Tl;dr: On the Internet, if you are subtle (and kind) with your criticism, people don't listen. The dominant style is then to be harsh and aggressive. At Circle

Tl;dr: On the Internet, if you are subtle (and kind) with your criticism, people don't listen. The dominant style is then to be harsh and aggressive. At Circle CI we hear subtlety, so there's no need to be rude. Being nice is better than rude. OK. To each his own. Use the style of the community you're in. The fact is that I don't take technical criticism as personal, so I really don't mind getting called out on my faults directly. It's like peeling off a band aid. Better do it fast and painfully than slow and painfully.