It least it takes a pair to look someone in the eyes and tell them they suck.
Telling someone their code sucks does not equal telling them they suck.
You are not your code.
And so what? You think books don't get bad reviews? Movies? TV shows? School tests? It's part of life. Take the hit, move on. Do better if you must.
EDIT to add: When it comes to one-on-one being told your work sucks, the best response I think is this: "OK, if it sucks, tell me how, because I'm not yet able to see it and I'd rather not suck." That's better than just stewing in hurt feelings and never improving or knowing how to improve.
The code is the code. Not the person.
Wow, that little guy has such a pair he can hardly walk!
Of course, if he weren't so aggressive, I'd be able to bring him along for long walks with us, scritch him behind the ears when we pass by, etc..
Our other neighbors have two dogs I take running with me now and then; not him, though.
My own dog, interestingly enough, doesn't back down when he runs at her (as a lot of dogs do, actually, even bigger ones). She doesn't attack him back, either -- she just doesn't even take him seriously (though he's trying...), and she feints and jumps, ducks and tries to play -- and he generally runs off after a pass or two of this; he realizes she's not backing down, and he gives up.
So she handles the confrontation that's needed with good humor and aplomb, without running away or even dropping to his level and getting nasty.
She hasn't got a pair, of course, but I can really respect how she handles him.