Pixelation

General => General Discussion => Topic started by: piffany on June 22, 2011, 02:24:39 pm

Title: Etiquette question
Post by: piffany on June 22, 2011, 02:24:39 pm
Just curious, what's the proper etiquette for critiquing someone's work? Is it generally frowned upon to critique people better than you? Any other etiquette pointers would be very useful too. Thanks :)
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: ptoing on June 22, 2011, 02:41:59 pm
You can critique anyone. Just because someone is technically better than you does not mean you could not spot something they missed, even big things. Or you could have a better idea towards some solution they might not think of.

Try to be polite and helpful and if possible point out the good as well as the bad.
Also please not stuff like "that elbow looks odd" and then that's it. Elaborate on your critiques.

That's pretty much it
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: piffany on June 22, 2011, 05:12:56 pm
Thanks ptoing! I was hoping for an admin's opinion on this.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Mathias on June 23, 2011, 01:33:18 am
Even though, IMO, I'm unusually resilient in the face of honest harsh crit, I'd say it's more peer-like to pair negatives with positives - point out flaws/things gone wrong, but at the same time commend for the good.

Criticism seems to have such negative connotations in most minds, generally. In the real world, it's often better to say nothing because the person in question either doesn't know how to interpret crit in order to extract useful information from it or it's not an appropriate topic to initiate in the first place. Plus, crit may not even be useful in the first place due to gaps in skill be too large, between crit'er and crit'ee.

But here in this site, that's the purpose. You're not here unless you want it. So not a whole lot of etiquette conscientiousness necessary. Just be human. Hold the crit recipient's best interests in mind as you attempt to help them understand how to improve. It's called "constructive" criticism, because there's also destructive criticism. Stick to the former.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: EyeCraft on June 23, 2011, 02:27:16 am
Criticism seems to have such negative connotations in most minds, generally. In the real world, it's often better to say nothing because the person in question either doesn't know how to interpret crit in order to extract useful information from it or it's not an appropriate topic to initiate in the first place. Plus, crit may not even be useful in the first place due to gaps in skill be too large, between crit'er and crit'ee.

I was at a party last weekend and I started critiquing the pecan tart they had. The sprinkles introduced a disharmonious colour composition to the piece (I'm serious!). That did not go down well at all. Turns out the hosts girlfriend had spent all this time making the tart in the early hours of the morning to surprise her boyfriend and it was this really sweet gesture, etc. The crit left everybody completely silent, staring at me like I had just murdered a puppy in front of them. Which I would never do, I love animals.

That being said, I STILL say never be afraid to give constructive criticism! I would do it again. Maybe next time she'll use white sprinkles instead of multicolour  :D
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Mathias on June 23, 2011, 02:39:08 am
Bahaha, awesome story, Tyone! That's hilarious. But seriously, critiquing the color composition of the tarts??? hahaha You're a freak! Yeah, I'd say that was a time when crit wasn't really needed hehe.
I've gotten myself into similar situations. Nothing that goofy, though. Oh man, especially women can't take critiquing their food. Have you noticed that? I think you have.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: piffany on June 23, 2011, 02:47:56 am
The sprinkles introduced a disharmonious colour composition to the piece

Hahaha that's harsh, but I would secretly cringe at pecan tarts with rainbow sprinkles too (anything with rainbow sprinkles, in fact).

Thanks for the advice guys.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Argyle on June 23, 2011, 06:28:52 am
(http://www.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1283630/2/istockphoto_1283630-donut-with-sprinkles.jpg)

Looks like we have a pastry chef that doesn't know when it is and isn't appropriate to dither so many colors together. Think about the sprinkle clusters, man!

Sorry, that was just the best story, Eyecraft. <3

But yes, if you spot something that somebody hasn't already pointed out, your peer would only seek to gain from you telling them about it! Well, in most cases... There are the occasional apples that just ignore it all. "style choice" or "I'm only 8" or "my arm looked like that when I broke it, so you're wrong".

Even if you may not have the skill to render it in a way that they might, you can still do a really quick edit even if it is just a big sloppy circle with an arrow pointing at it for you to explain in text if need be. I have learned much from this forum from both the textual advice and edits that this community is so generous about giving away - in my own threads as well as in the other 99% of the time when I'm in lurk mode.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: EyeCraft on June 23, 2011, 06:52:29 am
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z212/gastrop0d/forum_junk/mighty-o-donuts.jpg)

Quick edit. Okay I'll stop now  :-X

Damn this is actually making me a little hungry.  :lol:

Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Helm on June 23, 2011, 07:02:36 am
Those were just saved as jpgs. Give them here to me, I will... fix them.

The main difference between reality and Pixelation is that in real life I do not offer critique unless explicitly asked for my opinion. In Pixelation it's a given that if one posts, they're looking for feedback. This is a good distinction to keep in mind.

As to your original question, Pifanny, do not worry, there is no pecking order in Pixelation. If you spot something that you think could be fixed, by all means, courteously let the artist know. This is what this place is about.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Mathias on June 23, 2011, 12:17:01 pm
. . . in real life I do not offer critique unless explicitly asked for my opinion.

That's a great policy. You probably have more friends than Tyrone, haha.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Helm on June 23, 2011, 05:17:45 pm
That's a pretty cruel thing to say, even in levity. Also, I'd wager, not true.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Shrike on June 24, 2011, 04:50:32 am
...there is no pecking order in Pixelation.

I have to say, that's one thing I've always loved about this place. Very open, very helpful... and nobody ever treats you like an inferior, despite the high artistic success many of you have achieved.

I mean I joined this forum when I was only like eleven... I never felt like I was being mistreated. Usually, eleven year olds get butthurt real quick.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: piffany on June 24, 2011, 04:01:34 pm
I mean I joined this forum when I was only like eleven

Eleven? O_O Wow, I had no social skills at eleven. Also, internet wasn't that widely available back then.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: EyeCraft on June 24, 2011, 10:08:05 pm
I didn't even have a computer at 11. I was spending my time playing SNES!  ^-^
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Mathias on June 25, 2011, 03:59:07 am
That's a pretty cruel thing to say, even in levity. Also, I'd wager, not true.

Dude, it was sarcasm, come on. wHy sO sEriOuS
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Helm on June 25, 2011, 09:52:45 am
sarcasm is cruel!
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: Mathias on June 25, 2011, 11:22:32 pm
Haha Tyrone knows I love 'im! Cynicism may be cruel, but I try not to be that, sarcasm is just my nature, I know it's probably annoying . . . oh well hehe.
Title: Re: Etiquette question
Post by: EyeCraft on June 26, 2011, 02:41:14 am
Oh yes, it doesn't bother me. I think the way I spout my opinion like that is something my friends either tolerate because it's the only really imposing behaviour that I have (that I know of??), or they find it amusing that I can make such a faux pas so obliviously.

Actually I was trying to think how many friends I have. How many people that I consider "friends" do not consider me? How many vice versa? It gets me to thinking about this TED talk I saw once about how human social networks function, and how certain genes define how many friends you'll likely have, and what social gene types THEY will have.

There are people who have "hub" genes, where they sit closer towards the centre of the social network, with heaps and heaps of acquaintances that they touch base with often and gain all the latest information. These people are like information relays for the network. From an evolutionary standpoint, this has the benefit of being informed about events and being able to react to things in a more organised fashion. The drawback is... plagues! Fires! Famine!

Then there's the other extreme, people who are "leaves". They have only a handful of close, trusted friends that they share much information with. These people are isolated from social calamities, but aren't as informed about things that are happening around them.

There's more to it, those are just the two extremes that I remember. I fall into that latter category. I imagine most artistic people would, since isolation gives them space to think and work.

P.S. You're all my fwiends  ^-^

P.P.S. Actually I think they mentioned something about the internet radically changing the evolutionary dynamic of social interaction. You're all my neo-friends!