Winnowing Criticism

In the early stages of writing, Michael and I took to the internet-- specifically writer workshopping sites-- to get feedback about our story. The responses we received were invaluable tools for telling us what was working and what was frustrating, clunky, or out-of-place. It was also an exercise in filtering through the comments to separate the helpful insights from the not-so-helpful.
Given my background as an evolutionary biologist and data scientist, I'm also a huge fan of classifying things. In the interests of classifying, here are the types of comments I've encountered.
The constructive criticism: This is gold dust. This commenter has identified what can be improved about your work, and even left suggestions. Even if you don't agree with their point of view, their comments can get your brain juices flowing. Sometimes these comments can sting, especially when someone has located a flaw in your story with laser precision. The key here (learn from my experiences!) is to thank them for taking the time to give you feedback, then let the criticism 'cool' before going back and considering revisions. It's also important to remember raves can be just as helpful as pointing out flaws-- after all, you want to know what you're getting right!The nitpicker: This person can be absurdly useful, absurdly annoying, or both. Michael and I were lucky enough to encounter someone who spotted things like anachronistic tools lurking in odd places. Don't expect big-picture feedback, since these folks will be fixated on the details, but take full advantage of their error-spotting skills.The missed mark: These commenters are generally well-intentioned, but are lacking in some critical insight. Sometimes it's interesting to get an alternate interpretation of your work, and sometimes it's just confusing or totally off base. Thank them and move along.The single-minded: Everyone's got an agenda, but this person has no 'off' switch, regardless of relevance to the topic. Usually, leaving them be is the best option. Occasionally, if their agenda is offensive, I'd recommend reporting them to a moderator and/or removing their comment from public view if needed.The troll: Enjoys stirring up trouble for trouble's sake. Enjoy a link to a hilarious video Isabel Fay and Cleverpie that may be the best response ever to one of these. Don't engage. Delete comments as needed.The hater: unlike the troll, who spews bile randomly in search of attention, this is a genuine bigot who feels the need to share. Report and block immediately--you're not being 'sensitive'Once you feel more comfortable giving and receiving feedback on your work, you'll find it's a wonderful resource for improving your writing skills and telling the best story you can.