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i have noticed some people on the internet do not understand constructive criticism (concrit), when to use it, or how to format it, so i would like to give my person two cents
1) if someone have not asked you to give them concrit, do not give it. you are a vampire and their content is the house. you cannot enter without an invitation.
no one has ever given me a "concrit" that i was like...unaware of. because personally i have friends read over my things, am aware of my short comings, and post it anyway because i'm neither being graded nor making money. i am not the sort of person who will ask for concrit
some people do request concrit on their projects. some people do actively use fic as a way to consciously improve with the hope of like bettering their craft. not everyone is like that. please respect both parties.
you do not know the author personally. if someone has written something and you think it's terrible and you let them know, you could literally be crushing a new writer's little heart. do not use the words "i did not like ____" unless you have been asked.
okay so the author is like hello i am looking for critique, i would like concrit, would you mind looking over this thing for me
2) concrit requires TWO parts in order to be both constructive and a criticism. you need to point out a flaw (this is the thing that most people really nail wow) and then you have to OFFER SOLUTIONS.
please...........folks.........the guiding questions and the dialogue between peer and author is what makes it constructive. a negative opinion is ONLY a criticism. it is not helpful.
because either the author already knew it was an issue and you telling them is pointless, or they did not realize it was an issue and now have no clue how to fix it. concrit should be a conversation not just the banging of a gavel. please.
there is nothing wrong with not wanting concrit. i myself have been mildly harassed for not inviting "concrit" from people who do not structure it well or are not helpful. the person who decides whether it is helpful is the author. if they say no, you've got to go
the great part about peer review in classes is that you know each other and talk to each other. you know the way your peers think. you know whether or not you value their input. that does not exist in the comment section of ao3. there's no reason to trust you.
so concrit is actually extremely beneficial, but not in all forms from all people, and inherently it has to be a dialogue/conversation, which the comment section of ao3 (imo) does not allow. questions need to be posed. discussion needs to be had.
so please be considerate of the people around you and know when and how to phrase your feelings before slapping it on the author's plate. fanfic is inherently a hobby, and as a reader we get it for free. not everyone needs the same feedback the same way.
