Hi
@PaulAds I'm very ill at the moment so I haven't read anyone's replies. It also means this reply may not be coherent!
I would love to offer more feedback myself but I tend to hold back. And even on the odd ocassions I do, I also tend to hold back.
Most of my criticism seems to be in one of two brackets.
a) I like this song. It's great. Wouldn't change anything.
b) This song could be good with some (or a lot) of changes.
With (a) it feels like at least I'm fulfilling my obligation (even if it's a piss-poor attempt) for critique quotas so I don't feel quite so bad posting my own crap. :p
I don't do as nearly as much (b) as I'd like as it's usually reserved for someone (fairly) new to the forum you're not sure is going to stick around. There's also the fact that Calia almost always gets in there first and takes away my thunder! :p
There is a (c) category but I never post in those. That's the "this is total and utter crap" category and there's just no gentle way of letting you down without lying through my back teeth. I'm not really sure brutal honesty would be too much appreciated here. And trying to let them down gently would still feel as if I'm lining up the third and fourth ribs with a 12" blade...
It's actually (c) that means I don't do much of (a) and (b) either. It feels like that if I only responded to the good/decent efforts then everyone would pretty much know what I felt for the ones I ignored. So I sprinkle my critiques liberally.
As for feedback the other way... well yes. And no.
Some "feedback" I feel is totally inane and plain wrong, and it drives me crazy (too long or too many lyrics really getting my goat). I'd rather have feedback on the quality of the lyrics, how much sense they make, whether they pique your interest or not, any grammar or spelling mistakes even, et cetera, et cetara.
Perhaps the lyrics section should require a slightly more formal approach in how we post, and with the rules therein. Something like the original poster could indicate whether or not they want criticism, and what sort of criticism that should (or shouldn't) take if they have a preference. Then us critics can critique within those boundaries to our heart's content without feeling quite so downright evil.
Although I'd still run into the same (c) problem I guess...