Quote: zooo @ July 26 2012, 10:59 PM BSTErm, not to be rude or anything, but half the critique threads I do look at (which isn't many, admittedly) consist of some newbie with one post posting their work and you, sooty saying how unbelievably shit it is (in not so many words). I know you don't really mean any harm, but how encouraging do you think that really is to new people?
That.
Quote: Lee @ July 26 2012, 10:53 PM BSTDo you have any suggestions on how we can bring it back to life?
Bring back Charley!
It does seem as though some use Critique as exercise for their put-down skills. I've seen a good number of threads where a newbie's post is followed by a reply that tears into their work with no attempt whatsoever at showing them ways in which they might improve. One might say that's fair (it's an honest response, blah blah) but it's not doing anything to foster the idea of a caring, sharing community.
(I don't mean to suggest sooty is the only one who does that, or that he does it all the time, by the way. I just hardly ever look at critique so he's the only one I've noticed.)
Quote: zooo @ July 26 2012, 11:08 PM BST(I don't mean to suggest sooty is the only one who does that, or that he does it all the time, by the way. I just hardly ever look at critique so he's the only one I've noticed.)
Oh, but he does!
A lot of us have been here a long time and seen loads of similar stuff. I think maybe we're not in a good position to give creative feedback but anyone who posts on here has to be able to take any criticism.
Well maybe we should encourage constructive criticism?
I gotta sAy leevil you're not being fair
My slating is usually a response to multi thread posting, serial bumping or rudeness
If it seems like I'm being ruder then most its because I'm one of the few fiving any feedback
You judgemental splash of hanta onfected monkey juice
Heeeey! It was zooo who said that.
In fairness, sooty's apocalyptic disses are usually the most amusing thing in critique. Even I'm too jaded to look at most stuff posted. If posters hung around longer beforehand then there wouldn't be the feeling that we're a free feedback service for people who have no intention of putting back into the BCG community, and we'd know their style and intent a bit better. And then the many, many posters who piss off in a huff when they're not told the first thing they've posted is genius puts people like me off of bothering. Sooty is actually one of the few people who takes the time with new critique posts.
If I see something in critique by someone I know I'll take time looking and thinking and responding. Most of the rest of the time, unless there's blatantly a bitchfight kicking off cos of the amount of replies, I won't look cos it's just gonna be an even more timewasting version of the Introductions threads. Btw, where do all these people go? Is there some way of tracking them? Just out of curiosity?
Quote: Lee @ July 26 2012, 11:28 PM BSTHeeeey! It was zooo who said that.
Look not to the demagogue
Look to the leering face in the crowd
And I am so mother f**king delighted when there's something good or interesting from a new writer in critique
On a general writing forum I visit you need to have been a member for at least 2 weeks, made a minimum number of posts around the site and made 2 'constructive critiques' of other people's work before you can post your own. It seems to work very well for keeping the critique section active while weeding out people who just want to be told what a good boy/girl they are for writing something.
I don't know if something like this would be over the top for this forum, as I'm new here myself, but I thought I'd mention it 
I believe our overlord, who goes by the name of Aaron, is not too keen on minimum posting requirements, although I'll double check. But it's still a good suggestion for da box either way.
How about a system where after you have posted your own script for feedback, a page pops up (but not a popup) with a random thread posted in the last week, asking you to leave feedback?
Maybe break critique into several forums one for sitcom one for sketches etc etc.
I don't write much anymore so don't post. But when I first came on here loads of regular posters we're about, but then there were some that asked for critique but never gave any back. Shame because it was a good tool.