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Re:Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for produc... by shkkmo on Tuesday January 19, 2016 @04:35PM (#10934239)
> I don't believe your comment was intended to be constructive at all.

You may have a different assessment of the candidate's potential value as an intern. The parent clearly stated "Here's feedback as to why I'm not sending this website to my studio lead to schedule a phone screen with the designer".

Making assumptions about the parents intent provides no value to the discussion.

Re:Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for produc... by betenoire on Tuesday January 19, 2016 @04:52PM (#10934373)
It's not an assumption, the commenter also clearly stated, "I hope that's constructive". To some of us, it sounds belittling and dismissive, regardless of how well he knows his company better than us.
Re:Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for produc... by shkkmo on Tuesday January 19, 2016 @06:11PM (#10934846)
There is a big difference between "I don't believe you were trying to be constructive", (which make assumptions about intent) and "I found your critique to be un-constructive, here's why:"

The former adds nothing to the conversation and is pretty close to being a personal attack, the latter provides feedback and (may) prompt constructive debate about how to provide critique.

Re:Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for produc... by ethanbond on Tuesday January 19, 2016 @06:32PM (#10934954)
Sure, here's why it's not constructive: not once in the parent comment is an alternative suggested or a question raised.

Just a list of things that are "wrong," according to the poster.

Re:Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for produc... by ctvo on Tuesday January 19, 2016 @07:19PM (#10935141)
It's a resume piece and the parent works for a design company. He's not looking to start a discussion on the merits of the design and how to improve it, only his problems with it from a hiring perspective (polish, consistency, lack of research). It feels very constructive to me.
Re:Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for produc... by ethanbond on Tuesday January 19, 2016 @07:25PM (#10935168)
Then what separates constructive criticism from just criticism?

Parent comment supplied criticism – I'm not arguing that. But s/he did not at all help to reveal a path towards a better outcome. That's what would make it constructive.

Re:Desktop Neo – rethinking the desktop interface for produc... by gadflea on Tuesday January 19, 2016 @07:36PM (#10935225)
Judgements on motive, while critical for investigations and character analysis, are obviously irrelevant to online tech discussions, famously impervious to baggage, ideology, and petty warble.