Why I no longer read anonymous comments

Bloody hell - So, you don't want to do any self reflection, potentially improve yourself and evolve, nor get better at what you do? You consider you've nothing to learn from an anonymous respondent; you've reached the absolute top of your potential and they don't matter to you; you've nothing more to learn about yourself or how others feel about you - even when they may feel they have something to say but fear the repercussions (which, from this article, I can see why they might imagine there to be a risk in putting their name). You say, people should write words 'until they sound like the most insightful version of themselves' but you dismiss this effort just because it lacks a name you can put to a face and eyeball directly. I despair! 'In academia, bad feedback doesn’t usually affect our pay or our employment.' I wish it did, as then maybe you would care just a little bit about the people who are not quite so bold and confident as you, and you would perhaps reflect on how this opinion sounds to them. However, I note that you will be unlikely to read this so I guess I'm talking into a vacuum.

Dear "Bloody hell" - I don't know your name because your comment was anonymous. You are not talking into a vacuum. I cannot see any justification for your apparent misinterpretation of Joe Moran's piece as indicative of an arrogant belief that he has nothing to learn and no need for self reflection, improvement and evolution. I hold similar views about anonymous, unattributable feedback, although my approach has been more along the lines of asking students to confer in small groups and write agreed comments, as a way of encouraging reflection and insightful thought on their part. I am definitely in favour of anything that will encourage anyone to spend time framing their comments with the right mix of directness and tact - a skill that all writers (not only students) might benefit from acquiring. My name is Dave Horne.