Then I wasn't clear enough and you are welcome to improve on my formulation. But the point is that criticism in the wrong place does more harm than good. What good is criticism if nobody who can do anything about it hears it? Heck, I don't mind creating a General Whining board if that's what it takes.
And yeah, there's a bit of a reaction in there. I have a very strong distaste for talking about people behind their backs. You want to say something about me? Say it to my face.
The problem with both the personal and the game "criticism" is that the dissenting views are rarely posted. There are lots of people enjoying things just like they are, but they don't post about it in OOC messages to the realm. The whining creates a wrong impression and bad atmosphere, because the non-whiners correctly abstain from abusing the in-game OOC for discussions
Basically, in the "boardgame with friends" metaphor, I feel like having invited an !@#$%^& who waits until the host leaves the room before telling everyone that the curtains suck and he hates the food. I know that as a fellow guest I'd feel awkward. As the host, I feel insulted. Not because you don't like my curtains, but because you talk behind my back, and that in my home.
You need to stop taking things so personally. You aren't a player in this board game. You're not even the host, really. You're more like the Parker Brothers or Bioware. The creator or publisher of the game, not a player. And as such people aren't going to and shouldn't have to complain directly to you all the time.
