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Comment by SeoxyS | Hacker News Reader

As a student at San Francisco's top design school, critiques has become a huge part of school. Every day involves at least one class critique, and it's not uncommon for student to solicit extra critiques from their peers and teachers. A big part of our grade is based on how we do during formal critiques, how we integrate feedback, and the quality of the feedback we give others.

After two years of this, I have become much more resilient when it comes to getting feedback. You can tell me anything, I won't take it personally. However, the feedback I give has become harsher, and outside of the school context (especially at work—I'm a developer at a startup) I sometimes fear I may be putting people off by being so honest. I do my best to be as constructive as possible, though.

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Choosing what criticism to ignore, too, is also a huge skill. Every time someone suggests something, I will take it into consideration. I figure out why they said what they did, and try to get to the core reason. Then I can make an assessment as to whether to implement their suggestion, or whether another solution addresses the core problem.

I've always been put off by people who are passively aggressive in calling their criticism "honest" or "hard truths". It just means they don't understand how to communicate well or induce change and are too lazy to deal with it.

Induce change sounds like a euphemism for manipulation or coercion. You'll forgive me if I don't think the world needs more manipulative interaction.

Yes, there are some folks out there that come across as pretty raw, but get outside of coding/software circles and it's shocking how fragile people tend to be in the face of any kind of criticism. I think the ideal here would be for the passive aggressive dickheads to take it down a notch, meanwhile everyone else could stand to toughen up a little.

Personally I'm put off by people that require some layer of cozening as a buffer for their communications with others but such is life.

As one of the people who likes being honest, I've always been put off by people who can't handle it if I call a spade a spade. As long as my criticism is constructive, I shouldn't be forced to beat around the bush. When I offer you constructive criticism, I'm offering you what I believe is a way to improve some aspect of yourself and/or your work. You should be in charge in your own improvement. Asking me to "induce change" in you means you won't take responsibility and expect me to do your work for you.

I'm not asking you to induce change in me. But if you're going to take the time to give criticism, why be ineffective about it? Calling your ineffectiveness "honesty" is stupid, self-righteous, incompetent, useless, and pointless. If you're not making changes with your words, shut up.

Great comment and very true, you need to be able to take criticism to get better. I'm curious, which school is considered the top design school? Thanks.

California College of the Arts.

That's cool, I have check out CMYK and a few other magazines and there's usually quite a bit from CCA in there. Good luck! I'm sure you'll create some really fun stuff.

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