I try to divide personal criticism down into three categories:
 
1) Criticism for my benefit in which the criticizer truly is trying to correct me or improve my actions, or

2) Criticism for the common good in which the criticizer is trying to adjust my behavior or attitude for a greater good, or

3) Criticism for the other's benefit in which the criticizer takes issue with my behavior for their own agenda, sometimes consisting simply of making me feel bad so he or she can feel good.

Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between these.  I try to be patient with the first, and humble.  The second often requires dialog as the common good is not always obvious.  The third can most often be ignored, if you are able.

Depends on who's giving it and the context.

I don't control what other people think so I'm seldom bothered by it. People can get critical with me and that's fine. But they have to remember -- they can kiss my ass.

I don't like it. It's nice to think I'm O.K. with it, but it is loathsome no matter the intentions. However, getting showered with beer cups is way easier to take than some drunk friend with ideas about your lyrics. Any friend-to-friend "constructive" criticism I've offered in the past usually ends up taken the wrong way.  Criticism is an unfortunate counter-balance to free creativity.  Anyone who says they're immune is a liar.  I suggest you assume nobody will understand or like what you do, then decide if you still want to do it.  P.S. y'all suck!

I used to take criticism seriously when I was younger, but I haven't cared what anyone says for a long, long time. Those who I respect - and those who respect me for who and what I am never criticize what I do or how I live, anyway. Perhaps I'm just lucky. Mostly though, I think it's because there's not much to criticize in the first place. Any criticism I receive these days is usually in the form of someone who doesn't know me too well. In this regard, I just smile and nod. I'll take what they say into consideration, but it rarely goes any further. Once they get to know me, they pretty much catch the drift that I'm kind of weird anyway... and quickly give up.

2nd Sparhawk and McShane.

Also (once again): John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory.

There is a difference between you should and you could. I've thought about this for a while, cause I pretty much thought that I knew a lot. But then somehow, over the years, I realized that even if I do it's up to you to make that decision. If I told you you should it's not my place to tell you what to do. I could then offer up what you could do. Just an outside look, like maybe this is a different way to look. 

As far as bands, let's just be happy we have music. I got out of line talking to Gomez, said hey if you cleaned it up, made my style of rock and roll dancing -- which would mean you would do covers like they did, do it like they did it, Chuck Berry -- but that's my bag, not everybody's bag. 

There was something about that old beat. Can you make it any better, and why try? If you can't find the next sine wave of what makes us dance you could make the choice, you can make Mabaline into whatever you want but the original will still be more. Just from an old dancer's standpoint.

But criticism, who is the judge?

Criticism is an important piece of the balancing act that holds you to the tight wire. No more or less important than the stick that keeps you centered.

Gonna have to go with barrett on this one. 

How else can we know how our actions have affected someone else?

The short answer is I don't react well at all usually. For me personally it has a lot to do with the fact that I spent a lot of time in reflection on myself and my art. There is very few short comings you could tell me about that I haven't already reflected on. This is compounded by the fact that the criticism isn't always in good faith. Often it is mean spirited and not constructive. Often it is the "tear you down to build myself up" type of stuff. There is a saying that communication is 10% what you say and 90% how you say it. Occasionally you get someone who is sincere and it almost always comes off as very helpful, an encouragement not a criticism. If you seriously want to give constructive criticism I find it useful to give a couple of positives before the negative. Example: "I like the songs you're playing, I think if you could slow them down a little and dig into the groove more it would really be great."

That's why dogs are our best friends. They don't talk.

Few take it well, it takes a subdued ego.  A trained and handy skill to have though. Republicans, Artistes, Musicians, just about anyone in Generation Starstruck, or any of the other American Dream embittered, flag sucking joy snoozers, usually take it poorly.  We all have the little demon inside called Ego which makes it well known whose ass is the cat's ass,  and unfortunately when everyone is the Cat's Ass all at once, the real Cat's Asses can't readily rise through the muck. Its a straight lineage pointing cleanly back to our ancient  turd flinging monkey natures which make us want to bash brains out on whoever tells us anything we don't want to hear.  Until we learn to cut loose a little, travel with a light heart, have a sense of whimsy, realize we're all stuck on God's Giant Goofball  together, that nothing really matters except being party to one big good happy family, then we'll all be mud guppies forever.

 "Think Big Henry!"  Nixon to Kissinger on Vietnam and using the Atom BOmb

flag sucking joy snoozers?

that rich!

you forgot hippies, though.