[akdetrick]

"Praise Publicly, Criticize Privately"

This point got me thinking. Public criticism of specific individuals is not something I ever to publicly, but I have been all too quick to compose tweets about things like "wishing that Internet Explorer had a face so I could punch it", or how terrible healthcare is in the US, etc.

It seems obvious in hindsight, but refraining from putting too much negativity in my public streams of information lately has probably not only improved the impression others have of me, but more importantly, made me feel a lot less grumpy myself.

In my efforts to focus on the positive and/or interesting things in my public speech, I find that I'm looking at these things more often in my private time as well. It's a rewarding exercise.

[shakes]

"In my efforts to focus on the positive and/or interesting things in my public speech, I find that I'm looking at these things more often in my private time as well. It's a rewarding exercise."

I really love that idea. Such a good point.

[viraptor]

There are pros of publicly criticising some work (not the author). If it's something common, then everyone involved gets to see a bad example and a better solution. Otherwise you'll have to explain the same thing to a number of people separately costing you even more time and even more criticising. There are just some things where providing a positive example just isn't enough. Some things get broken many times in the same way and the main idea is not "here are better ways", but "this is the really bad example, never do that".

[Evbn]

Yeah, the quote refers to people, not products.

[mattgreenrocks]

I very much agree with you (and am prone to negative tweets), but also wonder: at what point does it become emotional self-censorship? Are we to only post fun, happy things online? Are we slaves to our personal brand? Is it important that others perceive us better?

Taken too far, this seems like yet another way our online image becomes fractured from our identity. And maybe its better that way. I just detest the feeling of always giving people what they want.

[Evbn]

I try to follow every gripe with a positive comment amount something (else) to get back in the saddle of good spirits.