[jcampbell1]

I think your piece is interesting, informative, useful, and well written. I just don't think others' opinion on ideas are particularly relevant. My opinion on Dropbox/Heroku/AirBnb's ideas would have all fallen on the left side of the bell curve, which only shows my opinion on ideas is irrelevant. I am just saying that the position one is placed on the bell curve is not important. Understanding different cultures is very important.

I won't address the relative merits of different cultural norms on being supportive vs being brutally honest.

[ido]

    I just don't think others' opinion on ideas 
    are particularly relevant. My opinion on
    Dropbox/Heroku/AirBnb's ideas would have all 
    fallen on the left side of the bell curve, 
    which only shows my opinion on ideas is 
    irrelevant.

I think what you are trying to say is "take advice/opinions with a grain of salt".

I've recieved plenty of bad (and good) feedback on products that ended up being successful, but if someone who is considered a world-renown expert in my field tells me I have problems A, B & C I'm going to listen carefully.