My. We seem to have some real hardcases on this board.
If I read a piece, and I like the piece, and I don't have any specific criticism about the piece, I will simply post that I read and enjoyed it, as an acknowledgment that I did in fact read and enjoy it.
I will not complain if others do the same for me.
Of course, I'd prefer some sort of constructive criticism; that's why we're all here, to become better... but if one simply has none to offer, an acknowledgment that one read/understood/appreciated/enjoyed the piece is fine with me.
I'm not going to be like, "If you can't say something negative, then keep your damn mouth shut!"
Nobody here has said that.
But most people want a thoughtful critique that has something to say beyond, "That was nice." Especially after they've spent time giving others in-depth comments. It's a bit one-sided.
Shelley
I think you have to take the comments you get and be glad you got any at all.
It does feel unfair to put more work into things than another does, but in what arena of life is that sort of unbalanced exchange not the norm? If we weren't okay with the very solid chance that would happen, we wouldn't write in-depth crits in the first place.
When I'm critting, I'm doing it because I think of it as a service to the community as a whole, including new members I might never have seen if they hadn't found a vibrant community rather than people being parsimonious with their help. If someone irks me, I'm no saint; I'll become less interested in helping them. But I'm not looking for a very even exchange. That's not the way most people work. People are largely selfish and will take more than they give. That's life. Some of them, though, shown a little generosity, become less selfish, maybe even generous themselves. If we don't set an example ourselves, though, why should they?
Some people don't have the skill or knowledge to contribute to every different writer or style or genre, either. So they help where they can, which may be not much. Seems fair to me. Maybe they help more elsewhere, or will contribute more in time.
For myself, I make a lot of detailed crits but also find it's quality as much as quantity of crit work that counts. Sometimes you can point out a single quite important thing and be gone, leaving the author (and his ego) breathing room to think, and reconsider. Saying something quick and useful and then leaving ample room for others to contribute can also be an artful way to keep from being irritatingly omnipresent and stifling conversation, too.
So I don't try to parse too finely on the crit exchange rate. People do the best they can, or they don't. It's more important that the forum in general participates and keeps growing even as old members leave than that we try to find the few perfect members we can ally ourselves with against the others.
