History Main / ConstructiveCriticism

''Lennier''': If not for yours, then who elses?\\
'''Delenn''': You could've got him killed."\\

* ''Series/BabylonFive'' In "Recap/BabylonFiveS03E19GreySeventeenIsMissing'' Delenn tells Lennier that Marcus never should've been allowed to fight the Minbari warrior Neroon on his own for her sake. Lennier criticizes her by saying that in the upcoming war against the Shadows some would have to suffer injury or even death to allow a greater number of people to live.

-->'''Lennier''': If not for yours, then who elses?\\
-->'''Delenn''': You could've got him killed."\\
-->'''Lennier''': Delenn, all we know is that we will die. It's only a matter of how, when and whether or not it is with honor. He did what any of us would've done. Respectfully, Delenn, I think this is the one thing about your position you do not yet understand. You cherish life, life is your goal. But for the greater part to live, some must die, or be harmed in its defense, and yours. There is no other way.

--->'''Delenn''': This should never have been allowed to happen, not for my sake.\\
--->'''Lennier''': If not for yours, then who elses?\\
--->'''Delenn''': You could've got him killed."\\
--->'''Lennier''': Delenn, all we know is that we will die. It's only a matter of how, when and whether or not it is with honor. He did what any of us would've done. Respectfully, Delenn, I think this is the one thing about your position you do not yet understand. You cherish life, life is your goal. But for the greater part to live, some must die, or be harmed in its defense, and yours. There is no other way.

[[caption-width-right:350:[-[[https://twitter.com/tomgauld/status/1439893566373912576 Art]] by Tom Gauld.-]]]

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[[quoteright:349:[[Webcomic/ElGoonishShive https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/criticism.png]]]]

While flames are designed to [[KickTheDog put people down]], constructive criticism is meant to help an artist improve his/her work. It's rarely shown in fiction, but it is vital to the growth of an artist or writer.

You'll notice that most people don't actually ''understand'' the concept of Constructive Criticism. As you'll probably learn if you take a college-level creative writing course, one of the most ''important'' things about Constructive Criticism is don't rewrite the work to [[OpinionMyopia suit your own desires]]. The point is to make it into something that ''[[TargetAudience the intended audience]]'' will like. This is actually one of the ''biggest'' things that people need to learn about being constructive, because it is not very constructive to try to suggest the author to write a work into something that ''you'' want to enjoy, or to review it based upon what ''you'' think it could have been. You will notice this as a trend in people who are members of the PeripheryHatedom, especially if they have a BiasSteamroller, and those with extreme FanMyopia.

'''Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly'''

'''No examples, please. We're just defining the term. But any wicks must be [[Administrivia/InUniverseExamplesOnly In-Universe Only]].'''

You'll notice that most people don't actually ''understand'' the concept of Constructive Criticism. As you'll probably learn if you take a college-level creative writing course, one of the most ''important'' things about Constructive Criticism is don't rewrite the work to [[OpinionMyopia suit your own desires]]. The point is to make it into something that ''[[TargetAudience the intended audience]]'' will like. This is actually one of the ''biggest'' things that people need to learn about being constructive, because it is not very constructive to try to suggest the author to write a work into something that ''you'' want to enjoy. You will notice this as a trend in people who are members of the PeripheryHatedom, especially if they have a BiasSteamroller, and those with extreme FanMyopia.

One method of giving Constructive Criticism is the "Feedback sandwich" method. You begin by saying what the person did right, then delve into what they need to improve on, and finish off with a comment on what else they are doing right, often including comments on why it works. The "Bread" are the compliments, while the filling is the criticism, and you often season it with explanations as to why you come to the conclusion you did. This method works because starting off with the criticism is often what leads to people instinctively taking it as a form of attack, and/or feeling like they did ''nothing'' right. Starting off with an observation on what they ''are'' doing right lets them know that you do respect them, and in turn makes them far more open to listening to you when you point out the flaws or shortcomings. Finishing it off with another comment on what they did right also leaves a better taste in their mouth. It has been proven that when people are "proven wrong" so to speak, it often triggers the fight-or-flight response - the "Feedback sandwich" method helps to mitigate this by letting them know what they did right and that you are there to help.

* On the opposing spectrum, [[DamnedByFaintPraise framing criticism as compliment]], [[PassiveAggressiveKombat feigned politeness]], and CondescendingCompassion are the hallmarks of the equally bad CompassionateCritic. The envelope is different, but the [[NotSoDifferent message is the same]].

Unfortunately, finding criticism is rather hard in the internet age. It's easy to ''get'' criticism on the internet, but when it's mixed with the {{GIFT}}, people will often take that as an opportunity to act like a complete dick and call it criticism. If someone walked up to you and asked you for critique and you gave a very rude-sounding critique, then they won't ask you again and you won't get to critique anything. On the internet, there's loads ''loads'' more random people and works to critique, especially since you can find it anytime you want.

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/ElGoonishShive https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/criticism.png]]]]

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[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/ElGoonishShive https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/20100216_kq6j.png]]]]

->"Okay, I've read your script, and I have a few things to say about it. It needs work, but you've got something going here. I wasn't impressed by the car chases, but those aren't my thing. But I do know that cheesy one-liners aren't really done anymore, unless you're spoofing those kinds of movies, and this isn't a parody. I did like the romance scenes. You should probably expand that relationship. These kind of movies don't do relationships well, and this would help your movie stand out."

->"Okay, I've read your script, and I have a few things to say about it. It needs work, but you've got something going here. I wasn't impressed by the car chases, but those aren't my thing. But I do know that [[BondOneLiner cheesy one-liners]] aren't really done anymore, unless you're [[AffectionateParody spoofing those kinds of movies]], and this isn't a parody. I did like the romance scenes. You should probably expand that relationship. These kind of movies [[RomanticPlotTumor don't do relationships well]], and this would help your movie stand out."

->"Okay, I've read your script, and it's retarded. You should [[OnlyUsefulAsToiletPaper just use it for toilet paper]]. [[OpinionMyopia Nobody likes car chases anymore]], and your crappy jokes make [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger Arnold]] look like [[Creator/WilliamShakespeare Shakespeare]]. You thought that shit was funny? Oh, the love scenes were good. [[RealMenHateAffection I always knew you were gay]]."