Constructive Criticism (READ NOW, Instant bans Now In Effect)

[Millennium]

What I am posted here will be put into effect very soon. If you can not give constructive criticism from now on, you will be banned. This will soon be coming to our entire forum on OS, but with Madden's release, you get it first.

If you feel the need to be degrading, unthoughtful, angry, or sarcastic with your posts, you will be banned. Period. That doesn't help anyone, and I'm not interested in your "e-cred" and ego being stroked on these forum.


CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM


Definition: Constructive criticism, or constructive analysis, is a compassionate attitude towards the person qualified for criticism. Having higher experience, gifts, respect, knowledge in specific field and being able to verbally convince at the same time, this person is intending to uplift the other person materially, morally, emotionally or spiritually. For high probability in succeeding compassionate criticism, the critic has to be in some kind of healthy personal relationship with the other one, which is normally a parent to child, friend to friend, teacher to student, spouse to spouse or any kind of recgonized authority in specific field. Hence the word constructive is used so that something is created or visible outcome generated rather than the opposite. Participatory learning in pedagogy is based on these principles of constructive criticism, focusing on positive examples to be emulated over precepts to be followed.

How To Give Constructive Criticism (via AskMen.com):

Omit character traits
If you want your criticism to get the best out of someone, suppress the urge to attach one of his personality deficits to your critique. If you do start to bring up personality deficits, it’s likely he will interpret your comment as an ad hominem attack, causing your point to fall on deaf, insulted ears. It isn’t possible to entirely separate a person from their work, but your criticism should make that effort.

Frame your criticism in appropriate language
The very words you speak can make all the difference. Using terminology germane to the issue keeps constructive criticism on a professional level, beyond reproach. Furthermore, you can thaw out even the most severe criticism by tenderizing your language. Opening with “It seems to me…,” or “I could be wrong, but…” makes it less likely that your point is compromised by arrogance or rudeness.

Get your facts straight
The efficacy of constructive criticism is in direct proportion to the credibility of its source. Conversely, few things can torpedo your authority more quickly than unknowingly basing your comments on factual errors. Facts in the form of criticisms that are impossible to dispute act as an arsenal of stealth weaponry. They can deliver your harsher critiques with surgical precision while never letting the person know that you’re launching them. Show a little empathy when giving constructive criticism

Keep emotions in mind and in check
Offering effective constructive criticism requires you to neutralize any unreliable elements of emotion in order to blunt their influence. To a certain degree, you must take his feelings into account; it may not be possible to spare him some measure of embarrassment, but overt humiliation is mean-spirited and counterproductive. On the same token, your own feelings need to be kept in check; they are susceptible to bias and can be used to discredit you.

Focus on what can be done, not what’s been done
Refer to specific opportunities for improvement and avoid singling out inadequacies. Keeping your criticisms positive is both tactful and essential. It’s less disparaging for the person to hear that he has overlooked an opportunity than it is to be told that his current ideas are incompetent or defective.
Empathize
One of the more potent steps you can take before delivering constructive criticism is also among the simpler and more compassionate ones: Stop for a moment and remind yourself what it’s like to be in those shoes. You feel vulnerable, under direct attack and it’s human nature to become defensive in the extreme.

Utilize reason, not personal preference
Criticism of any kind bears an innate bias, but you can overcome that by remembering that comments grounded on reason are less open to counter-arguments, both valid and otherwise. It’s difficult for anyone to defend nonsense against the stability of logic, but it’s easy to dismiss criticisms dangled on the capriciousness of ”like” and “dislike.” Your credentials fade the very moment your comments begin to drift from authoritative conclusions into whimsical preferences.

Allow time for a response
It’s to your psychological advantage to pause between criticisms and allow the person a chance to explain himself. The act of offering an explanation, however weak it may be, is intellectually satisfying: It helps keep his ego somewhat intact while preventing him from becoming overwhelmed. Furthermore, you’ll come across as both fair and open-minded, increasing your credibility while decreasing the chance that any of your constructive criticism gets overlooked or forgotten.

[_HiTMaN_]

You do realize that you come off as a goosestepping Dr. Phil with stuff like this, right? It's almost like John Tesh decided he wanted to become a mod on a video game forum right after realizing the Jews took his job... This place was oppressive before, but seriously, you guys need to get some perspective and stop licking the boots of EA...

[Skyboxer]

Love the new setup/rules......
Thanks Mill

[Potatoes002]

Quote: Originally Posted by _HiTMaN_

You do realize that you come off as a goosestepping Dr. Phil with stuff like this, right? It's almost like John Tesh decided he wanted to become a mod on a video game forum right after realizing the Jews took his job... This place was oppressive before, but seriously, you guys need to get some perspective and stop licking the boots of EA...

At least provide constructive criticism in a constructive criticism thread.

[Jackdog]

Quote: Originally Posted by _HiTMaN_

You do realize that you come off as a goosestepping Dr. Phil with stuff like this, right? It's almost like John Tesh decided he wanted to become a mod on a video game forum right after realizing the Jews took his job... This place was oppressive before, but seriously, you guys need to get some perspective and stop licking the boots of EA...

Perfect example of why this type of action is required at OS. This kind of crap is tired.
Mill,thanks for taking steps to make OS a better place to visit.

[marktg30]

Does this go for Blogs as well or simply forum behavior? This is a serious question, nothing sarcastic. I feel like this will be a major 'venting' year for a lot of disappointed people and they may need somewhere to type all of their 4-letter complaints.

Thanks.

[Hooe]

Quote: Originally Posted by marktg30

Does this go for Blogs as well or simply forum behavior? This is a serious question, nothing sarcastic. I feel like this will be a major 'venting' year for a lot of disappointed people and they may need somewhere to type all of their 4-letter complaints. Thanks.

Regardless of the answer to this question, people ought to be able to vent constructively with regard to the Madden series. The constant negativity and outright bashing that goes on on this board is tired.

[roadman]

Quote: Originally Posted by marktg30

Does this go for Blogs as well or simply forum behavior? This is a serious question, nothing sarcastic. I feel like this will be a major 'venting' year for a lot of disappointed people and they may need somewhere to type all of their 4-letter complaints. Thanks.

Any different than in the past years? I doubt it.