Let's try this, lets NOT point out the bad parts to the authors.  Post only 
the good points, DON'T post the stuff you feel needs to be worked on.  This 
way, that author gets a big ego boost.  So, he'll write more stories and try 
to make them better than his previous.  This is sorta like correcting your 
own mistake.  If you point out the bad thing about the fic, he'll get 
discouraged and maybe stop writing.

I disagree with this approach. If you criticize specific points *AND* make
specific suggestions as to how things could be improved, you are then helping
the author _IMPROVE_ the story, and that will provide a bigger ego boost in the
long run than the short-term gratification of "Oh boy, this is perfect!".

Really, all authors have stuff that needs to be worked on. I'd be a lot more
pleased if the criticism pointed out the weak points of a story AND
made suggestions as to how they could be improved, rather than saying "This
sucks. Delete it." Even if the author doesn't necessarily take in consideration
your advice, he WILL likely consider it in his next fanfic, so in the long run,
he WILL benefit from the advice.

The biggest problem with some criticism on this ML is that mostly they tend to
pick on things without PROVIDING an alternate solution. :P~ Just as incredible
praise does NOTHING to improve the story itself (other than boost the morale of
the author), criticism without providing alternate suggestions does nothing to 
help improve the story itself (other than depress the author.). And really,
isn't the real objective to turn out GOOD fanfics?

-David Tai