I think I generally agree with this (though I do it myself more than I'd like). I think the sentiment of just declaring something (or, more often, someone) 'sucks' is a bit immature, and it's almost always unconstructive. I was listening to the Kalzumeus podcast the other day, and they were talking about this very thing on the last show they did. I can't remember what they called it, but it was something like 'Be curious' instead of 'be critical'. He had an acronym, but it didn't stick with me. Anyway, the long and short of it was, instead of saying something like "this is just a pile of ass", ask the question of why it might be the way it is - there are probably good reasons.<p>Actually, the Kalzumeus podcast is a good example. I don't especially like it that much (sorry guys, if you're reading), but as I sat in my car listening to it I tried to think it through constructively, rather than just declaring it sucky. I tried to answer questions like: 1) why don't I like it? (the smug attitude of 'gosh-aren't-we-just-coining-it-in-contractors', the ohmygodyes exclamations about everything, the poor sound quality) and, 2) could I do it better myself? (definitely not) and, 3) if it really is that bad, why am I still listening to it (and, of course, that's when I realized it's not actually that bad).<p>OK, some stuff genuinely is poor quality, and some people are fools, but maybe rather than berate them we would find it more constructive to ask the question "why has nobody else done better?", or "why didn't they spend extra time polishing it?", or "why is this guy in this position and not somebody else?". There are probably good answers to those questions. This is also moving in to 'constructive criticism' territory, which is actually good.<p>BTW, I'm not saying coddle me (or anybody else). Be honest, be brutally honest, but be constructive. Before getting all arsey and just slinging insults at someone or something, ask the question Why...?