Constructive Criticism vs. Being a Dick
Okay. So the weirdest thing happened to me the other day and I needed time to actually process it before I made a post. I get the feeling I’m about to open a can of worms but I feel this needs to be addressed. Someone contacted me (they shall remain nameless because I don’t want to start anything) asking me to stop posting reader inserts because I was ‘devaluing the fandom’ as they put it. They actually had the decency to come off of anon in a private message so I had to admire this person’s bravery. I asked this person why they were being such a jerk (...okay, I actually said ‘why are you being a dickface’ but besides the point) they commented that they were just giving me ‘constructive criticism’.
And this got me thinking-what actually is constructive criticism?
I went ahead and googled it out of curiosity and what I got was: Often containing helpful and specific suggestions for positive change, constructive criticism is highly focused on a particular issue or set of issues, as opposed to providing general feedback on the item or organization as a whole.
I want to go back and look at this particular bit of information: positive change.
I guess some people making a suggestion to quit reader inserts and/or OC’s would be considered a ‘positive change’. Because obviously, they believe that reader inserts is a bad thing, though to be honest, I’m not really sure why. I’ve seen people say it’s because they never portray the reader correctly (uh, there are millions of people in this world, excuse me for not portraying EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. YOU.) I’ve seen people say it’s not true authentic to the fandom...I’m sorry but what the fuck does that even mean? This person refused to evaluate on what ‘devaluing the fandom meant’ but I have to assume this person meant that the fandom was losing value...yet, how is some fanfiction, that the creators, voice actors or anyone who actually participated in the game will most likely never see, devaluing the fandom? Is the game losing sales because someone shipped an OC with Ignis and the OC happened to look similar to the author and therefore, this author is the scum of the earth and we must hate this person because he/she ships themself with Ignis? Are people leaving the fandom because of all the inserts and it’s causing it to lose value that way?
First of all, I must address this-to me, a fandom isn’t some exclusive club that you have to have specific requirements to join. In my opinion, you don’t have to actually finish the FFXV game in order to be apart of the fandom. Telling someone they shouldn’t be in the fandom or should quit doing certain things in the fandom is kind of like telling a girl she can’t be a gamer because she’s a girl or she shouldn’t buy these certain games because ‘she’s a girl and girls don’t like those games’.
Second of all, I must address this person’s argument. ‘Constructive Criticism’. Constructive Criticism is a lot of things, but I like to think the gist is that it’s when someone tells you something negative about your work to help you improve your work. It’s usually a benefit to you and not to anyone else (though there are those that argue it’s for the benefit of everyone around you, such as suggesting a nursing mother to cover up to benefit peace of mind to those around her-I disagree with that because I feel constructive criticism is mostly for your benefit and no one else’s). I have regularly scheduled evaluations at my work where I am given constructive criticism, so that I know what areas I need to improve in and I can be better in those areas. Is telling me that I should quit doing something I love improving my work or benefiting myself? Not really, it’s just making you seem like you’re trying to tell me what to do and boss me around and it’s making you look like a jerk. A dickface, even.
Confession time: there are some bloggers in this fandom on tumblr that I can’t stand and I think are very overrated (and if one of my followers/followees is thinking ‘oh my god is she talking about me?’ rest easy, these bloggers don’t even know I exist). I could just tell them that I think they’re overrated and that they should stop doing what they’re doing or even change it. That’s expressing myself and giving them constructive criticism, correct?
Except is it constructive criticism? I will give two examples of constructive criticism towards, for example, a piece of fan art. Tell me which you think is constructive criticism that benefits the artist and tells them where they need to improve in their work.
Example 1. I like your art, but I think the nose is kind of wonky looking.
Example 2. I don’t like this character, you should draw someone else.
(but what if the nose is supposed to look like that, you may say? It’s just an example, calm down)
When you give constructive criticism, are you telling this to benefit the work of the person receiving your criticism or are you trying to benefit yourself?
I think that’s the real heart and soul of constructive criticism. Who the criticism benefits tells you if it’s constructive or not. That’s just one fanfic author’s humble opinion.
And for those who receive constructive criticism that you don’t necessarily agree with: there’s this tidbit of advice for you that most people don’t usually tell you-you don’t have to take the person’s advice. If you think the criticism is bullshit, that’s totally fine. You are a free person and you can do what you want with your work, whether it’s fanfiction, fan art or stocking shelves at a grocery store.
Word of advice though, if your job’s bosses are giving you constructive criticism, it might be best to listen to them. But that’s just my own constructive criticism-I’m trying to help you improve your work at whatever job it is you’re at. Whether you take it or not is up to you :)
Now that I feel like my inspirational speech at a business college is done, I’m gonna take the longest, hottest fucking bubble bath.
