Good or bad?

Question time!

You have two options.  For the next year of development, you can only get two types of comments:

1. Positive
2. Critical

Let me explain the two.

If you choose "positive",  you will only hear about what you're good at, or what you're improving on.  Even if something is weak but you get better at it, that counts.  You will never hear the things you need to work on or things that are being neglected.

If you choose "critical", you will only hear about what needs work.  You'll get details about little things and big things.  You will never hear the things that you are doing well or getting better at.  Let's also say that it won't be negative feedback, it can be delivered in a helpful way. 

Ok, there's really no way you can have ONLY one or the other, but work with me here.  Imagine it's possible and you have to decide.  So which would you choose?

What you choose might have a lot to do with where you are in your development.  It can also say a lot about who you are, as well.  It's not like either one is "better" than the other or makes you a better person than someone who chooses the opposite, however.

Now, while it's easy to say what the problems are with either choice, just be mindful of why you made your choice.  If you chose "positive", was it because you really don't like getting critical feedback?  What does that say about you?  If you chose "critical", was that because you don't feel you're very good?  Again, what does that say about you?

The question is artificial, yet simple.  Looking at what you choose is easy.  Looking at why you choose it, however, might lead to even better questions.