Question about critiques

[Yzerbear19]

I have a question for everyone here who posts their layouts on the board. I posted a comment on someone's layout that I felt the paper they used completely overpowered the other elements on the page. They got all upset and sent me a PM that I hurt their feelings and was being mean. I felt that I had offered them a valid, honest critique.

I know that when I post a layout here it is open for critique. Everyone is entitled to share their opinion and some may like what I've done and others may not. They are free to voice those opinions and I always welcome suggestions for improvement. I'm someone who will take that critique and learn from it. I think critiques can be very positive if done right.

So for those who do share their layouts here, what are your thoughts? Do you like some critique? Do you expect only positive responses? Has someone ever offered you a critique that you found helpful?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

If it looks like crap, tell me.

 

[PrincessNancy96]

If there is a lo I share.. I'm usually always asking for feedback..
From what you have said was said.. I would NOT be offend.. Now how you told me my family was ugly or something along that line.. I would have been offended...

 

[Yzerbear19]

If it looks like crap, tell me.

That is the way I feel too BAMB, though I usually don't post the ones I think aren't as good. I just don't understand people who share posts on a message board that are open for comment and expect only positive comments. I was always that kid in class that no one wanted to edit their paper because I would be honest. If it was bad, I let them know and told them how they could improve it. I wasn't one who would just write "good essay" and hand it back if it was bad. If I see something that could be better, I let that person know. Its who I am. I just feel sort of bad that I hurt this person's feelings, but at the same time feel that they need to grow a thicker skin.

 

[hopemax]

I am fine with critiques. How else do you learn? Although, I have seen some places where they just want lots of lots of comments so they can have outside validation of how wonderful they are. And they get all mad because people will look at their layouts and then not comment.

Here it can be a fine line to walk, I am always self conscious about my comments when people post things and ask for comments. Sometimes people are definitely asking for help and opinions, and others I think people just want "backup" that their idea is okay. Like, to use Nancy as an example, when she asked about Teddi Barra, I hemmed and hawed over whether I should say that Teddi is a lighter color brown. I did say it, because she is, but I was all worried how Nancy would react, because it is a type of comment that someone might feel the need to redo their pieces. In the grand scheme of things it's not that big of a deal, because lt brown or darker, Teddi is awfully cute and I love her.

And I wonder about commenting on spelling. It's Aladdin not Alladin. It's ridiculous not rediculous. Those are the two most misspelled words I see, I think.

 

[Kim1964]

And I wonder about commenting on spelling. It's Aladdin not Alladin. It's ridiculous not rediculous. Those are the two most misspelled words I see, I think.

I struggle with this all the time! Someone posted some nice layouts on a site but spelled Cinderella incorrectly, and another posted Las Vegas layouts and spelled Bellagio incorrectly....I didn't comment.

As for critiques, I've never posted one because I am still learning so I feel like I don't know enough yet to critique someone else's work. I wouldn't be offended if someone gave me honest feedback on a layout, though.

 

[Faerie]

I hate when people correct my spelling. My journaling is what I think and about me. I am a horrible speller so if I reverse a couple of letters well then my children and grandchildren (neither of which I have now) will know they that their mother/grandmother couldn't spell worth a darn.

As for style, I welcome comments

 

[Yzerbear19]

I hate when people correct my spelling. My journaling is what I think and about me. I am a horrible speller so if I reverse a couple of letters well then my children and grandchildren (neither of which I have now) will know they that their mother/grandmother couldn't spell worth a darn.

As for style, I welcome comments

That is why I blur out my journaling when I post my layouts! Then no one knows what stupid mistakes I make. I still have to fix the journaling on my Friar Tuck page. I was typing quickly and accidently said Friar Hood at one point. On one of layouts of my brother's wedding I list his wife as Robert instead of Roberta. The sad thing about that one is that no one caught it for several months.

I am fine with critiques. How else do you learn? Although, I have seen some places where they just want lots of lots of comments so they can have outside validation of how wonderful they are. And they get all made because people will look at their layouts and then not comment.

That is definitely what happened here. This persons other layouts have been fantastic. And in the thread everyone else was gushing, but I said what I felt and I was honest. And considering the childish and petty PMs she sent me after I apologized for hurting her feelings I don't feel that bad now. In one of them she told me that I could never view her layouts again. How she would control that on a public board is beyond me. This all from simply saying that I felt the paper overwhelmed the other elements. I will continue to post my honest opinions because that is just the way I am.

I think if you are going to post your work you need to expect that people will critique it. You open yourself up for that when its posted on the Internet.

 

[cissy]

Well, I have only given my opinion on one thing so far. It was a design from one of the fabulous DISigners and she specifically asked for opinions. I also felt she was pretty seasoned and could handle the advice.

I put a lot of my heart into my pages. But I also have pretty thick skin. I would ABSOLUTELY want to know if I spelled something incorrectly. I type pretty fast but not accurately. LOL I think there are people who are just sharing, not looking for critique. Maybe they should just say so. That way posters will know that they are not looking for opinions and then they won't get their feelings hurt.

I will be posting my autograph pages soon. FIRE AWAY!!

 

[Stephres]

I am torn on this one. I would want to know if something I posted looked like crap. Usually I only post the things I am proud of, so I would be surprised if someone totally hated it but it wouldn't hurt my feelings.

I usually try to focus on something specific to comment on when I do make comments and I always try to keep it positive. I don't usually know the person and so I think positive comments are more useful than negative. A lot of this subjective and my preferences might not be theirs. Heck, I don't like a lot of the stuff in the magazines, so I know that my opinion is not always the popular one.

I agree with the pp, if someone specifically asks for honest opinions I will give them. Otherwise I try to keep it positive and encouraging. I look at our jobs here as encourgers.

 

[pjlla]

Just my opinion here....

I think I understand both sides. Most of us here don't mind or even are looking for a critique or comments (both negative and positive) about our LOs. And I totally want to know if I have a typo or a misspelling, as that is a pet peeve of mine. But that being said, the ONLY time I would probably offer any comment other than a positive one, is if the OP asked for it. Especially to a newbie here on the board, or a new scrapper (which sounds like it may have been the case).

I'm so sorry that she got on your case about your comment though. Guess maybe she just had hurt feelings. And probably posting her "art" on a public forum isn't the best for her, if she isn't going to have thicker skin than that.

Thanks for sharing (and asking for our opinions)...................P

 

[Fran98765]

Since I digi scrap, I will give the general etiquette of cc that exists on the many different scrapping sites. Basically, if someone just posts to show off what they did, they are looking for "loves" on their comments. Find something nice to say or don't say anything at all (excepting typos or minor things like that).

When a person wants more, and they want real CC, they specifically ask for CC. Then you can say true opinions and so forth.

I would go by these guidelines. I find plenty of layouts on other sites that scream bad stuff, like colors, bad pics, so forth, but I find something nice to say, like love that ribbon, or I don't post a comment at all.

 

[Lisa]

Fran worded it perfectly. When I ask for criticism, I am looking for constructive criticism. I know something is off and I need a fresh eye from another scrapper. Believe me my crop attendees are far more creative than I am!

Sometimes though a person is looking for attention rather than cc. Sounds like what the OP came across.

 

[KerTggr]

I too agree with Fran. I have one friend who didn't used to share her scrapbook with anyone (even family) because she was afraid of being put down about something. She also hand writes her journalling making it a bit harder to correct typos. I on the other hand like the feedback. I won't necissarily go back and change something (I figure if Word didn't catch the typo, most people's brains can fill in the blanks too). But rather take the feedback, see if I agree and maybe incorporate it into a future layout. My husband gives me feedback sometime and that's probably the hardest because he always has outlandish ideas - "you could make the pirate ship pop out" "Another page with this or that picture" (after I have finished the whole book and all my 1 or 2 page layouts already line up). But I also think about how cool a pop up pirate ship would be or wonder why I didn't choose the pictures he stated. And you what do you know, my net book has a sketched pop up pirate ship.

I too think it depends how you state the comment. Taking the mgr handbook out, it's good to start with something that you like or enjoy (even if it's the the element and maybe not its use) and then state the critique. Don't harp on the critique and try to give examples of what you think would make it better. I never find critiques without some point of direction helpful. I love the ones that say "I don't like this, but maybe try a paper like_____ or move this element here to open up the white space" to be helpful.