a point arose about this is not poetry

[Apophrades]

I'm pretty sure if you literally tell someone their work is shit, you expect a bad reaction. I'm not asking you to coddle, but simply saying someone's writing is bad won't help, not only wont it help but it's unnecessary because growing "thicker skin" isn't going to improve someone's writing. What if growing thicker skin meant becoming indifferent to good advice?

Interesting that when everyone is calling you shit, the only voice of ENCOURAGEMENT is your 'muse,' (the fact that you just have to put something down, no matter what anyone says) the only motivation to keep going is one of encouragement, not useless insulting.