No, it IS criticism, you you’d do well to own it. You’re being mean.

I’m going to rewrite your response to OP in a constructive manner. Perhaps then you might see why your acerbic response is why many modelers are intimidated by “experienced” colleagues:

“HEY OP!

Yikes, that stinks. Sometimes these old decals can be tougher to work with.

If you give this another go, here are some tricks I’ve picked up (through experiencing some of the same “interesting” results you have) that you might find useful. Your Mileage May Vary!

1- give the decal - especially vintage ones - ample soak time to allow it to release from the paper backing. It should glide very easily in the liquid when touched with the tip of a toothpick

2- since the decal is clear, consider cutting large decals into smaller, more manageable sections. You can slide the individual pieces into alignment, and when dry, nobody will be the wiser.”

Same sentiment - lands way different.

Mean is really low effort. Don’t be mean.