My impression is that this is an issue of different frames. Consider a different metaphor: filmmaking. It’d be absurd to claim that only people who’ve made films of their own can be critics. Films aren’t just for other filmmakers, they’re for the public, and the public should be able to criticize them. If a filmmaker was really bothered by an outspoken critic of their movies, it would be reasonable to tell that filmmaker to get over it and worry about making better movies instead.
On the other hand, it’s different if the criticism is within a community of people trying to make good films. To be as successful as they can be, a community of filmmakers benefits from helping each other out by sharing knowledge and tools, encouraging each other, making connections, and so on. Critique helps, too… but if there are critics who hang around the community and tear apart everyone’s films without making anything or helping in other ways, then that can hamper the goal of making better films, even if they have good criticisms! “Get over it and make better movies” would be a lame defense in this case.
Thus, it depends on the context whether it’s helpful or unhelpful to discourage criticism without contribution.
Elaborating further: I think LW isn’t just one of these or the other. I think the community aspect is there and so it’s good not to discourage too much and to be helpful in other ways besides criticism/correction, but I also think you can be helpful without making your own posts.
Allow me, someone who only comments, to weigh in.
My impression is that this is an issue of different frames. Consider a different metaphor: filmmaking. It’d be absurd to claim that only people who’ve made films of their own can be critics. Films aren’t just for other filmmakers, they’re for the public, and the public should be able to criticize them. If a filmmaker was really bothered by an outspoken critic of their movies, it would be reasonable to tell that filmmaker to get over it and worry about making better movies instead.
On the other hand, it’s different if the criticism is within a community of people trying to make good films. To be as successful as they can be, a community of filmmakers benefits from helping each other out by sharing knowledge and tools, encouraging each other, making connections, and so on. Critique helps, too… but if there are critics who hang around the community and tear apart everyone’s films without making anything or helping in other ways, then that can hamper the goal of making better films, even if they have good criticisms! “Get over it and make better movies” would be a lame defense in this case.
Thus, it depends on the context whether it’s helpful or unhelpful to discourage criticism without contribution.
Elaborating further: I think LW isn’t just one of these or the other. I think the community aspect is there and so it’s good not to discourage too much and to be helpful in other ways besides criticism/correction, but I also think you can be helpful without making your own posts.