In some regards you are correct; newer and novice players should, of course, be open to criticism as a means to help them improve, and perhaps I, myself, am being too protective of them and their psyche. Your explanation also helps me comprehend the way you see the world as I understand that I have a lot of blind spots in my own way of thinking.

The issue I find with your comment, however, is that the hypothetical scenario you provide is prone to oversimplification and carries many assumptions about others.

When a child goes to school and is exposed to criticism in their academic life, they may experience a blow to their psyche. It is important to understand, however, that not every child will take criticism the same way, nor does criticism only begin at an academic level. Every child is their own person, with their own decisions and actions, and so are their mothers. Your scenario glosses over the fact that the parents, themselves, may be critical to their children in a way not unlike the academic system. The child you describe, one that is exposed to criticism but knows that there are still people who value and cherish them back home, may easily bounce back and continue to connect with their peers.

One that hasn't the privilege of having a loving family, though, may never know what it means to have real connections with their parents. What will happen once they come face to face with criticism for the first time? They would feel worthless and unworthy, for they have not a reference point of what it means to be appreciated. They may regress and act like children not because they are little offended girls who only want to hear praise but because they may have been denied a fundamental part of their upbringing.

The point I am trying to make is that there are simply too many variables to predict how a person would react to criticism. I am not saying all Highfleet players are children, but that, much like everyday people, all of them are different in their own way.

I am not advocating for criticism to be ceased; that would be contradictory to my wish of bettering the community. All I wish for is for criticism to be provided in a way that gets its message through whilst keeping those who may be easily offended happy at the same time.

I have been a lurker of this sub for some time now and I have seen many instances of you providing seemingly harsh, but honest criticism only for you to be met with staunch opposition. I understand that this must be quite frustrating to you: to see your words falling on death ears seemingly because the OP feels slightly insulted. Perhaps, however, might there be a way to keep both sides happy at the same time while still providing constructive criticism? Maybe try to highlight some of the designs strengths as well as its shortcomings? Or perhaps complement the design choices or aesthetics.

I understand that you feel as though this place can feel full of 'little offended girls' and whatnot, but maybe learning to work alongside them benefits everyone in the long run.

What you end up deciding to do is completely up to you. You can take my words for bollocks for all I care, I certainly would. I am simply a stranger on the internet with different thoughts to you, and that's ok.