Some way to offer criticism anonymously?

Often, when I post something here, I feel like people try hard to protect my "feelings." Likewise, when i hear something I don't like, I feel kinda awkward posting a scathing review. I wonder if it would be possible to set up some sort of system of anonymous feedback? I don't know if this feedback should be public or private, and I haven't thought over this in detail. I just want to get and be able to give more fair and honest opinions.

Don't worry too much. The Internet, including YC is filled with anonymous jerks. I mean who really is "nikolas" or "Marius" or "Mike" or "QcCowboy" etc... And since the computer won't hit you, some jerks (none of the above are jerks except maybe me! :D) tend to speak their minds.

It's an interesting idea, and probably doable. However, I would want to establish wide-ranging demand for the feature before going about implementing it.

Also, it would likely be necessary to state explicitly that any comments posted anonymously were still subject to the normal board rules.

"Likewise, when i hear something I don't like, I feel kinda awkward posting a scathing review."

Good! Who needs scathing reviews? This ain't medical school, where a wrong note could end someone's life. It's music; it's art. If you don't like something I posted, say so. I wouldn't have posted it if a) I didn't think it was pretty good, and b) if I wasn't prepared to hear that some don't like it.

But the idea that anyone here is capable of tearing one of my pieces apart? Nonsense. Constructive criticism is one thing. Stylistic disagreements are one thing. But at this point in my career, someone writing anything really nasty about my music is really just them being a dick.

Just be honest and treat others the way you'd want to be treated, unless you're a masochist in which case treat them the opposite of how you want to be treated. ;) There is no need to be rude when you are discussing a colleague's work.

Politics is another matter. ;)

On one hand I'm all for making the upload boards anonymous. It'll cut down on the sugarcoating, and I kind of agree that there's a bit too much of it.

On the other hand, the upload forum is all about reciprocity, and making it anonymous takes that aspect away...

On the third hand, maybe it just means that your music isn't that bad....

You can simply ask people not to sugarcoat their responses. And when you review, let them know that you're not sugarcoating your review.

Frankly, I think that far too many younger people have been cocooned in the "oh, you're great, you're fabulous, you're wonderful" bulls*** for far too much of their lives (like a Soprano!). They'll be in for a shock in college when they get teachers who aren't up for a lot of donkey-kissing. Professors have neither the time nor the inclination to hand-hold someone who is purportedly an adult yet can't receive objective criticism.

If I say something unkind in a review, it's because I mean it and I think that the person probably needs to hear it. I don't go out of my way to make people unhappy, and frankly I genuinely don't like hurting people's feelings. However, I will not blow smoke up your donkey, I'll tell you what I think.

I'd be inclined to think Anonymous Posting is a BAD IDEA...

*imagines the poop-storm of needlessly critical, rude and abrasive comments*

The ONLY anonymity I would support would be for the original poster to remain anonymous when presenting a piece....

You can simply ask people not to sugarcoat their responses. And when you review, let them know that you're not sugarcoating your review.

Frankly, I think that far too many younger people have been cocooned in the "oh, you're great, you're fabulous, you're wonderful" bulls*** for far too much of their lives (like a Soprano!). They'll be in for a shock in college when they get teachers who aren't up for a lot of donkey-kissing. Professors have neither the time nor the inclination to hand-hold someone who is purportedly an adult yet can't receive objective criticism.

If I say something unkind in a review, it's because I mean it and I think that the person probably needs to hear it. I don't go out of my way to make people unhappy, and frankly I genuinely don't like hurting people's feelings. However, I will not blow smoke up your donkey, I'll tell you what I think.

Wise words Flint. Wise words indeed.

IThe ONLY anonymity I would support would be for the original poster to remain anonymous when presenting a piece....

The problem with this is that it would make the piece appear on the internet without an author, and could easily be stolen. Not that it's that difficult to steal something as it stands, but I wouldn't recommend posting anything you created online without your name on it.

Actually, I REALLY like robin's idea. Any hey, you could always put your piece somewhere else on the interwebs BEFORE you put a thread about it on YC, so that you can prove it's your post and piece after the fact. Or just be able to uncover your identity whenever you wish.

Well, the point is your name should be on the document. That way, if someone stole it and removed your name, you would have an easier time proving that they altered the document in order to defraud/steal.

Anonymous posting encourages far more flames than anything else. Some trolls here would simply intentionally stir something up with somebody they don't like. It won't have anything to do with the music at all.

Bad idea.