# This is where you FINALLY get to do it! Or: The Constructive Criticism Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2000, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618 "2000-09-18T17:00:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/21 "2000-09-18T22:06:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homer \* > \*\*Criticize me. IF you can. > > –Tim \*\* Go to class, bitch! And bring your book! ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/22 "2000-09-18T22:13:08Z")
Oh evilbeth, you’ve put me into a conundrum. I remember recently writing a username into one of my posts that was all lower case. The problem was, I was using the username at the beginning of a sentence. To capitalize or NOT to capitalize? What’s proper etiquette on this one? My constructive criticism goes to anyone who has to use the words “…but I’m too lazy to look it up right now” when claiming to state fact. If you’re too lazy to look up the link, then do me a favor (please) and be too lazy to write a post that doesn’t gain me anything. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/23 "2000-09-18T22:27:45Z")
God, I could do with previewing aswell. I meant to say at the very least use [[sup][/sup]sup][/sup[sup][/sup]] ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/24 "2000-09-18T22:28:01Z")
Once more, with feeling… Coldfire, I still think starting threads like this - especially where you criticize individual posters’ styles - is incredibly pompous. I’m glad to see that everyone is making it more general and less personal. But then it becomes just like The Incredibly Annoying Thread but less funny. That said, I’ll bite: For those of you who continually share that “your post made me laugh so hard I spilled my drink all over my keyboard.” Either stop placing your drinks so dangerously close to your computer, or find a new way to finish the sentence “I lauged so hard that…” New imagery needed. Desparately. ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/25 "2000-09-18T22:32:03Z")
Desperately. dadgummit. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/26 "2000-09-18T22:41:49Z")
Madgalene, it isn’t MEANT to be pompous. You can criticize ANYONE by name, as long as you do it constructively. There is nothing wrong with that. If you read any form of arrogance into it, that may be your own insecurity talking (I don’t know, it’s a WAG), and I am sorry if you feel that way. But it’s not MY fault. If I wanna tear somebody a new one, I’ll take them to the Pit - and I probably never liked them anyway. The point of this thread is to tell posters you perfectly well like something minor. What’s the damn problem? I posted it here because some of these issues may be applicable for more than one poster. And since we’re not exactly comparing annual incomes after tax here, I saw no harm in doing it publicly anyway. If someone I adressed in my OP feels offended that I used this thread for commenting on them, I will apologise profusely. To those who weren’t criticized, but still feel the need to comment on the OP with some sort of holier-than-thou attitude I say: “Kindly mind your own business and stroll along to the next thread of your linking”. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/27 "2000-09-18T22:43:19Z")
LIKING. At least we have one thing in common, Magda 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/28 "2000-09-18T22:46:56Z")
Thank the good lord I am perfect. No need to mention me in this thread. As for the rest of you: Be more perfect. Like me! pat ---
**Author:** ![Whammo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Whammo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whammo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/29 "2000-09-18T23:08:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by evilbeth \* > \*\*Will those of you who insist on capitalizing usernames that aren’t supposed to be please stop? Some of us have our usernames beginning with lowercase letters for a reason. Abbreviating them is fine (by me anyway) and using a poster’s real name in place of the UN is also okay but please, please, please only capitalize those UNs that are supposed to be that way! \*\* Sure thing Beth! ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/30 "2000-09-18T23:11:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enright3 \* > **Oh evilbeth, you’ve put me into a conundrum. I remember recently writing a username into one of my posts that was all lower case. The problem was, I was using the username at the beginning of a sentence. To capitalize or NOT to capitalize? What’s proper etiquette on this one?** What I try to do is just be more creative in my sentence structure, adding qualifiers in front of the name which can be capitalized, such as “My dear **evilbeth** , you simply _must_ stop being so beautiful!”, or so forth. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/31 "2000-09-18T23:12:36Z")
I can do that! However, what is the proper procedure for emphasizing a word if I don’t capitalize it? Thank you for your constructive criticism. 🙂 I need to work on my grammar. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/32 "2000-09-18T23:28:49Z")
vanilla: you could try the vB tags for bold or italics. ATMB probably has a gazillion threads explaining them. And you’re welcome 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Demo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demo/32/8472_2.png) [@Demo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/33 "2000-09-19T01:26:09Z")
I’ll second the sig comment and add another: Please quote _only_ the material you are replying to and not the whole post. Thank You. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Blue\_Green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Green)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/34 "2000-09-19T01:31:50Z")
Coldfire… Since you asked, I’d like to say all the troll hunting threads are a waste of time. Since you contibute a lot to them, consider yourself critized. I don’t like have aspersions cast my way when I’m defending other people who have had aspersions cast their way. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/35 "2000-09-19T01:35:43Z")
Bleu Vert, Please show me where I attack you. You are full of _merde_. Thank you. Do come again. ---
**Author:** ![fierra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58956e/32.png) [@fierra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fierra)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/36 "2000-09-19T01:59:53Z")
Coldy, maybe I’m being picky - but rule number 2 said that you can’t defend yourself, but you twice defended yourself against magda’s pompousness criticisms - unless you add a rule #5 saying Coldy is immune to his own rules, what gives? (& you can answer this one, I’m genuinely curious ) one official constructiveness smilie: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Siddhartha\_Vicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@Siddhartha\_Vicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siddhartha_Vicious)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/37 "2000-09-19T02:01:09Z")
Hi, Coldfire. You don’t really know me. I said you were full of shit in a thread earlier today, but it was a huge joke (Duran Duran? Please.). Other than that, I don’t think we’ve spoken. Anyway, I want to point out that you keep breaking your own rules. magdalene stated that she thought that your thread was pompous. You defended yourself. Blue Green suggested that you should stay out of troll-hunting threads. You defended yourself. However you stated that: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*2) The criticized will not defend himself or attempt to do so. . . \*\* I suppose my criticism is that you aren’t following your own rules in this thread. Maybe you thought that their criticism wasn’t constructive. Blue Green’s criticism seemed to be more constructive than magdelene’s, even if you felt it was inaccurate. I don’t know. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![Siddhartha\_Vicious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@Siddhartha\_Vicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siddhartha_Vicious)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/38 "2000-09-19T02:02:45Z")
Dammit, fierra, you beat me. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/39 "2000-09-19T02:28:19Z")
I would like to register a complaint. One thing that doesn’t seem fair, is the sock-outing. I have seen a few threads where someone does a post comparison to an older known troll. I just don’t see the point of it. If the person was the troll, then they will most likely be a jerk again and the Moderators will take care of it. If the person was the troll, and they don’t make a jerk out of themselves, and become a contributing member then I have no problem with them posting.(I also realize that the Mods have an interest in keeping to the letter of the law about many things.) But if the person wasn’t the troll, then it seems kind of crappy that they are put into a hostile environment. Everybody should be givin the benefit of the doubt even if their post bear a similarity to an old troll. Just send an email to the admins, and they will do what needs to be done. The outing threads make the terms ‘trial in the court of opinion’ and ‘Guilty until proven innocent’ jump to mind. It just kind of scares me that an etablished poster could cause the shunning of someone who did nothing wrong(Okay, so I’m an idealist, sue me) ---
**Author:** ![magdalene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@magdalene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magdalene)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2000, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618/40 "2000-09-19T03:07:43Z")
:wally (smiley inserted purely to denote an air of constructiveness) Coldfire, everyone can learn from constructive criticism. **magdalene** doesn’t always preview her posts and sometimes has to add things later. **magdalene** sometimes makes stupid typos even though she’s a good speller. **magdalene** could work on writing clearer arguments and not becoming clouded by emotion in Great Debates. **magdalene** overuses parentheses. **magdalene** sometimes argues about stupid stuff. **magdalene** sometimes sucks all the joy out of living. After reading your self-defense posts (strictly against the rules, m’dear) I do believe that your intention wasn’t to bully anyone or hurt feelings, but you’ll have to excuse me if I see starting a thread in which we can single each other out and criticize seems, well, pompous. And devoid of humor. And hardly all that fun or constructive. 😃 (constructiveness smiley) I usually enjoy reading your stuff, Coldfire, and I’m not out to start a big rumble, especially over something so…so…mundane & pointless. You criticized me for being holier-than-though & insecure, I believe. I criticized you for starting a pompous thread - to me it initially read as if “I the almighty Coldfire will tell some of you where you are a little off-kilter, and others should give into their petty instincts and join me.” Singling out people by name seemed to invite ickiness and hurt feelings. I initially was not constructive in my delivery of criticism, but I hope that I have rectified that with subsequent posts. Constructive Criticism Alert: If you are going to start a criticism thread, be prepared to take some yourself. 😉 (This smiley is a registered trademark of the SDMB and Coldfire’s Constructive Criticism, Inc.) If others find this exercise edifying, far be it from me to hold you back from the mutual enlightenment that is constructive criticism. I already avoid those “Let’s all hang out and have virtual beers while sitting on virtual lawn chairs and playing virtual music” threads in this forum, and I should have just avoided this one too. I will take you up on that your excellent suggestion to head elsewhere. G’night! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-where-you-finally-get-to-do-it-or-the-constructive-criticism-thread/33618.md?page=3)