You're absolutely right that it's easier to take coming from someone who generally knows you and knows your writing. It can seem like it's coming out of left field (and it is, really) with unknowns. That said, it should be expected if you're going to ask for the opinions of a general group of people. I guess that's why I rather build relationships, so that people understand where I'm coming from. But general feedback is useful, too. After all, we don't know the majority of people who will pick up our writing.

I've worked with a lot of student writers, so I'm pretty good at giving the gentle critiques, and I suppose that's why I'm drawn to new writers as it's what I'm used to. It kinda goes "praise, praise, praise, perhaps...." :D

I once critiqued a tickle fetish story - oh lord, was laughing so hard because I was tickled in a different way - but considering the stuff I've written, I have no right to judge. But. There are topics I couldn't deal with fairly, if fair is even an option given some of the stuff out there.