If you choose to post your work online, what the hell do you think it is up there for? So everyone can pat you on the back and tell you what a great fella you are? If that were true, that would be an even more damning condemnation of the act...

The truth is, anyone that posts ANYTHING on the web opens themselves to criticism AND praise. In fact, to perform for anyone other than simply yourself is to invite them both. Mind you, if you are honest about your own playing, even playing alone doesn't insulate yourself from criticism! It's how we get better.

Now, that doesn't mean that all criticism is valid (nor is all praise!), and everyone is free to make their own minds up about a performance, whether for good or bad. And everyone ELSE is free to decide if they agree with the opinion offered, whether good or bad. But basically, if you offer yourself up on the web for all to see, you ARE going to get both. Only a fool would think that everyone is going to love what you do, and only a fool would think that, just because they MIGHT have put it up just as a bit of fun, that insulates it from critical judgement.

If you don't want criticism, better not post anything, ever! But then you also end up not getting praised, either. Nothing ventured, nothing gained...