The issue I have is with people calling a complaint criticism. Real criticism takes as much creativity as making a story and it requires reasoning to back it up.
Saying "I don't like that bit" doesn't take intelligence, its a feeling. A matter of taste and personal to that person.
Telling people why that bit is out of place or could be made to fit in the narrative, requires knowledge and the ability to use the structure laid out by the creator and work within it. That to me is valued criticism.
The internet is full of people that *Don't like that bit* and love to tell everyone about it. As I type a lot, I open my self up to plenty of opportunities to miss even the adequate mark. If I can't take people pointing that out, then I shouldn't post. Fortunately, I know I'm no Charles Dickens. I write because I enjoy it and (I hope) I like seeing the improvement in my offerings.
The problem is the disparity between negative comments to constructive criticism. For me, the good point well made is as rare as a compliment.
Saying "No offense meant, but your f-in ugly" is offensive. The "No offense" prefix won't change that.
It's the same with most people online defining their opinion with "Its constructive criticism"
What they say mostly brakes down to "That's crappy and now you must be grateful I told you it is crap, and improve"
I gladly ignore them. A good point well made gets my full attention.
Hehe
Maybe I could make a living criticising the value of critics' reviews.
