[a123b456c]

My h index is around 20, which just means I have lots of experience with peer review.

Peer reviews are text, it is hard to accurately infer emotions or intention. What one person sees as passive aggressive another person might see as polite and deferential or even helpful.

Consider further that scientists come from all over the world and often have deep cultural differences, it becomes even less likely that you know the reviewer's intention.

Science is really hard and it's easy to fool yourself. Smart people want criticism to help validate and improve their work.

[ericlnu]

Agreed, as a counter/Devil's advocate point though, wouldn't what is being written by the reviewer be obvious whether or not it's just pettiness and other non-constructive criticism, versus something that was well considered?