![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Etiquette of Responding to a "How's My Driving" Post *
I wrote this a couple years ago and posted it under a flock, but I feel it's never lost its relevance and is worth posting in a more public forum.
Concrit in 3 easy steps:
1) Begin with something positive. (FYI, Internet, NO ONE is the worst RPer ever. Even the worst writer has something positive and, believe me, if you want them to take you seriously, let them know you are looking at them on a balanced spectrum and not there to whine about them sucking. If you're not there to give them concrit because you have faith in them as a player, and you can't address at least one thing they are doing right, why would you say anything at all?)
2) Address areas of needed improvement. (But, again, be careful with your phrasing so it doesn't come off as an attack. Also, use specific examples of improvement. Sweeping comments like "your character is inconsistent" are extremely unhelpful to someone trying to understand why you would think that. Do them right and give moments in RP or fic when they were inconsistent.)
3) Supply either specific ways to redirect the characterization (using specific canon events to back up your claim, preferably) or offer questions to help focus the player you're addressing (once again, canon specifics are helpful.)
In other words, Internet, if you're going to take the time to give someone concrit, actually put some effort into it. The point of constructive criticism is to help a player find ways to improve, not to squash them like a bug.
To add, even if anon-commenting is enabled, please consider posting with an active account (be it RP or personal, it's your choice.). ** Chances are, if you are giving someone in-depth concrit (which, if you're bothering to take the time, you should) they will take you more seriously and have some preexisting respect for you, especially if they play with you already.
If you are really driven to anon-commenting, think about why you are doing so for a minute before you hit "post comment." Chances are either, 1) You are commenting to someone who is, by nature, a wanky self-obsessed bastard and you're afraid of being attacked by them and their drone army. In which case, they really aren't worth your time, or B)... er, 2) You're writing something you don't want your name connected with because it's bordering on a personal attack, in which case maybe you should consider not commenting at all, or coming back to the post when you can be more level-headed.
In closing, concrit - be it original writing, fanfiction, or roleplaying - is still subject to the Golden Rule. And if you don't have enough faith that the person you are supplying feedback to will become a better writer or player, and it's not worth the time pointing out their flaws like they are human being and helping them improve, it's not worth taking the time to do at all.
* It should be added that these etiquette suggestions apply to standard writing as well as anything fandom or roleplay related. Believe me, I've read plenty of peer-written stories that made me want to throw up my arms and walk away from writing forever. That does not mean that, when writing these people feedback, I was not aware of the fact they have made themselves vulnerable in asking for crit and still deserve respect as a fellow fledgling writer.
** Anonmemes are exempt to this request being that, by nature, the poster is requesting anonymous feedback. Keep in mind that anon is enabled on the HMD of player journals as a courtesy only, and not as an excuse for you to be an asshole.
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain
I wrote this a couple years ago and posted it under a flock, but I feel it's never lost its relevance and is worth posting in a more public forum.
Concrit in 3 easy steps:
1) Begin with something positive. (FYI, Internet, NO ONE is the worst RPer ever. Even the worst writer has something positive and, believe me, if you want them to take you seriously, let them know you are looking at them on a balanced spectrum and not there to whine about them sucking. If you're not there to give them concrit because you have faith in them as a player, and you can't address at least one thing they are doing right, why would you say anything at all?)
2) Address areas of needed improvement. (But, again, be careful with your phrasing so it doesn't come off as an attack. Also, use specific examples of improvement. Sweeping comments like "your character is inconsistent" are extremely unhelpful to someone trying to understand why you would think that. Do them right and give moments in RP or fic when they were inconsistent.)
3) Supply either specific ways to redirect the characterization (using specific canon events to back up your claim, preferably) or offer questions to help focus the player you're addressing (once again, canon specifics are helpful.)
In other words, Internet, if you're going to take the time to give someone concrit, actually put some effort into it. The point of constructive criticism is to help a player find ways to improve, not to squash them like a bug.
To add, even if anon-commenting is enabled, please consider posting with an active account (be it RP or personal, it's your choice.). ** Chances are, if you are giving someone in-depth concrit (which, if you're bothering to take the time, you should) they will take you more seriously and have some preexisting respect for you, especially if they play with you already.
If you are really driven to anon-commenting, think about why you are doing so for a minute before you hit "post comment." Chances are either, 1) You are commenting to someone who is, by nature, a wanky self-obsessed bastard and you're afraid of being attacked by them and their drone army. In which case, they really aren't worth your time, or B)... er, 2) You're writing something you don't want your name connected with because it's bordering on a personal attack, in which case maybe you should consider not commenting at all, or coming back to the post when you can be more level-headed.
In closing, concrit - be it original writing, fanfiction, or roleplaying - is still subject to the Golden Rule. And if you don't have enough faith that the person you are supplying feedback to will become a better writer or player, and it's not worth the time pointing out their flaws like they are human being and helping them improve, it's not worth taking the time to do at all.
* It should be added that these etiquette suggestions apply to standard writing as well as anything fandom or roleplay related. Believe me, I've read plenty of peer-written stories that made me want to throw up my arms and walk away from writing forever. That does not mean that, when writing these people feedback, I was not aware of the fact they have made themselves vulnerable in asking for crit and still deserve respect as a fellow fledgling writer.
** Anonmemes are exempt to this request being that, by nature, the poster is requesting anonymous feedback. Keep in mind that anon is enabled on the HMD of player journals as a courtesy only, and not as an excuse for you to be an asshole.
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain