Now I haven’t posted much on forums but being an artist by profession I know how to give criticism to creative people without discouraging them. When someone posts a picture of something they have done and say they want feedback, most of the time they usually want positive feedback. After reading lots of posts on various forums, I can honestly say that most of us need some improvement in this department. To say that some of the posts come across as being elitist and cruel is an understatement, even if that is not the intent. Here are some phrases that I learned while in art school and being exposed to critiques.
Usually start with a positive comment even if you hate everything about the subject being shown. Something like; Good start, here is what I would do to improve. Ask questions why the person chose to do what he or she did.
Not everyone has the financial means to buy the equipment you may own. Especially young model railroaders who are just getting started in the hobby (kids). Try to understand their situation and make suggestions to improve their results quickly so that they stay interested with the hobby.
Having the attitude of “well if you don’t have a thick skin then you shouldn’t post pictures” is unacceptable in my opinion. Everyone has a right to show what they have done and be proud of their efforts and every effort has merit. If you can’t find it, then you’re not looking hard enough and maybe you shouldn’t being giving advice.
I think there is a lot of talented people here that have a lot of useful and valid information to share. A liitle kindness in our posts goes a long way. Just some food for thought.
As a professional musician who has been called upon very frequently to also be a music Adjudicator, I couldn’t agree with you more. Especially about your #1 point. There is always something positive to find in any attempt, and it’s always more constructive to begin with the positives. Not only for the person being adjudicated, but also their response to the adjudication AND the adjudicator.
“I like your overall concept” (then list the strengths). Okay, you might have to really HUNT for some of the overall strengths, but that’s your job as to what is being presented to you. That’s what Adjudicating is all about. Then after stating the strengths, then delve into what YOU think could be improved. Don’t throw out blanket assessments as if they are from some kind of Universal Power. And statements like “That’s really crappy,” or “You obviously don’t know what you’re doing” only prove that the person making that statement has no right to be adjudicating in the first place, simply because they haven’t learned HOW to criticize. Criticism in itself is an Art Form. Learn HOW to criticize before you put fingers to keyboard.
One of the best Adjudications I ever attended was a Master Class by the world-famous pianist John Browning. One of the young pianists, obviously shaken by the idea of playing for Mr. Browning, made a major mess of his performance. After the performance, Mr. Browning stepped up to the student, and with a smile, began with “I think you have a good concept of what you want to accomplish with this work,” and took him patiently step by step through the piece, showing the student where a phrase or a pedalling could be utilized. Not: “You’re doing it wrong, it’s supposed to be THIS way,” but rather, “Here’s an idea about this passage, try and and see what you think.” Af
IF I don’t have a positive thing to say then I won’t post since I refuse to criticize some body’s else’s modeling since I do not know their age,skills,if they lack skills or like me having a disability that hinders their modeling…
Off course my favorite line is:As food for thought or If I may, if I think a suggestion will help.Its up to the poster if they want to follow my suggestion or not…
Tom, you a very wise man indeed. I look at criticism like teaching; what you are trying to do is teach the person (techniques, suggestions of materials, examples of other work, etc.) while you are conducting the critique.
That’s why I brought it up, so that we are all better teachers and students.
Great points and I agree. However, as someone who’s been around this forum for a while, I think your suggestions are going to fall on deaf ears to those that really need to take them to heart. Rudeness and arrogance have been always been a part of things here, and (sadly) will always be.
I’ve seen many similar appeals and it only seems to embolden these harsh critics. I guess you can chalk it up to the boldness any forum tends to bring out in people due to it’s anonymous nature. I often wonder if these people would really say the same things they write to someones face (and expect to get away with it).
You’re completely missing my point. A critique doesn’t have to be black or white (i.e., “that’s horrible - WTF” or “I love it”). A proper critique should be shades of gray. Temper the “truth” by asking questions like “why did you use construction paper for decals?” or “why did you brush paint that locomotive?”. Find out what the person was thinking before just launching in with some blistering comment. Holy cow man, what if your wife comes out and says “honey does this dress make me look fat?” According to your logic, if it does make her look fat, then she deserves to hear that because she asked. Same goes for your kid’s scribblings from school - Do you berate them too? Oh pardon me, it’s not berating, it’s just the Truth that it sucks. Nonsense!
This topic has proven to be contentious in the past, but I haven’t found since the last time we hashed this out that blunt and unfriendly, or useless, criticism has been a problem on this forum. So, I am going to lock this.
The point is well taken; there are artful and kind, nurturing, and encouraging ways to point out all the flaws in a person’s processes or outcomes. Those who don’t give a fig will never give a fig, but if they find a way to act nicely anyway, which I think is largely how it has gone since about two years ago, I don’t think we should drag this subject out into the open.
This is the way I see it:
A. Criticism can be about things wrong and things write.
B. Giving criticism so that it is palatable is only easy if your personality allows you to do it. Some people here would rather eat a hobo’s underwear than say something positive about anyone’s works.
C. People who ask for feedback should be prepared to get some less than enthusiastic judgements, although I agree with our OP that too often people are really hoping for big thumbs-up. If we all want some integrity and honesty, then we should accept what we get, even if it is entirely bad.
D. I think we have come a long way from the puerile criticism that polluted our forum just two short years ago. Except for isolated incidents, and none of which have resulted in complaints to the mods as of yet, they are a thing of the past. The only exceptions may be in the form of Private Messages, which is probably the better way to deal with this subject than on WPF threads or others where the poster doesn’t expressly invite criticism in his own thread.
E. Let’s agree that it doesn’t cost us anything except some effort and some good will to point out the good things a person has done b