I say this from experience... on both sides. I've hurt myself by ill-advised rants, and in contrast, I've looked back sometimes at when I wanted to scream and let it out (and deserved to!) but didn't... and was later very lucky I held back. Still, I don't always follow my own rules. Based on one of my recent posts here, it's likely not only that I'm not ever getting a job at Twitter, but may also not enjoy good career networking with my friends who work or worked there. Life is a very complicated balance. - Adam Lasnik

sometimes we draw our inner image looking at what's left outside... and burning bridges gives a strong feedback about what we are, and about what we do not want to become in the future. Anyway thank you very much for this message that comes to me in a "pre"-burning-bridges situation :) - simone righini

where you planning on applying for a job at Twitter? for what is worth, you didn't say anything that wasn't true. And you did it in a very respectful yet entertaining way. I am sorry to hear it backfired at you but I think that some people should really stop taking themselves so seriously. - Claudia Petrilli

To clarify, this was meant to be more general in nature, though after ranting about Twitter and other social media stuff, it did get me to thinking about how to balance honest/thoughtful/direct/authentic criticism against potentially harming the feelings and good will of others. Another, non-tech example: what do I do when I go to a restaurant my friend works at and want to post an honest, perhaps even significantly critical review? I have a choice of forgoing the review (and not warning/informing fellow food-lovers), writing the review and truly hurting my friend's feelings, or writing a bland or misleading review. None of the alternatives are really smile-inspiring :(. - Adam Lasnik

In the end, I find it is those who say the least (particularly the least substantive) are often those with the most harmonious lives. They don't contribute much to content, and in fact may say or write very little at all, but they offend no one and burn no bridges. - Adam Lasnik

it is a tricky affair to be honest, yes. The balance between honesty/transparency and not hurting others/burning bridges is quite delicate. I much rather hear the truth -even if it hurts a little, than be oblivious as to what's going on. Plus speaking your mind up makes for some very entertaining moments :P but, joke aside, I hear you. - Claudia Petrilli

It depends a lot on what others are ready to take. I prefer direct, honest feedback. Not everybody does. - Bruce Lewis

in the example of the restaurant of a friend i would never say anything without being explicitly asked to do it from my friend, and I would probably try to get a private contact with him, that's why i consider a friendship as an environment of reciprocal trust, he knows that if i say something negative is because i believe in his improvement. Being publicly critic against something that i'm related to with emotions could have unclear reasons to an external listener, so they may not understand our motivations. If this is related to your starting post then i completely agree on the "keeping it inside" part, but sometimes keeping secrets for our friends involves a lack of sincerity for our environment, trying to be clear with my inner part, friend's part and public part is one of my favorite sports :) - simone righini