This subject has been discussed on so many occasions before that I really don't think anything thats been expressed on this particular thread is new.
Nevertheless for what its worth... a few thoughts.
The key word in this thread is "constructive" and that does have some relevance in this particular deck creation forum, but less so in others.
Some context……I post occasional images of a project I'm working on, here on this forum, I do so for promotion yes, obviously. However if people assume its only for promotion, they would be wrong because Aeclectic is in fact far from being the most effective on line means of doing that. I don't think either fluffy comments or harsh critique would actually effect sales that much either way any more, so I'm really making these comments now on behalf of other artists who are earlier along on their deck creating careers, rather than at the end of it like me.
Now, the other reason I post images is because people seem to genuinely find following the progress of a project interesting. And they also enjoy the opportunity to have a dialogue with the artists behind the products they might eventually end up buying.
Personally I do not really want feedback, I post image just to to show what I'm up to and generate interest, but as Gregory pointed out, by simply putting it out there, one must expect that critique will follow. So with that said "constructive " critique can be a good thing in general. In my last two projects I must have modified at least 10 images in some way or another based on observations pointed out by members on this forum. By default of the deck not being finished, any opinions which I felt were valid, I had time to do something about it. However If I disagreed with them I could as has been suggested, simply ignore them. The problems if any, generate from any attempt by the artist to respond, to have a dialogue, and indicate why they might not agree with said critique, because that in turn is interpreted as being a prima donna, or having a hissy fit. Some have even suggested in the past that artists should not be allowed to participate in such threads.
Surely this freedom of expression should flow both ways. Just as with someone posting an image of their work, if someone posts a critique "out there", then you in turn should expect and accept a response, explanation or counterpoint of sorts in return wether from other members or indeed the person directly involved??? Complaining that you are made to feel uncomfortable about writing something negative, because that might be read by the person it was about or their supporters, seems almost comical in its irony. If you are going to dish it out then don't just dismiss any response as being defensive or not being able to "take the heat" because the subjects of your "critique" surely are entitled to offer an opinion also. After all it probably took them a year or two of effort, hope and dreams to produce the deck and you about a minute to write the critique.
Constructive critique also serves another benefit, if it does provide a reality check especially to a first time deck creator, who may be tempted to get in over their heads financially, investing in the costs of publishing their baby on false hopes raised by over fawning feedback, only to then have a garage of unsold inventory, and printers bills to pay.
General critique after the deck is produced is more questionable though, its "constructiveness" is too late in a sense unless it can be applied to a future project (if there is one). Critique at this stage then tends to become simply an excersise in offering and sharing of personal subjective opinions. But then thats part of the whole purpose of Aeclectic I guess…. ...although I can't think of many comments i've read over the years that are unanimous, from card stock to card size, from treatment of borders, from the illustrative style to overall themes, there is such a gamut of responses, and practically never a definitive conclusion that would really serve as a useful guideline to either the artist or the potential customer. Its just more opinions going back and forth. Added to that anyone who has spent any time on these threads, will also be familiar to a degree with who is likely to be saying what. Some will be fan like gushing, which is nice to hear of course (but don't let it go to your head, you still have to pay the printers
and others you know will never have anything positive to say about your work, on the contrary you know its just a matter of time before they post their inevitable little jibe. One has to question what really is the purpose or their motivation behind such comments.... certainly not being constructive.
I do feel that critique by one deck artist about the work of another is a delicate issue that should be thought about extra carefully before posting. Personally I have only done that on one issue, and that was about Doreen Virtue, and that was directed at the business aspect of her work, not the artistic content, which she of course didn't produce.
I don't think the introduction of guidelines will serve any purpose, I think the mods do a reasonable but sometimes difficult job as it is and any guidelines would come with their own grey areas of interpretation. I think a little more tact and less in your face "i have a right to say whatever" attitude, would take care of most issues.