Board Thread:General Wiki Discussion/@comment-4833240-20140301051701/@comment-4832646-20140304174517

When you're dealing with people in their teens, they don't take "neutral" criticism seriously. A criticism should not just be objective; it should be mixed, and for good reason. The writer says "writing is subjective bro." Whenever they say that, it's not because they're an idiot, it's because they refuse to take it seriously.

Knocking that out of the way by stating your opinion cancels that argument. It isn't being a dick and you're still being neutral. It is only the fact that you're being honest with the author so they can't say "Writing is subjective. I think it's good." Because not only are you pointing out everything wrong, you're turning your subjective opinion into objective reasoning.

I'm not saying be an asshole. Once again, give it what it deserves, not an asspat. If that requires you to tackle and beat the information into the author's head, then that's what it requires. If it requires a thirteen page outline that literally points to an error in every word, that is what it requires. You can't cut slack for the sake of being neutral.