@TolaO, I still believe every critic has his/her own way of expressing him/herself. Acceptable Criticism ke? I don’t believe there is anything of such jare. After all, to paraphrase Shakespeare, there is nothing acceptable or not acceptable, thinking makes it so. In light of the foregoing, therefore, Tola, ANY of the above would be acceptable depending on the writer and the piece concerned.My opinion…

@TolaO, now I understand you more. A survey? Ok o. See, personally, I rarely let negativereviews affect me the same way I don’t take positive ones to head. I am probabaly my work’s number one critic and I am never nice to myself. Why would I wanna be? I have written trash even on NS and I’m honestly amused when people begin to drool over it. And other times, I’ve written some stuff I consider excellent and someone would just pop outta nowhere and fish out errors. I love such people and instantly befriend them. @scopeman, @jeffunaegbu and you are some of those examples. I love criticisms and go the extra distance to see beyond every criticism be it positive or negative. @kaycee said he critiques based on mood, who am I to begrudge him his opinion? To me, every writer should and must embrace criticisms, you can only benefit from it. @ikhide finished Prof Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo’s Roses and Bullets; yet, Jeff Unaegbu was drooling over the same work like a group of ants on a cube of sugar! See? And these two have my deep respect. So what would the prof do? Tackle Ikhide and thank Unaegbu? No! She must accept both and move on, chikena! To me, every criticism is acceptable for NO CRITIC can discourage me with his/her words; rather, I’ll sieve through the review, take the aspects I agree with and move on. Simple.

@TolaO, all of the listed forms of criticism is acceptable, depending on the level of mediocrity exhibited by the writer. I can always tell when a writer genuinely tried their best. I can also tell when a writer just thoughtlessly writes some rubbish.
Now I would criticise these persons differently.
There are mistakes by ignorance and errors caused by a person not knowing any better. And there are mistakes by carelessness or just plain arrogance. So my own criticism depends on what i feel about the work and the writer.
I can use @lactoo as an example, most critics on NS woudnt cut him any slack. If you read what he writes you would know why. Such writers, you don’t want to teach, you only wanna put them down from where they think they are.

But a good writer would know the kind of critiques to regard. I know the few people I can listen to on NS.

But what does a critique entail? What form of criticism is a critique allowed to make. I really want to know.
I can correct someone’s grammer and typos and (there’s a name they call it in English) structure? You know, the ones that deal with spellings and sentencing etc. But correcting content is a bit trickier. I don’t know if critics are supposed to argue with a writer on his choice of story line and thoughts etc. I can say a work is not convincing, depending on what the writer tried to do. If the work was intended to be funny and isn’t I could say so. If it was a serious work of fiction and starts exhibiting sci-fi or fantasy acts, I could point it out too.
But what really should be corrected or criticized in fiction?

@kaycee makes a valid point in his first post on what makes everything acceptable – that it is relative. Then also I think every writer should be responsible to him/herself over what is written and posted. They also have to be sure about what they’ve written b4 putting it up in a place where critics are ready to rip it apart.

Until I’ve personally critiqued my own work, I don’t put it out, until I’m sure its good enough I don’t put it up. But when I do, I guess #1,#2 and #5 is what works by me.

@jef, am I that harsh? Guess I have to chill, Really, what’s the point to all these? may be I will even stop correcting.

Kaycee,don’t stop correcting.I look at criticsm as I do it with my kids.What is my purpose for criticising them?I do want them to be better and not make the same mistake twice.I want them to grow and learn.I see NS as a family.I have never met so many people who actually like writing like I do.Not all of us will be Soyinka material but if we are here, it’s because we like the craft.And of course we like to be with people like us.I love to read and I wish I had more time to read all the very eclectic stories and poems and plays (I don’t forget you Jay)on NS.The talent here is amazing.Some of us may need help along the way but isn’t it what any group is all about?Helping the ones who need it.Kaycee,please continue criticising.Just give details for the writer to grow. I know it helps me.

Oooops. My 1st comment didn’t get posted. Can’t type that long again till tomorrow. @Tola, I think all are specially 2, and 5 except 7. That one makes the critic and writer share something in common. Both idiots.

Oooops. My 1st comment didn’t get posted. Can’t type that long again till tomorrow. @Tola, I think all are specially 2, and 5 except 7. That one makes the critic and writer share something in common. Both idiots.

Yup yup.

I sabi small. Shey?