, it's time you began your second lesson. Constructive criticism has its finer points, some of which are so often missed.
Use only relevant examples, and explain them thoroughly. Saying "I don't like those engine glows because the green doesn't fit in with the rest of the ship. I would suggest you change it to purple, since it goes better with the blue" does have its merits, but if you give an example of a ship with red glows on a green ship, people will have doubts about your intelligence and the validity of your critique.
Do NOT gratify yourself with no cause. Saying 'look at my ships, they're prettier' is grounds for a warning if you do it often enough (it's called thread derailment, and being a general idiot). Unless if your ship has completely relevant details and is the best, or one of the best ships in your opinion to illustrate your point, do not bring them up.
[rant]
Constructive criticism is for one purpose, and one purpose only. To provide constructive. criticism. about. the. topic. you. are. discussing. I'm totally super-cereal. If you wish to make a sweeping argument about someone in your constructive criticism, then you are a whiny bastard. Come on. Be a man and make your own thread about it. Don't derail a ship thread just because you don't have the temperance to get over yourself and appreciate what is being discussed. The Custom Ships forum is a CUSTOM SHIPS FORUM. My fucking god. Leave your outside biases, OUTSIDE. If you don't like how someone acts, please kindly discuss it in our general nonsense forum, 3 links down. I may be a bit abrasive in this part (which is why rant tags surround it), but come on. You can't expect to blatantly attack someone and not expect them to attack back.
[/rant]
Lastly, remember that there are other people on the forums. It is not a one on one conversation. People can, and will react to your critique. If you are writing something stupid, you will be called stupid, regardless of who you are talking to.